The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-06-24
Tho Meeting ODcns.

Tho Meeting Opens.
The meeting was attended by Chair
man William Mccormick, CouncIlmen
Bradbury, McAlechen, Chew, Watson,
hindelberger and Williams, and several
interested citizens. Including Messrs.
Alfred Caldwell. John ]. Coniff and B.
*. McMechen. L. L. Ward, Of Balti-
more, promoter OF the National Tele-
phone Company, was also on hand.
Clerk WORKS first read the ordinance
Of the National Telephone Company,
the principal provisions OF which have
already been outlined In the Intelligent
Ger.
This was followed by n report from
the city solicitor, stating that the in
corporation papers had been recorded
the amount of capital subscribed being
S5oo, with 500 paid in, and privilege TO
Increase to 100000. The solicitor sug-
gested that the financial strength be
looked Into.
Mr.. Ward said until the franchise IL
secured 1t Is not usual to subscribe
more than small sum. As to the
financial strength of the promoters, he
quoted from Bradstreet's to the effect
Shirk, Is worth 100000.
To Mr.. NesbItt, Mr.. Ward said the
incorporators had made no agreement
as TO what each would subscribe. Some
local people. he said. have spoken OF
taking stock,
MIR. Nesbitt suggested that the ordl-
nance should specify where the system
shall be overground and when UNDER
ground. The ordinance should be so
drawn as to give the city power to COM
pei change to underground at any
time. a sufficient sum should be de-
posted with the city to cover repair OF
streets torn up. 1t would be we'll to
have all repairs OF streets made by the
city at the expense Of the company.
Mr.. Ward said, In his opinion, the
company should not be compelled to
change to underground system on
short notice. The company contem-
plates putting In IN overhead system
AS to financial strength, his company
would give bond that the provisions
Of the ordinance would be carried out.
Mr.. Nesbitt said the company should
show to this committee or n sub-com-
mittee the telephone It proposes to use,
in actual use.
Mr.. Ward replied that II was to the
Interest! OF the company to put In IL
good system. The opposition systems
telephone In Baltimore was instanced
as being fully as good as the Bell.
Mr.. Nesbltt suggested that In the
event Of the abandonment Of the field
by the National company there should
be provision compelling the company
to remove It's wires and poles. Mr..
Ward said this would be compiled
J, hut u hnt,
1t was suggested by Mr.. Nesbltt that
the price of telephones should be placed
at not more than SOS. With two COM
panies he said the cost TO users of both
companies telephones should together
be less than the present cost OF one tel
ephone. Mr.. Ward said the company
would not charge the maximum rates
named In It's ordinance. He realized the
rates must be made low in order to Sc
cure users.
Mr.. John J.. Conllf snid he would like
to have the privilege of introducing an
ordinance from another opposition COM
plny. His company, he said, Is head
&c by ex-Mnyor Robert T.. McKisson
and Mr.. Hoffman, of Cleveland. Be-
fore the Nationals ordinance is acted
on he wanted his oompany's PROPOSE
ton heard. His rates would be s2i for
business houses and SIS for residences.
His concessions, he said. are an i'm
provement over those OF the Baltimore
company. Mr.. Mckisson. he said would
come here on Saturday from Bradford,
Pa. Delay. he added, would be benen-
cial to the city. His company included
n number OF Wheeling people. Unless
the price of two telephones will be suf-
ficlently less than the Bell at present to
overcome the annoyance of two phones
he believed no opposition company
should be given franchise.
Mr.. Bradbury moved that the M
tionals ordinance be taken up md act
ell upon. Mr.. Williams seconded, and
did not believe In obstructIng the COM
pany with provisions not included In
the Bell ordinance.
Mr.. Bradbury moved to recommend
the National ordinance for adoption.
Mr.. Kindclbcrgcr objected to the
grant OF u perpetual franchise. a per-
petual franchise was not granted the
Wheeling & Elm Grove Railway Conn
pany.
General Caldwell Speaks.
General Alfred Caldwell addressed
the committee in opposition to an OPP
posItion telephone system. When the
Company entered the telephone field In
Wheeling. he said. the telephone was
not the mighty instrument of COM
merce It Is now. Poles used then would
not now be tolerated on the streets Of
the city. The company put In Its un-
derground system several years ago
because the public clamored for It. OBJ
jecting to the forest OF poles and wires
between Tenth md Sixteenth streets.
The company incurred great expense
Mt that time In order to remove n men
nee ts life and property. Then the COM
,pnny has given for the free Use OF the
city departments thirty telephones. and
without an opposition company forcing
II to do 80. 1t also agreed to place 9th
or hubble phones Mt the low rute of SIS
n ycar. The company has nlso con-
ncc,cd up its system with surrounding
towns and by Its long distance system
has become mn instrument OF inter-
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