The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-16
COUNCIL WILL ALLOW POLES.
MAY ACT MONDAY ON PETITION OF
TYSON TELEPHONE COMPANY.

President TysOn's Conference With
Mayor MeIdrim As to the Status al
the COmpany's PetitiOn-It Is Like
Iy Privileges VIII he Granted as
the Exchange Is Now at West
Broad end BrOughton Streets In
stend of DrnytOn and st. Julian
streets-A Special Meeting May De
Called.
The outlook for the Tyson Telephone
Company securing the privilege from
city is brighter. the indica-
lions now pointing 10 a special
meeting of Council Monday night to con-
slider the matter. Unless something I'M
foreseen develops there IS every reason to
believe the company viii be granted the
rights it has been seeking some time.
President D. A. Tyson, accompanied by
Mr.. W. r. Slater, attorney for the com
pany called on Mayor Meldrim yesterday
for the purpose of ascertaining the status
of the petition filed recently by the COM
pany asking Council for the privilege of
erecting poles from the city limits to the
telephone exchange at Drayton and St
Julian streets, and to designate the streets
along which it is desired the poles be
erected. The fact that poles are up 10
within a short distance of the city and
will be up to the corporate limits before
the next meeting of Council made it
necessary for the company to take imme-
date action in view of the fact no action
was taken regarding the matter at the
last meeting.
When the petition first came up 1t was
looked on adversely by several aldermen,
who were of opinion the time has come
when a line should be drawn against the
promiscuous placing of poles in all parts
of the city, leaving the streets consider
ably blockaded where they stand in close
proximity. The question of poles had
been thought of by the board long before
the petition was filed, so that the alder
men were just thinking seriously enough
of the matter to hesitate in granting the
privilege asked.
1t was suggested by one of the board
that the Tyson company should come in
If possible, on the poles of another COM
pany by making some satisfactory ar
rangement This was discussed in a gem
eral way, ana 1t was concluded to reserve
action until City Attorney Adams gave an
opinion as to whether the city could legal
ly compel other companies to allow the
Tyson company to string wires on their
poles Mr. Adams was present at the time
and took the matter under advisement
though no opinion has been rendered 90
Council yet The idea of referring this
question 10 Mr. Adams was in the event
the Tyson company could use poles Of other
companies, the petition was not to be
granted; otherwise, the rights asked would
be allowed. The former idea of compel
ling companies to surrender their poles
to competing companies is generally looked
upon by competing companies a a mon
strous proposition.
Looking on the question from a bust
ness standpoint, they express the belief
the city can compel companies to take
down poles and also designate where they
shall be placed. but as one lawyer said,
1.-The city can no more compel one COM
pany to allow a competitor to use its
poles. than l can be forced 10 allow any
one to occupy part of my premises. The
proposition seems untenable."
The Council granted the Bell Telephone
Company several permits at last meeting
to erect poles south of New Houston
street, TO which Alderman We'll raised OBJ
jections and voted no on the ground the
Tyson company had asked the same priv
leEe. out was refused DeCbuSe tHeTe are al
ready enough poles. While these poles
are TO be placed where there are few others
at present still the Tyson company feels
it should share the same treatment not
withstanding its poles would be on the
main streets.
Mayor Meldrm assured President Ty
son and Mr.. Slater during the conference
however, that it is his belief the petition
will be acted on favorably In the event
some action is not taken sooner, it was
understood the Mayor would call a epe-
cial meeting of Council Monday in view
of the urgent demand that the petition
be disposed of one way or the other. The
Mayor was told, however that it is the
desire to erect poles only along West
Broad street to the Traub building at
West Broad and BroughtOn streets. where
the exchange win be located instead of
at Drayten and St Julian streets. This
will materially change the petition, and
may be the reason the Mayor Ventured
the assurances Council would act favor
ably. 1t seems the desire of the alder
men. however, to give the new company
every encoura cement in entering Savan
nah. They look on a long distance line
essity which will meet long felt public
| demand.
The action of Council may be conser-
vatively forecasted as favorable TO the
Tyson company AS soon as it gets the
privileges il seeks, the remaining part Of
the construction will be promptly finish
ed and the connection made with Macon