Evening journal., 1889-04-18

another COuCern. lhe laying VI NHo
Edison conduit in Columbus Ohio cost
$52 900. In Wilmington are 10 miles OF
wire and A. 000 lamps. The COST OF laying
Edison lights would be SlS,OOO and the
company has six miles OF arc light that
would cost $l5, 600 mile There would
he total outlay of $270, 900 and the
throwing away of the present wires
would be loss Of SAC. 900. A great deal
will be said about New York. have
seen the papers there and | say what is
possible there Is not possible here. There
the lights are compact, here the wires are
spread out Mr.. Hoffecker concluded by
calling attention to the use Of overhead
wires for street cars and declared that IL
would kill the Eighth Street Railway
Company, and said, "If. you propose to
kill existing industries for the interest of
something that is an experiment, then all
right.
Mr.. Quinn said Council is perfectly
satisfied with amendments that would
exclude street railways and presented
limits such as the Brandywine and Chris
tiana and Madison and Poplar streets.
He thought the bill could be amended 40
as to suit the best interests Of the com
panies.
Mr.. Ecclestine read two amendments
in regard to the points spoken Of by Mr..
Turner.
Mr. Gill Of the Western Union asked
Mr. Ecclestne II the amendments were
correct. He said they we're not.
Mr. Gill-"They are the Johnstone
Conduit Companys.D
Mr. Ecclestine-"N they are not
Mr.. Gill then asked If Council had
withdrawn the bill Mr.. Quinn quickly
stepped up and said "The city solicitor
nor the representative Of Jay Gould can
withdraw that bill
George II. Fearons, representing the
Delaware and Atlantic Telephone Com
pany then said in part "This Is a sub
iect Of great Importance and one that has
been deeply discussed ! believe you in
tend TO examine into this underground
wire matter fairly and not impose q cost
that will prohibit the use of telephones
The bill was acted upon by Council with
out notice being given to the interested
parties. You are asked TO destroy sys-
tenn that has given satisfaction. II Is
not local question; 1t involves your
neighbors. can refer you 60 a number
os experiments which were nearly all
total failures He then read an affidavit
from G. H. Wilson, superintendent of
the Chicago subways; which
said they were failure there
Many differeut plans had been
tried and up to the present time all had
been unsatisfactory. The expense would
be great. II would force our company
out of existence. In Indiana a reduction
of the rental value Of telephones had
driven the company cut Of business, and
the next session Of the General Assembly
the bill was repealed. The company is
prohibited by its meagre resources from
placing its wires underground The
poles and wires are erected under licenses
granted by the city of Wilmington. He
did not believe that the Legislature would
want the telephones driven out. The
company could not begin to furnish tele-
phones TO outlying subscribers. No cities
of the size of Wilmington are seeking 10
disturb their electrical interests. Is It
right and proper for Whining
ton after inviting us to dc
business to come here and try Il
drive us out Of business" He thei
quoted from the Board Of Electrical Sub
ways Of Brooklyn, asking other cities I,
wait "T'he rental in towns where the,
have subways is double what it is II
Wilmington. This Is urged by other
parties than by the citizens Of Whining
ton. These schemes have failed else
where and believe they will here or
misjudge your intelligence If the efforts
of certain people who have something Il
sell to be successful He concluded bJ
an exemplifcation of the ramifications o
the telephone system.
II. +. Pickles said in part "There 4
one phase that has not been brought on
in the exhaustive was going TO sa,
exhausting- discussions. Messrs. Quinn
and Turner said tonight they repre-
sented Council and should be givei
weight. There is another class herr
tonight. The men who elected members
Of Council They represent capital, mil
lions Of it. They are the business peopl
of Wilmington and they are opposed Il
putting w'res underground until prOpe
system is invited. The business peopl
want you TO wait until you meet agail
and then IL there is a system, adopt it. :
IL was now Mr.. Johnson's turn and he
T. said in part 81 believe You thoroughly
L understand your own business Council
{ comes here for you to rid them of al
abominable nuisance. The public deman,
this and the only objection urged is Z
shower vituperation and abuse upol
u those on the other side. They say yol
4 want to take away wealth of your people
: Pray who are the fAmcrican Bell Tele
. phone Company and the Western Union
Il Not dollar is held in Wilmington. TIL
I Bell people were able to declare div
4 dend Of 1924 on the low charge Of $6t
+ We do not want to destroy the busines
I Of the telephone companies, because th
es business we represent expect to get on
In returns from them. Underground wire
as will not raise prices; it viii lower thei
N and they know IT, The telephone peopl
las are frequently annoyed by atmospher
or influences. AS to the telegraph wir,
they have been underground for year
M In London they have been undergroun
Iso for forty years. They are making none
" at what they now have and will continl
he to do so until you make them put the
itv under ground. They viii allow nothir
~ to come in unless they divide In Ne
York the subways are in operation by
-, private corporation Forty per cent.
- the New York Company is owned by d
~ American Bell Telephone Compan
90 $3.50. 600 by the Edison and $3.50, 600
"a your humble servant. This much I
mi Mr. Hoffeckers remarks that the city
"a "a. New York paid for its subways. We
80 rs not ask for dollar of yeur money. n
isb Hoffecker said many subways have be
- tried and many failed. Yes, l know
% - 14O which have failed, but that is nothi
re. against the successful one Wires ht
been found that were successful; one
of Wilmington. Mr.. johnson read let
IN from f. A. Lesley of the Manhattan CO
ON pany Of New York, to the effect &