The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-29
FOR TELEPHONE BIDDERS
SPECIFICATIONS FINALLY ADOPTED
BY BOARD OF WORKS.
Franchise to BE Awarded April 49,
Residence Rates from $24
81 Year Upward.

The Board of Public Works yesterday
signed the specifications for the New tele-
phone franchise, the award. of the contract
for which is to be made April Is at 10
o'clock. Legal advertisements were pre-
pared for publication in the daily papers
notifying prospective bidders that the spec
ifcations under which their bids must be
made may be found at the office of the
board, or be had by mail on application.
Members of the board. Mayor Taggart,
Controller Johnson and City Attorney Kern,
met yesterday morning and made the final
changes in the draft CT the specifications
There were present with them S. p. Sheerin,
H. b. Gates, Pierre Gray and A. H. Nor
dyke, of the New Telephone Company; Leon
o. Bailey, representing the Citizens Com
pany; A f. Potts, representing the pro-
posed Cooperative Company, and w. A.
Pickens, representing an unknown bidder.
The specifications as finally adopted make
the following requirements:
Companies bidding must have $500 900 of
actual stock. Persons not Incorporated may
bid under the agreement that they shall
incorporate within ten days from the time
of entering into contract. Bids of incor-
porated companies shall be accompanied by
a list of stockholders. An affidavit shall be
made to the effect that the bidder is in no
combination or collision with other bidders.
Each bidder shall deposit $40 900 in cash
with his bid. If a successful nonncorpora-
ted body shall fail to incorporate within ten
days the money shall be forfeited to the
city. If any successful bidder shall fail to
carry out the following conditions, the
amount shall be forfeited; To enter into a
contract within ten days after the award
of the contract; to- deposit SIS, 600 in cash
with the board within five days after the
ratification of the contract by the Common
Council as a guaranty that the terms of the
contract shall. be fulfilled, the sum to be
refunded from time to time as the contract
is carried cut; to, execute a bond in the sum
of $4,000 for the faithful performance of the
contract; to file bond with the board in
the sum of $4,000 to indemnify the city
against loss from damages occasioned by
the company in the construction of it's
plant. The sum of $4,000 shall returned
to the unsuccessful bidders, but that of the
successful bidder shall become part of the
$4,000 required to be deposited as specified
The $25 coo deposited by the successful bid
der shall be returned as follows: Ten thou
sand dollars when all the conduits and ducts
have been placed in the original mile square
of the city; $1,000 when poles have been
erected and wires strung Throughout two
miles square, Monument place being con-
stdered the central point; $1,000 when the
plant shall be ready for operation; IS 900
when the plant and system shall, in the
be in successful operation.
The franchise shall extend during a period
OF twenty-five years, and at the expiration
of the time the city may enter into new
contract with the company or may buy
the tangible property at its appraised value,
or may enter into a contract with another
ms n aAl.a
the value of the tangible property. If none
Of these methods are pursued at the expira-
ton of the contract the tangible property
shall become the absolute property of the
city, excepting the wires and cables which
are placed underground.
BEGIN WORK IN SIXTY DAYS
Work shall be commenced on the con-
struction of the plant within sixty days
after the contract is entered into. One duct
shall be laid in each conduit for the sole
use of the city. The Board of Public Works
shall have the right to reject any material
to be used in the construction Of the plant
The successful bidder shall enter into an
agreement to restore all damage done to
streets, alleys and property and shall hold
the city blameless for any accidents that
may occur on account of the proceeding of
the work of construction
The company receiving the franchise shall
pay the sum of $1,000 annually into the city
treasury, the sum to be paid semi-annually
beginning July ], 1899 Failure to pay with
In thirty days after the payment is due will
result in the forfeiture of the franchise
After the company has 5000 subscribers,
the sum OF 81 a year shall be paid for each
additional subscriber. The capital stock
shall not be increased or diminished without
the consent of the Board of Public Works
IN case of the consolidation. collision, COM
blnation or cooperation of this company
with another which shall tend TO increase
rates, the franchise shall be forfeited and
no
property of the city. Consolidation may be
erected, however, with the consent of the
the other company to comply with the
terms of the franchise now about to be
granted. Companies outside the city shall
be permitted to connect with the lines of
this company on reasonable terms
me maximum rates for service shall be
as follows: For business houses within
radius of two miles of Monument place, $40
per annum; for other business houses 81 80
additional for. each one-fourth mile; for
Iesldehcees within two miles of Monument
place, 81, and for residence beyond this
limit, 81 80 for each quarter mile. The Board
of Works shall have the right to order ex-
tension of service to accommodate patrons
IN dlnerent portions OF the city. The board
may declare the franchise forfeited if the
work of the construction of the plant is not
carried ON according to provisions to be
inserted in the contract. The franchise may
not be assigned without the consent of the
Board of Public Works.
J.. VI. 81 J. Grade at Morris Street.
The Council committee on sewers. streets
and alleys met last night and decided to re-
port favorablv the ordinance requiring the
Pennsylvania Company to lower the j.. M.
& I. tracks AT Morris street. The ordinance.
as introduced by President Mahoney, re-
quired that the railroad grade be made to
conform to that of the street. This would
require that the tracks he lowered two feet
six inches. Superintendent +. G.. Darling
ton and Attorney S. O. Pickens, for the rail-
road company. asked that the cut be some
what less. Mr.. Darlington at first argued
that, as the sentiment was coming around