The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-07
THEY TALKED PHONES
CounclInsu Consider Underground Wires;
and Long Distance Connections. I
COMPANY STILL AFTER A FRANCHISE
American Long Distance Company.
Wants TO Como Into NorloIk nn,,
tho Southern Stntcs Company
Fights tho H0vo-A 1scnvy Tax
Upon Itincrcnt Vendors.

The Common Council chamber pre-
scented quite an animated appearance
when President Winston called the rcgu-
lar April meeting Of that body to order
last night. The following mem bers
responded to their names: Councilmcn
Allen. Anderson. l.. b.. Ballentine, Can
non. Davis. II. c. and L. W., Hecht
Dennis. East. Farant. Hannah, McCor-
mick. Peelle, McManus, 1aidgewell, Redd,
Womble, Seneca, Yeatman, Elliott and
McFarEan.
a number Of the members Of the Sc
iect Council were present to listen to the
telephone matter Several legal repre-
sentativcs OF The contcnding lines were
present also.
The minutes of the two previous meet
lngs Of the Common Council were then
read.
The matter OF electing q successor to
Mr. William II. Anderson as member
from the Atlantic City Ward. was gone
into. MIR. Edward Campo was placed in
nomination by Mr.. Dennis. lie was
elected and At once qualified and took
his seat.
y HEAVY LICENSE TAX.
Mr. II. G. Davis introduced, by request
an ordnance imposing Il tax of 500 per
day for all itincrant verders or persons
engaging in u transient business in the
city OF Norfolk The exceptions
and bona tide sales Of goods for future
ueilFerS. me ordinance was adopted.
STREETS TO BE PAVED.
Resolutions OF expediency providing
Tor the paving with Belgian block Of
Duke. Boush, Dartmouth and Randolph
streets. We're adopted. These resolutions
had been repeatedly laid over at pre-
vious meetings for the lack of neces-
sary three-fourths vote.
a committee, consisting OF Messrs.
Farant. Ridgewell and Peelle, Oh the
commit tee to assess betterments against
the property AUDITING on the improved
streets. was appointed.
UNDERGROUND WIRES.
The clerk then read the report Of the
snecial committee on placing overhead
wires In underground conduits It re-
commends the placing OF all wires, eX-
cent electric light and power wires.
Mr. B1llentine thought an amend
ment to the ordinance was needed and
asked That the privilege or the floor be
extended to Mr.. Alfred p. Thorn, who
would explain the needed provision.
MT. Thom said that an ordinance pro-
viding for the joint occupancy Of poles
should clearly define the rights of the
companies using them. He recommends
Ell the insertion OF the words:
And such poles shall be or such size
anu height as to admit Of the placing
thereon of all wires should The city
hereafter require the same" after the
clause prescribing the height of wires
from the ground, etc.
The report was adopted anu the orll-
nance regulating the placing Of wires
was then read.
MT. Womble offered an amendment 10
section ., providing that poles shall be
hfty feet high, with lowest wires thirty
I'VE feet above the surface It was
adopted
DR.. Anderson. member of the Com
mIttec on Lights, protested against the
twenty-fvc-foot elevation for lights and
offered a ffteen-foot amendment 1t
was adopted n
Mr.. IT. c. Davis moved that the ordl-
nance as amended be adopted Tic vote
stood % ayes and l noe.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE.
The matter of granting q franchise to
the American Telephone and Telegraph
company. of Virginia, was then taken
up. III IL
The special committee returned the or
ulnance without recommendation and
the Council took UP the ordinance which
Is as previously published.
The ordinance is one Of the most i'm
portant ever considered by the Councils
ana rs terms are very rigid. Neverthc-
less, the American company had agreed
~ ~ !t,aHu Iel. u. r Nlcancy, preSi-
dcnt OF the company, was present to-
gether with his attorneys. Mcssrs. Rich
ara Wake, Alfred p. Thorn. Thomas II.
Wilcox and others, to push the ordi-
nance
General Manager Ielvln OF the South
crh states company, With an array Of
counsel. was also on hand to protect the
interests OF his company.
PETITIONS ON THE SUBJECT.
y petition, signed by a number of