The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-01
AN UNDESIRABLE FRANCHISE.
Why the Wallace Telephone Company Has
Delayed Putting in a Plant Here

At a meeting of the committee on streets and
alleys, held last night, ex Mayor Caven appeared
for the Citizens Cooperative (Wallace) Tele-
phone Company, and made lengthy statement
as to the reasons for the delay in the work Of
putting in the plant, and asking for the repeal or
modification of two sections of the ordinance
granting the company the right to operate here.
Mr.. Cayen said the ordinance was the same
one which the West syndicate had refused to ac-
cept and was full Of provisions which made cap
italists timid about putting their money into the
enterprise operating under it, and made the put
ting in and conducting Of telephone plant "a
business impossibiity." Among these were
provisions requiring the company to secure the
special consent Of the Council to putting poles
ana Wires Oh any particular route; declaring the
property of the company forfeited if there should
be failure to comply with all the condi-
tons OF the ordinances; in case of an
injunction, giving the city the right to impose
special tax as high as 3 per cent; allowing any
other company to string its wires on the poles
or the Wallace company; giving the latter only
thirty days to begin work, and at the same time
leaving an old company to obstruct the way, and
forbddng the Wallace company to lease to any
other company without forfeiture of its proper
ty, and at the same time reserving the privilege
of granting similar franchises to any other
company.
The Wallace company had supposed that the
central Union would DO required to remove its
poles and wires. That had been the sentiment
Of the people and of the Council. and the Central
Union had itself said it would go. Capitalists
declined to put money into the Wallace company
when the property would be at the within of tho
Council and subject to conflscatlon at every
turn To put in poles while the Central Unions
poles were in the way would cost probably $lO.-
OO0 more, as the poles would have to be seventy
five feet high in order to get above the Central
Unions wires. In view of all these difficulties
there could be no just complaint that the com
pany had not got along fast enough.
Mr.. Caven said that if sections and 10 Of the
ordinance were not modified so that the com.
pany could have some assurance of holding its
own property, and so that the wires of other
companies shall not be strung on its poles with
out it having some voice in fixing the rental of
the poles, and if the plant of the Central Union
was not ordered out, the Wallace company would
go ahead and put in plant. Other
wise it did not care to do anything
further, as the difficulties were too great.
Section 10 provides that, in case of Injunction
assignment to another company, the plant shall
be forfeited to the city. Even with these changes
as the property of the Central Union could not
be bought. Mr. Wallace had said to the Central
Union people that if they would indicate how he
could best give ground for u suit against the
Wallace telephone he would do his best to fix
things so suit could be brought at once He
was anxious TO test the matter in the courts
The committee will meet again on Friday
night, and will probably then prepare report
recommending that the ordinance be amended
as asked City Attorney Taylor said, last night,
mo company in the world would operate under
that ordinance"