Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-09-26
THE NEV TELBPHONBf0.
MUST PLACE ITS WIRES UNDER fHE SUR
FACE OF TIE STREAS
The Ordinances Passed by Suncil, East Night
The Old Telephone fnpany Must Take
Down lis Poles, an the Western Union,
Which Never Had Rights on the
Streets, Sin Have to Bury
Ills Wires.

Seventeen memoors VI INC Ceccnu
Branch and twelve OF the First answer
ed tn their names at roll call at the
opening of last evenings regular ses-
sion. There was a light lobby, those
present. almost without exception, be-
ing gentlemen interested one way or
the other in the pending ordinance
granting a franchise to the Peoples
Telephone Company. This document
came up first in the First Branch, where
printed copies had been ordered At the
last meeting. Those having charge Of
the printing must have counted
the members of Council and Lro-
vided one copy for each, for the re-
porters present could only obtain a copy
with the greatest difficulty, and even
the Clerk had to borrow copy from
which to read. The printed ordinance
had been examined by the Solicitor,
previous TO the session, and a number
Of amendments made by that official
were considered as part OF the original
ordinance. No important change was
made by members until Sec. 5 was
reached. when Mr.. Grimm moved to
strike out the provision requiring the
conduits to be not less than three and
one-half feet under the surface of the
street in clay ground and five feet In
sand or gravel, and insert two feet In
all soils. The amendment occa-
stoned some debate. The vote
on the amendment was seven TO
seven, and the Mayor voted no, say
ing he did not feel like flying in the
face of the Ordinance Committee. In
Sec. Mr.. Menkemeler offered an addi-
tion providing that the rights given
should not be assigned or transferred
without the consent Of Council. 1t was
adopted. In Sec. 10, which provided
that the 1T should have all the tele-
phones it w4nted, at SIS each per an
mum, Mr.. Richards called attention to
the fact that the present Company fur
nshed the city with thirty-three tele-
phones free, and said if the ne W system
was all that was claimed for it, it could
afford to be as liberal In
return for 8 franchise. He
thereupon offered an amendment
requiring the Company to furnish
the city thirty telephones free OF cost,
five years after the passage OF the ordl-
nance. The amendment was agreed to.
Ia Sec. 10 the blank within which the
Company must complete its under
ground conduits aud system, was filed
with eighteen months. The ordinance
was then passed, the Company TO accept
the franchise by November l, 1894.
In the Second Branch Mr.. Brock
called attention to the fact that in no
place was it obligatory upon the Com
pany TO construct any underground svs-
TEN anywhere. 1t said ii may" con-
struct such system within certain limits
but where did 1t say they must do so?
He was very much in favor OF some
thing definite and to that end be
moved to strike the word may" out Of
Sec. 2, and insert "must" so that the
clause would read, "But no poles shall
be erected in the alleys of the central
part of the city between the streets on
which the said company must have Its
underground conduit service aforesaid, -"
Then Mr.. Hupp offered another amend
ment. adding the words except as here
matter provided" to the above clause.
Both amendments were agreed TO.
In Sec. 3, after line eight, RMr. Brock
offered as an amendment, land no poles
except such as are hereinafter provided
for, shall be erected in this district "
The amendment was concurred in. The
ordinance was passed and returned to
the First Branch for concurrence in the
amendments. This was promptly done
and the ordinance now goes to the Com
pany for exceptance.
1t is understood that the Company
will offer an amendment at the next
meeting Of Council allowing II to place
its conduits within two feet of the sur
face of the street.