The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-22
CHEAP TELEPHONES
ARE PROMISED
Lackawanna Telephone Company Asks
a Franchise OF Councils.
CONCESSIONS THAT 1T WILL. MAKE
Agrees TO Give tho CITY II Number of
Free Telephones Not to Exceed
Ten. aud Also TO Allow the City to
Place n Cable in the Conduits IL
VIII Lay--Koutinc Business of
Select Council That Received At
tcntion Last Night.

tcntion Last Night.
At last nights meeting of the Select
council an ordinance was introduced
granting permission to the Lacka-
wanna Telephone company to construct
telephone plant in this city. Robert
Robinson, the select councilman from
the Eleventh ward, introduced the or
dinance and asked that it be reported
forthwith from committee. Such action
was not taken. however. Mr.. Robin
son later in the meeting moved that
when council adjourn it be to meet next
Thursday night. Mr.. Finn amended
that the next meeting of council be
Wednesday evening when the commit
tee may have something to report on
the ordinance. highly interesting
fight is promised between those who
favor the new company and those who
oppose ii.
The ordinance is typewriter docu-
ment of three pages and asks that
the Lackawanna Telephone company
be granted permission to erect and
maintain poles and string wires and
operate lines of telephone in the several
streets, avenues, courts and places of
the city, and to lay conduits, ducts,
mains or pipes, with the necessary
manholes, etc, for laying telephone
wires underground. The conduits are
to be laid under the supervision of the
city engineer, and at least $500 feet of
conduit is to be put in place within one
year after the granting of the fran
chise.
In return for the franchise the COM
pany agrees to allow the city to lay one
cable in the conduit for fire alarm and
police purposes and to furnish num-
Der of telephones not exceeding ten to
the city free of charge.
THE MAXIMUM RATE.
The maximum rate for the service to
be furnished by the company is stated
to be $3.50 per month for business
houses and $3.50 for private residences.
Within a year from the time the fran
chise is granted the company binds
itself to put into effect telephone
system with not less than three hun
dred subscribers A bond is also to be
furnished in the sum of $4,000 as a
guarantee that the streets will be prop
erly repaired after the laying of the
conduits for the underground wires
In case a franchise is granted it is not
to become operative unless the COM
pany within thirty days Of the ordin-
ance's passage files with the city clerk
q written acceptance of the conditions
of the franchise.
The Lackawanna Telephone company
applied for a charter to the state de-
partment at Harrisburg on January
and 1t was granted some time later
The incorpOratOrs are Conrad
Schroeder Mrs. Nina Robinson, George
Is. Barnard, w. II. Boland and George
S. Horn. Those interested in the new
company say that it is a company
organized in good faith and not fol
speculative purposes and that if they
are granted a franchise they will in
less than year be able to give the city
a cheap and reliable telephone service
Communications from the mayor We're
read appointing James White inspector
of the erection of the stone culvert over
Leach Creek on Bloom avenue, and
Michael DaVitt inspector of the lateral
sewer being constructed on Schultz court
between Olive and Pine streets. They
were referred to committees. The APP
pointments of Hon. F. w. Gunster
Rev. p. j. McManus and Henry Belin
jr., for the term of five years as directors
of the public library, and Rev. c. NJ
Giifin, d. d., and Rev. Joseph X. Dixon,
D. D., to fill the uneXpired terms of Rev.
w. II. Pearce d. D., and Rev. d. c.
Hughes, d. D., as directors of the same
institution were read and confirmed
forthwith.
BRILL WAS CONFIRMED.
The appointment of Joseph Brill, who
inspected the work of the Monsey ave-
nue. sewer was also confirmed, City En-
gineer Phillips having certified that
Brill acted as inspector during the con-
stTuction of the sewer
On motion of Councilman MCCann
the report OF the city controller was
referred to the estimates committee
without being read on the recommen-
dation of the fire department commit
tee, Hunt Il Connell was awarded the
contract for furnishing a heating appar-
atus for the Nay Aug engine house
The company's bid was $3.50. The city
clerk was instructed to readvertise for
bids FOR supplying various furnishings
needed at the Nay Aug house
In accordance with the suggestion of
Chief of the Fire Department Hickey a
common council resolution was ap-
proved which provides that each fire en-
%ine shall be taken out and used for AZ
least one hour every two weeks.
Nlr Wagner introduced an ordinance
for FIVE additional electric lights in the
Tenth ward. which was referred to a
committee, Mr.. Robinson introduced a
resolution which directs the street COM
missioner to ascertain by what authori-
ty the Scranton Traction company laid
it's tracks on Pittston avenue, between
Hickory and Birch streets and make a
report at the next meeting. The resolu-
tion was referred to the city solicitor in
conjunction with the streets and bridges
committee, Mr.. DulT introduced AN or
dinanCe for the erection of four addi-
tiOnal fire hydrants in the Eighth ward
which was approved.
An ordinance for another permanent
man for the Eagle Engine company. was
killed and one providing for laying flag
stone sidewalks and setting curbstones
on Pine street, between Monroe and
Quincy avenue, passed ON third reading.
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