The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-07-29
Another Franchise souob+

The township committee will hold meet
ing this evening to consider an ordinance
granting privileges to the Delaware and
Atlantic Telephone Company, who desire
to plant its poles in the town. The same
privilege was denied some time ago on
the ground that there were already enough
poles on the streets. Now the company
has taken another method and has framed
an ordinance which has a very innocent
look. but which, nevertheless, needs
watching.
1t provides that the poles may be plant
ed in the streets and alleys of the town,
with the exception of Garden street from
High to Risdon; Mill from the fountain
to Mount Holly avenue; and from the
township line on West Washington street,
through Washington and High streets to
the Fair Grounds In the event of want
ing wires on these streets the company is
to lay conduits. A provision is made for
distributing poles, the location of which is
designated. These distributing poles are
such as are seen in cities, with large un-
calmly arrangements on top fromwhich run
from one to one hundred wires. They are
not an ornament. 1t is also said there
may be possibility of other poles being
put up on even the streets named as re-
stricted under the 'distributive" clause.
No poles are to be planted without the
consent of the property owner-that is
what the ordinance says, but then we
know what the custom of these corpora
lions has been, and they take many liber
ties with property, making the owner put
himself on the defensive all the time
For all this privilege the township is
not to receive one cent compensation. All
that is mentioned in any way protect
i've is the demand that the roads and side
walks must be put in good shape after
they have been torn up for the conduits
or poles
The township committee have just had
an expression from the people ON the sub
ject of giving away franchises without re-
Enumeration. They have just decided that
a trolley company must do certain things
or else they must stay out of the town.
And right in the face of this experience
they consider project to admit, free of
all COST one of the biggest and most I'M
accommodating corporations in existence.
The trolley is demanded by our people.
Who is asking for the telephone? There
is already an exchange that up to the pre-
sent time has been entirely adequate for
all demands upon it. The idea of the
present movement is apparently to place
''slot machines" all over town. The real
idea is probably to get for nothing a fran
chise and footing If these people want
to come into Mount Holly let them pay
for the privilege.
For the township committee to grant
this privilege, with their action on the
trolley matter still fresh in mind, would
be an act of great inconsistency. If any
concessions should be made they should be
granted to corporation in which our own
people are interested. Such is the trolley
Among its promoters are our own towns
men. The people of the town want to see
the trolley come in under proper restric-
tions. The telephone company is an out
side corporation seeking its own advan-
tage, and of no particular benefit to the
town. If it wants to get valuable fran
chise let it pay the price.
Another point is worth mentioning.
Not very long ago a company applied
for permission to lay conduits on our
streets for the purpose of putting wires
under ground. They offered to pay an
annual percentage upon their income.
The committee framed an ordinance in
which there was clause requiring the
company to do certain amount of paw
ing. This defeated the entire project.
Everything thus far made public indicates
that there is more necessity for refusing
the present application than for granting
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