The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-02-08
COUNCIL F ACTION
Granting Franchise to Rocky Mountain
Bell Telephone Company.

Bell Telephone Company.
Tuesday nights meeting Of the city
council did not last long. The main
business was the matter of granting
a franchise to the Rocky Mountain
Bell Telephone company.
The only members present were
Aldermen Bennighoff, Berky, Clement,
Connolly, Frizelle and Szitnick, the
mayor occupying the executive chair.
Alderman Tubbs is still in quarantine,
while Alderman Reynolds was de-
tanned at home on account Of illness
in his family.
1t was ordered that the sum of $685.
be transferred from the general fund
to two Of the sewer funds to cover
outstanding warrants now due.
A hatch Of bills was turned over to
the finance committee to report at the
next meeting.
Two saloon permits were granted
-cne to O'Grady and the other to Al.
j. O'Conneal.
Il Bennighoff, who was appointed to
secure prices on an additional street
sprinkler, reported that only one firm
had furnished prices. He asked that
further time be granted two other con-
who wished to Submit prices.
The request was granted.
j. M. Walker was granted a permit
to erect a brick veneered wagon shop
on South Twenty-ninrh street, the To-
cation being inside the fire limits.
While on this subject and after look
ing over the ordinance relating to the
erection OF buildings within the fire
limits, Bennighoh said that he had
committed himself by removing q tin
roof from his ice house and putting on
a shingle root. He had been under
the impression ;thHt the change was
not in violation of the ordinance, but
was enlightened upon reading the or
dinance, which he.had been unable to
find until this time. He asked that
he be allowed to maintain the build
ing a it staads, but Clement notified
him that the council had no right to
grant such a request, as the ordinance
spoke for the council. Mr.. Bennighoff
stated he wanted nothing more than
what any other citizen should have,
and would therefore proceed to make
it fireproof.
A dozen owner of lots in the West
Side addition pe~titioned for the laying
of a water main and a fire hydrant
On Yellowstone ;avenue in that addi-
ton The petition was referred to the
water committee.
The matter Of granting a franchise
for a local exchange to the Rocky
Mountain Bell Telephone company
was called up by Clement, when the
ordinance covering the same was read.
H. Sommers of Helena, superintendent
OF che conn pany, was present and ex-
plaiued several portions Of the pro-
posed ordinance.
When he had concluded, E. M.
Hungerferd, superintendent of the
Billings Telephone company, spoke in
opposition to the granting OF the fran
chise, saying that he could not see
where the city was to be benefited by
the granting Of the franchise. He said
he understood that it was the record
of the Bell company to not connect
with anything but Bell instruments
and this being the case the valley lines
running into Billings would suffer.
He spoke Of the Billings company be-
ing composed of local people, who
were doing all in their power to build
up the city and it's various enterprises.
He said the local company objected to
having the Bell company come into
the city as competitors, but would do
all in it's power to aid the company
to maintain toll stations.
l.. L. Moffett, proprietor of the Vel
lowstone Valley line, followed Mr..
Hungerford, stating that he objected
a franchise being granted the Bell
company for a local exchange, but
would assist in bringing the Bell peo-
Pile in as a long distance system. He
the fact that the local ex-
was owned by citizens of Bill
that the money derived from the
was distributed here and not
taken away from the city, as would
prevail, he said, should the Bell peo-
pie be granted a franchise.
Mr.. Sommers said it seemed to be
he prevailing idea with some that the
Bell people We're coming here to run
the local company. He denied
his, and explained that his company
aad not contemplated extending it's
system to this city until requested to
10 SO by some Of the business men and
citizens.
Frizelle asked Mr.. Hungerford if
he local company would maintain the
ates now in force, to which Mr..
replied that they would.
F~rizelle then moved that the franchise
70 not granted. 1t was seconded by
'zltnick.
Before the question was put to a
'ote Bennighoff spoke in favor of the
ordinance. Clement also thought an
ordinance Of some kind should be
assed so that the Bell peOnle might