The San Francisco call., 1897-04-04
Peoples Mutual Company
Will Begin Work Early
Next Month.
Underground Wires Will Be
Laid for City Service-Long.
Distance Connections.
The Gem petition Will Take Eff CT
January I, 1898 Hostile Lagis.
latioa Was Defeated.

Active work in the construction of the
lines and conduits of the Peoples Mutual
Telephone Company will pegin early next
month. Under the terms OF the franchise
granted five months since the company
must within one year from the date of the
grant expend at least 100000 in con-
struction work. independent OF the pur-
chases of real estate.
At the office of the company yesterday
the managers stated that the requisite
number of contracts had been obtained to
justify the company in going ahead with
the work.
The franchise, which is valuable one,
giving the company the right to place
conduits in any street or alley of the City,
was not obtained without considerable OPP
position. The promoters OF the new en-
lerprise were harassed for many months
by person who had been jobber or
broker in franchises Obtained in Los An
geles and other places. He was so per-
slstent and meddlesome IN his opposition
that the I'M preston was formed that some
rival institution had hired him to OBJ
struct The grant of the franchise At
time when he seemed about 10 accomplish
his plan of obstruction, he was exposed
in the Board OF Supervisors by Adolph B.
Spreckels, who was then chairman OF the
Street Committee of the board, and the
franchise was obtained by the company.
AT Sacramento during the session of the
last Legislature the same enemy of the
competing company, whose plans was
frustrated in San Francisco, sought to OBJ
tain legislation which would have greatly
EN- mbarrasSed the owners OF the franc hse.
General Robert A. Friedrich was advised
OF this persons presence at Sacramento
and at once went before the Assembly
Com nd
the scheme. The result of the exposure
was the defeat of the hostile design. GEN
eral Friedrich was astonished when he
reached Sacramento 10 find that the ire
sponsible awker OF franchises. whose lack
of character and standing in the CONNER
cial community had been so thoroughly
and openly exposed by Supervisor
Spreckels, had managed to commend him
self to the good graces of the Sutter Club
of that city.
When the competing line is in operation
the people as well as the City will have a
omparatIvely cheap service. Under the
| franchise the maximum rate which the
company can charge is So per month for a
telephone ard cents q switch. The old
| company under it's franchise is permitted
to charge as high as S. per month and 5
| cents switch, although a much lower
rate has been established in anticipation
OF competition.
Under the provisions of the fraE chise
granted to the new company, the City is
TO have one duct or system of wires in
| each conduit free Of charge; and more
over the company is obliged to pay the
City per cent of Its gross earnings. 1t is
| required by the franchise that the COM
pany must always maintain competitive
| service.
The new line. according to the grant.
must be in operation to SOM extent as
| early as January 1, 1898. So the work of
| building must be active from this time
| forward.
| The first work will probably be along
| Mission and Market streets. In order to
| introduce long-distance facilities and
connect with other towns, particularly
| San Jose. with as little delay as possible,
much suburban work will be done in
putting in poles and stringing wires. For
| service in San Francisco the underground
! system is to be adopted.
| 1t is said by the management of the
| company that there will be no trouble iE
securing frst-class instruments and mod
| ern switch board appliances. Recently
old-established companies in Eastern
cities have expended as much as $1O0 600
each to secure all the modern improve
ments in switchboards. The appliances
which the competing company will intro
duce are to be thoroughly tested in prac-
tical operation.