The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-21
MORE TELEPHONET TROUBLES.
The Cooperative Company Petitions the
City Council for Additional Aid.
II Wants the Central Union Driven from the
Field, but the Prayer Is Not Granted
Legislation on Various Matters.

There were several interests before the Coun
ell last night to call for the attention of volun
teer lobbyists The regular calendar was not
overcrowded, but the incidental business prom
ised to be entertaining. Vice president Pearson
was in the chair After dsposing of routine re-
ports, communication from the Mayor calling
attention to the building inspector ordinance
being still in the hands of the committee was
read. He recommended that it be taken from
the com mittee and returned to the Council, as
there was need for early action on some such
proposition.
proposed stone wall, 300 feet long, to pro-
tect property on Pogue's Run, was reported by
the committee on public improvements. Coun-
Gilman Thalman objected to concurrence in the
recommendation, because he did not think pri-
vate property should be thus preserved at the
expense of the city. He moved not to concur
and Councilman Herig moved to lay this motion
on the table, which was done by
IL yeas to 8 nays. On his motion to
concur in the report, Cou ncilman Rocker said
the city attorney had decided that the city was
not liable for damage done to private property
by Pogues rum The city engineer also, he said.
lad given his opinion that all trouble with the
could be obviated by restoring il to the chan
mel nature gave it. He moved that the question
be again referred to the committee, Mayor, city
engineer and city attorney, to consider the liabil-
ity Of the city to pay for damages caused by the
run. This prevailed
Under suspension of rules ordinances to ap-
propriate $40 to pay Winslow, Lanier & Co. in
terest on bonds AMI $40, 900 on account of street
repairs, were passed.
report from the market committee recon-
mended that butcher, FISH, butter, eggs and
cheese stalls be located on the ground floor of
Tomlinson Hall, and the new market-house Go
used by gardeners It also restricted res
taurants to one, and that to be in
the north end of the Tomlinson Hall
market floor. Councilman Edenharter strenu-
ously objected to this disposition of stalls. He
called attention to the unavoidable nuisance
that would grow out of butchers and fish dealers
being placed under the hall. They might keep
their stalls as clean as possible, and yet in time
an obnoxious stencil would pervade the whole
building. On concurring in the report, he called
for the yeas and nays The vote showed non
concurrence, In IA yeas and nays.
communication from the water com mittee,
requesting the citizens who have grievances to
present against the water company, on account
of overcharges and inequitable treatment to
send the same in writing to the city attorney,
was approved.
The building committee reported that the re-
cepts from rent for Tomlinson Hall, from the
opening of the hall to date, amounted to
81, 06I SO, and expenses $685. H. The committee
wanted instructions as to change in schedule of
rents, and Councilman Haugh, who thought at
the present rate the city was not getting suffi-
cient return, moved that the committee be re-
quested to raise the price.
Councilman Haugh hastily got the floor when
the Aldermens' amendment to the water con-
tract reducing the price for ire-plugs to $45
each was read. Upon his motion the amend
l H.
finance.
A lengthy communication from the Co-opera-
| tive Telephone Company recited the difficulties
the organization had met in it's efforts to supply
service. especially through the continued exist
ence of the Central Union Company. The last
named organization held to it's poles and wires,
| and therefore the Cooperative was compelled to
arrange for altogether new lines Poles had
| been purchased, the old Board of Trade building
secured for an exchange and other arrangements
| perfected. The pettiOning company asked that
It be allowed to erect Its poles and
s segs within asa boanaed az By NortR East ssa
South apd West streets, subject to the approval
of the city civil engineer, but, the petition con-
| tinued it will be impossible to erect our poles
and string our wires with those of the present
company in the way, as glance upward will
| show We therefore respectfully request that
you order the poles and wires of that company
removed, and that speedily, as the consequence
large amount of outdoor work late in the
| son, when digging holes in frozen
| ground is both difficult and expensive.
| AS the fire department wires are on
some of that company's poles, to obviate any in
| convenience we suggest that on those particular
poles only the wires and cross-arms be removed
and the poles left standing until are up, and
whenever we need to use the poles so left stand
| ing we will be willing to pay fair value for the
| same to the telephone company or the city,
| whichever shall be entitled to IL :"
Councilman Pearson favored giving the cor
| poration every inducement to 60 on with its en-
| terprise, but would not vote to turn out COM
| pany that was giving service until the new or
ganization had proved the efficiency Of its serv-
| ice.
| Councilman Rocker thought the Central I'm
MON entitled to mercy, as it was daily violat-
| ing the law, and Councilman Swain said he
| would vote for the new company when 1t had es.
tablished its efficiency, but would not favor the
| destruction of company that met the public de-
| mand. Councilman Thalman took the same line'
| and moved that the question be referred to the
| committee on streets and alleys and city engi
| neer, with instruction to meet with the Citizens
| Co operative Telephone Company officers and see
what streets, alleys and city fre-alarm poles can
be utilized by that company without destroying
the present telephone system. The motion pre-
| vailed.
Councilman Cummings moved that the Citi-
| zens' Co operative Telephone Company be grant
ed permission to erect its poles, as requested in
the petition He asked that it be referred to the
committee on streets and alleys.
Councilman Rocker offered resolution ''that
all resolutions motions, orders or consent ex
| press implied, by which the Central Union
| Telephone Company occupies the streets, alleys
or public grounds of this city with their poles OF
| wires" be rescinded. and that the company be
ordered to remove them within thirty days,
except such poles as the chief fire
engineer shall designate for the use of the fire
| department On failure Of the company to re-
| move its poles and wires as directed, the street
commissioner is ordered to make the removal
| at the cost of the company. The resolution
| failed of adoption. the nays being Benjamin
| Burns. Coy, Dell. Dunn, Haugh, Howes, Mar
key. McClelland McGroarty, Newland. Pearson,
Smither. Swain and Thalman-15; yeas-Cum-
mings, Herig, Rocker, Smith, Stuckmeyer and
| Waterman-6.
Councilman Rocker moved that the finance
committee of the two bodies and the city attor.