Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-07-20

Of the Committee On Telephone
Franchises. Propositions Taken
Up and Discussed.

chises appointed by the chairman OF
the City Council about month ago
met in the Council chamber last eve
ming. The committee is composed OF
Lambert, Strain, Curtis, Marsch and
Storek, and have received several
propositions for franchises.
The meeting was called to order by
Chairman Lambert, and all members
were present except Storck Lambert
stated that the ordinances would be
read in the order in which they were
received by the committee.
A representative of r. e. McKisson
and T. q. Barrett was present and
asked to Withdraw their proposition,
stating that MIR. McIkisson's reason
for such action was that there was too
much competition.
The ordinances were then taken upi
order, that of the Home Company be-
ing brought up first AS there was no
representative of the Home Company
present, the ordinance was not read.
The next in order was that of the
West Virginia Western Telephone
Company, who asked for franchise
under the following conditions:
That the phones would be placed in
offices at price not to exceed $24 and
in residences not to exceed $1S per an
mum; that no poles were to be used
on Putnam street between Fourth and
and Front, on Front between Putnam
and Greene streets, and on Greene be-
tween Front and Fourth; to use good
poles; place wires 25 feet above
ground; not to obstruct travel to
leave streets in as good condition as
when operations we're commenced; to
allow city police and fire alarm wires
to be stretched on their poles without
interfering with companys wires; to
begin construction Within nine
months and to have system in opera
tion in 1S months or forfeit franchise,
not consolidate with any other sys-
tenn without consent of City Council; :.
to furnish three phones for the free
use of the city.
Mr.. Smith representing the company
stated that they were after the fran
chise not for speculation, but for
purely business purposes and that they
were ready to comply with any reas-
onaDie demands on the part of the
ouncil. He made some remarks con-
cerning the system now being con-
structed in Parkersburg and said in
answer to an inquiry that they were
not able to give long distance service
north OF the Ohio river.
Attorney A. D. FolIett in behalf of
the central District Printing and Tel
egraph Co., said that the granting of
such franchise would bring about an
obstruction OF the streets to a greater
or less extent; that If such franchise
were granted that it would bring
about a rate war that would reduce
profits to such an extent that a final
result would be combine of the two
companies, or the ultimate buying out
or freezing out of one company, and
that as a natural consequence the pat
rons of the resulting system must A.
nally pay for the dead investment;
that two exchanges in city like Ma
rietta would be Improbable, nuls-
ance and more expensive TO patrons.
He then took up the proposed ordi-
nance in detail and gave many reas-
ons why such a franchise should not
be granted.
Attorney Ellenwood, on behalf OF
the West Virginia Company, argued
that under the present franchise, pat
rons did not get satisfactory service,
and recited some of the abuses TO
which patrons were subjected He
stated that the granting of another
franchise would necessarily cause the
present company to lower their rates
and give more satisfactory service.
That rival companies were operating
elsewhere to the satisfaction of pat
rons and that two exchanges were moi
such a nuisance as they had been rep
| resented to be.
After some further remarks by part
les present, the chairman read pro-
posed ordinance to grant franchise
to the Home Telephone Company, OF
Plain City, Ohio, and 1t was com
mented upon by him. This company
asks for a 25 year franchise, while
that asked by the West Virginia com
pany would be perpetual
The chairman stated that it would
be we'll to take more time to consider
the proposition and to examine into
the merits of the different companies
asking for franchises, and the meeting
adjourned sine die.
A Peach nf a Story.