The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-11
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
A Protest from Telegraph and Telephone
ComPanIes-The POgue's Bun
Matter


The Board of Aldermeu's regular meeting
last night was something of "clearing up" SEES
sion, large number of street Improvement
ordinances whic have long been pending being
disposed Of
The experimenting of police, in reply to
resolution adopted by the aldermen at their
previous meeting, said that the "cow ordinance
has been as strictly enforced as was possible
with the limited number of men at his com
mand."
A communication was received from John F.
Wallick, superintendent of the Western Union
Telegraph Company, in relation to the or
dlnance granting to a company the right to use
tho streets and alleys of the city for
the purpose of laying underground conduits
for electrical wires. Mr.. Walliek
requested an investigation before any action
should be taken by the aldermen. ono plan
that has yet been tried" Mr.. WalcK stated,
''has proved that telegraph wires can be sue
cessfully operated under ground, end it is of the
utmost Importance that no hasty action should
be taken that would result in imparing the tele-
graph service. AS the ordinance was
hastily passed by the Common Council on the
same night that it was presented, would re-
| specially ask, on behalf of the Western Union
| Telegraph Company, that the matter be referred
| to any committee that you may deem proper,
thus giving parties interested an opportunity to
be heard" ]. T. HOekett superintendent of the
| Central Union Telephone Company, in COM
munieation to the board upon the same subject,
also objected to the passage Of
the ordinance, and stated that "the
ordinance is, far as possible under the laws Of
Indiana. an exclusive grant. 1 would at least
suggest that ii should be so amended or modi-
fled that if any practicable method of operating
wires in underground conduits may be devised
within the next fifty years, companies engaged
In the telephone telegraph or electrical ght bust
ness may be enabled to take advantage of II, and
put their wires underground at their own eX-
pense, without being compelled to buy of parties
not engaged i'll such business valuable fran
chise granted by the city. ] will say for
the Telephone Company that its lines can not be
successfully operated underground by any sys-
TEN now known in This country, and any at
tempt to thus operate them would practically do
away with the telephone business in this city,"
The board was asked to defer action on the
ordinance until facts and evidence. the re-
suit of experiments, could be presented showing
the impractIcabty OF the proposed system.
Amendments to the ordinance were submitted
reserVlng the right to grant to other companies
the same privileges, and also an amendment
making the company (Which the grant Is made
liable for all damages that may be sustained
through the carelessness of its agents or officers.
The ordinance. together with tho amendments
and the communications relating to the matter,
was referred to special committee of five con-
sisting of Messrs, RorisOn, Tucker, Newman,
Hamilton and Layman.
All matters coming from the Common Council
relating to the Improvement of P09ue's run
were referred to special committee of five, VIZ
MesSrs. Tucker, Mussmann, Selbert, Drew and
Layman.
A motion, introduced by Mr.. Hamilton, was
adopted, instructing the city civil engineer to
"take the necessary levels, and report at the
next meeting OF the board, the practieahility
and probable cost of constructing a sufficient
channel or passway for the waters of POgues
run, from it's Intersection with Hanna street,
and on a1ine with said street. q line with
State and Reid streets, to Pleasant run.
Tho finance committee was authorized to ne
gotiate for he purchase of the first city bonds
becoming due, to the amount of the sinking fund.
The finance committee was also ordered 10
report to the board the probable cost of gem
eral sprinkling of the streets during the months
of May, June, July, August and September of
each year.
The following motion, introduced by Mr.. Rorl-
son, was adopted: "M0ved, That the city en-
gineer ascertain the cost of paving Washington
street with Pelletler blocks, ond that 1T is the
sense of the board that The Medina stone ordi-
nance should await Il detihlte answer to this"
A resolution adopted unanlm Onsly re-
curing the Union Railway Company to remove
the stone arches now maintained By il in the
bed of POgue's run, within sixty days from the
time official notice is served upon either the su-
perlntendent or secretary OF the company. The
street commissioner was instructed to remove
the obstruction II the company failed to comply
with the order of the board within the specified
time.
Mr.. Tucker requested permission TO have his
vote on the marker house ordinance passed III
the last meeting in his absence placed on record
in the negative.
Seventeen special Improvement ordinances
upon which the committee mad reported ad-
versey we're placed upon third reading and
were defeated, and large number of other Or
finances providing for improvements were
passed.
The board adjourned to meet in special SEES
sion on next Monday evening.