The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-16
THE PHONE SYSTEM.
Council Committee Wrestling
With a Franchise.
BURIAL or THE WIRES AT ISSUE.
sunset Company Fsvors 1t In Business
see,ion-City Wants Uss Of
Telephone Poles.

committee from the citv council. con-
sisiing OF Aldermen elise and Compton,
and Delegates Little. James HuEd and
Nosgt. met N the house of delegates cham
Der yesterday, and spent the entire after
noon IN endeayoring TO effect compro-
mise for an ordinance with the Sunset
Telephone Company. Louis Glass, the
agent OF the company 81 San Francisco.
was present. and entered into the discus
sion OF the subject. showing the position
of his company and the desire for salts
factory franchise.
There was lengthy discussion OF where
and along what streets shall be placed the
underground wires. Mr.. Glass took the
position that he did not want the commit
tee to so provide in the ordinance that st
some future meeting OF some future coun-
Gil ii viii be in the power of the city.
through any member moved by a spirit of
spite, TO compel the company 10 put its
wires underground in the outlying dis
;ricts OF the city. He said such request
would be unheard of. but the company
would be willing to put its wires under
ground in the business districts or would
be willing to accept franchise providing
that when the company should be COM
concerns doing similar business. such rs
the electric light companies. would be re-
CURED to do likewise.
The discussion WAS wide In its range,
some taking the position that at all events
the wires should be placed underground
within the fire district, and others believed
that the wires should be buried along all
paved streets. To this latter proposition
y Z n - 4 -
should happen the city should pave its
streets to Lake Union il would break the
company up in business 10 comply with
the requirements. That portion Of the
proposed franchise was then laid over for
the present and will be taken up again
when the committee has had a chance to
more thoroughly familiarize itself with the
proposition.
Section 3 Of the franchise was so changed
as TO provide that. If the company. in
placing its wires along paved or perma-
nently improved streets. should not repave
to the city's satisfaction, the city will have
the authority to repair the streets at the
company's cost. the company to have the
privilege to do the repairing in a manner
satisfactory to the city.
Section gives the city the right to use
the company's poles for its fire alarm and
police telegraph system. Delegate James
thought that the city should have the
right TO use the poles for any and all uses
not impa.ring the service or inconven-
fencing the company. Mr.. Glass said that
the city should not require the company
to loan its poles to any use except that
already embodied in the franchise. One
additional rule was embodied. to the effect
that where not less than four persons have
telephones on the same line they shalt
have the use of the phone for S. per
month, otherwise the rate charged will
be 81.
The committee adjourned to meet again
next Monday, when 1t is hoped that more
satisfactory arrangements can be made
and a complete franchise agreed upon.