Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1893-08-09
The Telephone Question.

In HI dEtfCic appearing III Nhc
Huntington Advertiser recently on
The subject of the Telephone Line
just completed between Hunting
ton and Cstlettsburg, Ceredo is at
tackled in an unfriendly and I'M
fair manner by the editor, and in
a manner that we are confident he
would not have written had ne
known or inquired of the facts in
the case. The people of Ceredo did
not object or attempt TO exclude the
Telephone Co from securing prop
OF location for it's line through Ce-
redo; on the other hand every effort
and concession consistent with the
rights of the town in granting a
franchise of this nature was made
in the effort to satisfy the Tele-
phone Co, The first intimation
the town had of the building of the
line, was the distributing of the
poles through the principal streets
of the town, without as much as
anybody connected with the Com
pany saying "by your leave"
When asked by citizens who au-
thorized the building of the line,
they replied the county court had
granted the privilege. The fore
man in charge of the party was in
formed of the town being incor-
porated, and that upon proper ap-
plication to council route would
b. provided for them line, and
at same time route was indicated
through town, which was deemed
acceptable by that representative
Of the Company in charge of put
tiag up the line, who reported the
above facts tothe Company's Super
intendent at Richmond, Va, whion
was soon followed by application
of the Superintendent for fran
chise for the Southern Bell Tele-
phone Company through Ceredo.
The council desiring to act I'M
derstandingly, procured a copy of
the franchise granted this Com
pany by the city of Huntington, a
long and carefully drawn ordi-
nance fully protecting that city in
all its rights and controlling power
over the streets, alleys, etc., and
reserving to the city the right to
use the poles and fixtures at all
times for city purposes, police or
FIRE system also requiring free use
of the exchange system, the loca-
ton and maintenance of instru-
ments in city buildings, and ex-
tending the line to, and full use of
Same for the Cemetery, some
miles out; also the guaranteeing of
indemnity to the city for damages
arising from construction or main.
tainance of lines in case of any ac-
cident; also paying to tho city
$500 per year license for the frat
ten years, and one per cent. Of the
GROSS EARNINGS of the entire sys-
tenn THEREAFTER for the benefit of
the city, and said franchise not
TO be- exclusive.
The above are only a part of
the requirements and restrictions
which the home city of the Hunt
ington Advertiser, properly en-
bodied in its franchise to this
same Company.
Upon this application the coun.
Gil Of Cersdo prepared an ordinance
granting the Company the right to
pass through the town upon the
route approved by their represen-
tative, with what the council
deemed only proper protection to
the town and its interests. This
was forwarded to Richmond, and
was returned as not acceptable e
tho company. The company stating
that they must not be required "a
maintain EVEN ONE public station
IN the town for accommodation oil
the public, neither would they b,
responsible for any damages result
ing from the building or maintain
ing the line through town; mus
also be exempted from all munich
pal taxes for five years would mol
recognize rights Of town to caus,
poles 10 DO changed or removed il
any part Of the line franchise {,
be unlimited az 10 time and to GOV
or all streets, alleys, and publ,
grounds, together with a clause dc
claring it a mIsdemeanor for any
body to bitch horses, mules. or cat