The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-03
TO BUILD LONG DISTANCE LINES.
The WaycrOss Telephone Co.'s Petit
ton TO the City Council.


The city council spent some time yes
terday afternoon hearing from
Mr Samuel Carpenter, repre-
senting the Waycross Telephone
company, which desires a franchise
for the erection OF a long distance line
here and permission to use the streets
for its polls and wires.
The petition was backed by another
petition from the city council OF Darien
to the city council Of Savannah. urging
that the franchise be granted on account
of the mutual advantages to the sew
eral communities Of this section OF long
distance telephone connection.
There was also an Endorsement of the
action Of the Darien council by the coun-
ty commissioners Of Mcintosh vounty.
Alderman Davis asked that some imme-
dlate action be taken and that Mr.. Car
penter, representing the telephone com
pany, be given a hearing.
Several aldermen objected to an imme-
date consideration of the subject, but
were willing TO hear from Mr.. Carpenter.
MIR. Carpenter requested that the petit
ton be read, which was done. The petit
ton stated that it was the desire Of the
petitioners to build Iong-distance tele-
phones in the city Of Savannah, TO be con-
nected with long distance telephone lines
now in course Of construction, or 10 be
constructed. connecting Jacksonville
Brunswick, Darien, Waycross and other
points. The petition asked for permission
to use the streets and lanes of the city
for its poles and wires on the same condi-
tons as those recently granted the Sa-
yannah Telephone Company. The petit
ton was signed by J. s. Bailey, president.
Mr. Ctarnanfar SOLD line ma
telephones in Waycross, with forty-one
miles of wire now built. The company is
under contract with the Jacksonville Tel
ephone Company to construct a line to
that city. Mr.. Carpenter said his company
does not contemplate doing a local bust
ness. Business men, who want close COM
munication with neighboring cities, how
ever, can have long distance telephones
put In their offices. The benefits which
would come from connecting Savannah
with all adjourning cities and towns were
dwelt upon by Mr.. Carpenter. He said
that he was willing to make joint use of
poles with the Savannah Telephone Com
pany.
Alderman Charlton urged that it was i'm
portant that council should take imme-
date action. 1t was evidently advantage
Gus to Savannah that the city should
have connection with adjoining towns If
people are willing to put their money in
THESE companies ~ IS nothing 10 the peO-
pie of Savannah how many companies
there are. He was In favor of letting
them all come in.
The question was discussed by Alder
men We'll, Krouskoff and Guckenheimer.
who opposed immediate action. Alderman
Well suggested that the new companies be
required to use the same poles.
Alderman Guckenheimer announced his
opposition to allowing the poles and wires
to remain above ground and said that at
the next meeting of council he would intro
duce an ordinance to require all telephone
companies TO place their wires under
ground.
Alderman Davis favored imme-
date action. The Bell Telephone
Company is northern concern,
he said, and is not putting its
wires under ground to comply with the
ideas Of council and the people of Savan-
nah on the subject, but to keep down local
competition.
Alderman Owens said there is no ne
cessity for immediate action. The COM
pany has not secured its franchise from
the county, and is not ready to build to
Savannah.
Mr.. Carpenter said that it Is important
to his company that council should take
action at once. in order that he might
know what to do.
The petition was referred to the COM
mittee of the whole by a vote of six TO
four. Aldermen Wylly, Reid, Davis and
Charlton voting in the negative.
The franchise viii doubtless be granted
at the next meeting.