The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-10
FIRST FRANCHISE BID
CENTRAL TELEPHONE COMPANY
MAKES ITS PROPOSITION.
Will Put I'm Conduits and Give the
City a Fire Alarm and Police
System.


the members Of the Board OF Public Works
wrestled with the telephone question all
day yesterday. Early in the morning +.
G. Beach. general manager of the Central
Union Company; NJ. j. Carney. general
superintendent; A. A. Thomas general So
licitor; Stephen Brothy, assistant general
solicitor. and r. Q. Hawkins appeared at
the Office of the board according to agree
ment The proposed franchise of the COM
pany was discussed all day and at 4So
o'clock in the afternoon the board was
far from satisfied. The company had
sample police telegraph service set up in
the boards office, which the representatives
propose to furnish and maintain free of
cost in consideration of franchise. The
company also proposes to put in a first
class service and a fre-proof building, but
the board did not regard these improve
ments as gifts to the city. The police serv-
ice which it is proposed to give the city
is not satisfactory to the board. for the
board thinks there are many defects in it.
Colonel Downing spared with the agents
OF the company most of the time concern
ing rates. The company has nothing to
offer in that line. 1t was said that Indian
apolis has cheaper rates than any city
of its size in the country. but Colonel Down.
ing wanted some statement to the effect
that the rates would remain low. There was
line of the company's argument which
members OF the board could not under
stand. 1t was said that the more patrons
there are the higher the rates. The
rates are higher in the large cities than in
the small ones. The board drew the con-
clUson that as indianapolis grows the rates
may be expected TO advance and the
thought of such a course was not alto
gether pleasing. From what was under
stood the board concludes that the company
will not agree TO any contract in which
fixed rates are named
Following is the proposition which the
company makes to the city:
The Central Union Telephone Company is
ready:
- Within the underground district of
one mile square TO remove all its poles from
the streets and keep them off. and within
this district to place poles with three cross
arms only in alleys for distribution pur-
poses.
~ In said district to construct and main
tain the necessary underground conduits-
OF location and kind OF construction when
meets your written approval hereafter.
80. Outside of said underground district
to place our whole aerial plant in stanch
and frst-class condition, using no more
than six cross arms on any one pole.
a. We to give the city the right to the
exclusive use Of the top cross arm ,b OF tine tine
cross arm of all aerial poles In the outside
district.
exclusive use of one quot in our under
ground conduits for the city's fire alarm
and police patrol wires.
&c: We agree to build. equip, complete for
cty's use, its new fire department tele-
phone exchange, with copper metallic cir
cults and best long distance transmitters,
having thirty-fiye stations; This we evil viii
~. We agree to build, put up In good
working order, turn oven 90 the city Tree
of cost to it a new complete police patrol
signaling system, such as We have ex,
hibited to the board, having not to exceed
l5O stations, located as the. police authori-
ties may desire, provided the city wne n,, IL
which we furnish in the underground work,
will have cable sufficient for all the
IS. To reach points with the police sta
tons not reached by our structures we Will
furnish and erect not to exceed two hum
dred poles at outlying points where the
police service may require them, the owner
ship to remain in us. for use IN common
with the city's use.
charge telephones with our exchange serv-
ice which their offices require, as has
been specified-now some sixteen In num-
ber, and to increase tbs tbs number nun hereafter
40 We do agree to erect a new fire.
proof building especially adapted to our
modern and best appliances which can be
bought to make the best service.
I'll We state that the cost TO us now
in cash of what we propose, so 20 s pma,d a loa
in addition to this we undertake the main
tenance of their fire alarm telephone eX-
change and to continue to supply them with
our exchange service. -,
'r2. The above proposition involves the
exclusive use by the city OF ABOUT one -
third of our underground plant and Just
one-sixth of our aerial plant outside OF
the underground district
'13 This means that we make prepare
ton for a new expense to us or about $zJU-
600 and our estimate is in order to SO re-
build we must discard and throw away
more than 65 per cent. OF our structures
and investment now in Indianapolis
IA We are ready to undertake TO begin
this work within sixty or ninety days, TO
complete it all without interruption or I'M
reasonable delay and to do and complete
f fas underground WORK next 'a'-e anu
The agents of the company did not say
for how long a franchise Is wanted. Inc
board tried as well possible TO obtain
definite information concerning what may
be expected in the future, but hao 10 DE
the present. As understood by the board
the company will maintain the tre ana po-
lice services; put wires Underground IN the
downtown districts; furnish a flrst-class
service and construct a new building. The
board thinks the city will be lett at the
mercy of the. company concerning rates
the time Of the franchise is not limited,
and the city receives nothing from the rev.
enues of the company.
Mr.. Moore wanted some provision maze
whereby telephone companies OF the smaller
towns could obtain transfer privileges over
the Central Union lines In this city, out
this wish was explained away by the an
nouncement that the different systems
would not work together. The board ana
members of the administration say they
company. From the proposition. however.
the board will probably obtain material for
terms of franchise which the city may
oefer In the meanwhile other telephone
companies will be allowed to make offers