The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-06-05
AFRAID OF BEING SWALLOWED UP.
Anxiety of River Farmers Over Their
Telephone Property.
A Half-Mile or More of the Freeport
Road to be Improved With
Crushed Rock Soon.

AT yesterday mornings session of the
Board of Supervisors County Surveyor
Boyd submitted the specifications for the
improvement of the Freeport road, a
half-mile or SO south of the Gallo place.
work, and an experiment made in mod
ern road building.
On motion of Supervisor Jenkins, the
Clerk was directed to advertise for bids
for doing the work, such bids to be
opened by the board on the oath inst.
AS TO TELEPHONE FRANCHISES.
William Johnston of CORTLAND called
to inquire if the board had granted tele-
phone franchise to any company over a
public road along which any other COM
pany now has franchise.
The ordinance granting franchise to
the Capital Telephone Company was read
for Mr.. Johnston's information, showing
that the franchise covers any road in the
county.
Mr.. Johnston said the people down the
river had erected poles and established
telephone line to Walnut Grove, and it
seemed to him that where the people had
been granted such franchise and had
maintained line at their own expense
they should be protected. He objected to
any new franchise being granted along
the road down the river. while he did not
OBJECT TO any company occupying any
road not already covered by franchise.
Chairman Morrison said he supposed
to refuse company a franchise over the
river road would be to confer an exclu-
sive privilege to one company, and this
he did not think the county had any
right to do.
Lets see," added the Chairman, "have
we got your river telephone line on the
assessment rolI?''
II don't know" replied Mr. Johnston.
If you haven't it's the Assessors fault.
1t ought to be there"
III doesn't seem to me to be quite
right" continued Mr.. Johnston, Ito allow
any Dig corporation to come in, cut down
rates, and freeze out a company oom-
posed OF farmers and taxpayers, who
have established line for their own and
the public convenience. We don't want
and do not need any other telephone line
down that way"
Mr.. Morrison said he did not think the
new company proposed to interfere with
the present one. Ii the latter is giving
satisfaction 1t Is not likely any other COM
pany would invade its district. The fran
chise asked for by the Capital Company
Is general and covers all public roads. 1t
could not be made special. general
franchise is to be sold by the county on
the 24th to the highest bidder The fran
chise already granted the Capital Conn
pany is special one, under the law, and
runs for only twenty-five months"
Il think, myself" said Supervisor Jen-
klns, I'VE have been granting too much.
A new company may get in, reduce the
price OF telephonIng to one-half, freeze
out existing companies, and then put up
its prices, get its money all back, and
then make its rates as high as it pleasssu
Mr.. Johnston said he did not want to
place any obstacles in the way of public
and if the people down
the river want another telephone line he
would have no objection to offer. 1t
now costs but 81 ton freight on cherries
from Sacramento to san Francisco
while it costs 80 from CORTLAND This is
the result of ordinations between com
Danies on the river. The only object in
another telephone company building
down the river would be to freeze out the
present line.
He instanced the action of the Stand
ard Oil Company putting down the price
Of coal Oil in Ohio below the cost of pro-
duction, while they put up the prices in
California, Idaho and other places where
there is no competition.
Supervisor brennan said he would IA
vor all franchises that appeared to be for
the benefit of the public generally.
The noon hour having arrived, the dis
cussion was closed. The rest of the days
session was devoted to the examination
and allowing of demands against the
county.
To-day and tomorrow will be spent by |
the Supervisors in inspecting roads in
The vicinity of Folsom.