Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-06
MOUNT PLEASANT CITIZENS
Approve of Franchise for Home Telephone
Company.
Railroad Out 18th Street, Sewers and
Street Extension All Come
Up for Consideration.

Very little business of importance was
transacted at the regular monthly meeting
of the Mount Pleasant Citizens Association
last evening, most of the evening being
taken up in a discussion of the subject of
street extension. A representative OF the
Home Telephone Company, which concern
is endeavoring to secure the passage of
bill empowering them to construct a sys-
them here explained to the meeting the
purpose Of the company, and the associa-
ton directed that committee of three be
appointed to urge before the proper con-
gressional committees the granting to the
company of a franchise.
After Mr.. Zellers had substituted report
in the matter, the association directed the
committee appointed at the previous meet
ing to take charge of the house and effects
of the village volunteer fire department to
dispose of the same. Mr.. ZellerS stated
that the chief of the District fire depart.
ment had informed the committee that II
the old village FIRE alarm bell was turned
over to him he would have it placed in the
engine house, No. IL, and then have the
hours struck from ii. The proposition was
approved by the association, and such
disposition will probably be made of the
bell.
President Somerviile and Mr.. Fl. D. Wal
bridge explained to the meetins; that from
what they had gathered in conferences with
the officials of the roads and with the Dis
trict Commissioners. it appeared that with
in year the village would be connected
with the city by another street railway
company. The road would be built by
either the lexington and Soldiers Home
or the Metropolitan Company, they
thought, and the route would be up 18th
street.
Home Telephone Company.
Mr.. P. H. Adams. representing the Home
Telephone Company, was introduced by
President Somerville, and he proceeded to
briefly outline the purposes and advantages
of his company.
He frankly confessed that the company
was organized to make money and not for
charitable purposes, but remarked that II
the company should be allowed to do bust
ness here telephone rates would be reduced
Just two-thirds lower than they are now;
The company has already secured $500
subscribers. 800 of them being subscribers
of the old company, but the District Com
missionerS, said Mr.. Adams, had endeavcred
to jump on the company with both feet.
They had not only reported to Congress
that telephone company was natural
monopoly, but had also advised Congress
that the present rates should not be re
duced Mr. Adams fdiculed the idea that
the present telephone rates could not be
reduced, saying that his company would
not only obey the law relative to putting
underground. but would also bind them
selves to furnish aS good u service as the
one now in use here for about one-third
less money. Richmond, Va. with only TO-
coo people, had as many if not more tele-
phones than Washington. with nearly 900
900 population, ana simply because there
WAS monopoly of telephone lines there
On the motion of Mr.. Sleman, a commit
tee of three was authorized to he appointed
to urge before Congress the granting of a
franchise to the Home Company.
Other Matters.
The committee sewers was instructed
to secure, if possible, the retention of the
items in the District appropriation bill for
the extension of the system of sewers, and
then followed an informal discussion of
the subject OF street extension. 1t was de-
velOped that there is not so much of oppo-
sition to the extension of streets as there
is to the proposal of Congress to impose
upon land owners about the whole of the
expense of the scheme. 1t was also said
that if the streets were to be extended, the
sooner it is done the better it will be for
the owners of land. No action was taken
by the association, however.