The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-04

will be- great advantage to have
low rates to residences. Outside OF the mile
ana three-quarters limit the New company
VIII charge 81 a. year extra for eacn quarter
mile of wire strung, as against IS charged
by the old company outside the mile limit.
Figuring on the basis of 25o0 subscribers,
with the maximum rates $I2 and $40, re-
spectively he showed that there would be
a saving of $4,000 q year to subscribers, as
the revenue of the old company would be
$4,000 a year and OF the New Company
100000 A lower average rate and lower
subscription list. while changing the sum
totals, would still leave the proportions the
same, he said. He said the provision in the
Central Union Company'S contract that the
rate to be charged here should be no greater
than that charged in other cities OF equal
size was really of no effect, as there is no
other city to compare with minneapolis
and never will be. Only by competition
said he, could lower rates be secured
Inasmuch as competition was not invited
when franchise was granted the other
company. he thought it but right that 1t
1--WE never gave a franchise to the other
company" interrupted President Downing
We simply made a contract requiring 1t TO
put wires underground
Well do not know as to that, said
Mr.. Gray. Il simply repeat what they are
said to claim.
w. w. Spencer also spoke on behalf of the
company. He said that in looking at that
map he could not understand what kind of
people those in Indianapolis are not to IN
sist on having connection with that net
work of wires extending of into ONO and
Michigan. AS tax official he had come
in contact with the Central Union Com
pany and knew that the taxes it pays are
mere bagatelIe, their claim being that
their property is mainly patent not tax
able Every little manufacturing establish
ment pays more taxes than this great cor
poration that takes 100000 q year out of the
pockets of the people and sends 1t to Phila-
delphia via Chicago.
L. C. Walker finished the plea of the COM
pany, asking for conference when the
subject could be discussed in detail. he told
hat Ind hna had III ind
pendent company in Detron III one year. 1t
now has 5000 subscribers at rates a little
higher than those proposed here beside
which 1t has connections with many outside
towns that could not be reached before. He
believed that experience could be duplicated
here.
FRANCHISE IN DETAIL.
The franchise proposed by the company
gives it the right to operate telephone
plant in Indianapolis forty years. The en-
tire charge for use, rental and all other
purposes is not to exceed $40 a year in
radius of one and three-quarter miles and
So year for each additional quarter mile
All telephones for residence purposes only
are to be $24 a year in the same radius and
extension, charges to be collected quarterly
The company is to give a bond for 5000 to
have plant for twenty-five hundred sub
scribers in operation by Dec. 81, 1898, unless
prevented by injunctions or other causes
over which 1T has no control. provided that
it shall have ten months time after the
franchise is approved by the mayor A bond
for $50 900. to run two years, with approved
sureties, is to be given guaranteeing the citv
against all kinds of lawsuits, alleged patent
infringements. personal damages growing
out of the construction of its plant, etc. At
ter two years $4,000 bond is to be given of
like import All wires within the district
bounded by East, West. North and So'+h
streets are to be under ground, save
poles cables and wires TO be permitted by
the board. Within ninety days after the or
dinance is passed, plans of work are to be
furnished to the board and within thirty
days of their approval work on the plant
is to commence. The top crossarms or all
poles are to be used exclusively by the city
and the company agrees to erect two hum
dred poles in districts not touched by 1t or
furnished by some other company, for fire
and police alarm wires. Wires may be cut
in case of danger from fire by the city. The
company is to restore all streets and alleys
to their former condition with the same
sort of paving material, to the approval of
the city, Conduits are to be not less than
three feet under ground nor interfere with
present underground structures or preclude
future public improvements, such as the
laying Of water mains, sewers, gas mains,
etc The company agrees that 1T will pro-
vide efficient telephone service and Will use
modern appliances and switchboards neceS-
sary to such service.