The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-01-24
RATES GO UP.
Council Grants Telephone Com.
pany's Request.
An Ordinance is Passed, Allowing
Rates to be district
Paving is Helped on.


a request of the local telephone COM
pany that its franchise be amended to
allow it to charge higher rates for the
use of instruments. The reason for
this was that as plants patronage
increases, the expenses OF operation in
crease faster.
W. A. Funk appeared for the Man
kato Citizens Telephone Co. and said
that the time has come when the plant
must be reconstructed so as to accom-
modate the increased business. When
the franchise was secured, it was not
expected that there would be over 200
to 300 subscribers. 1t is now neces-
sary to move into larger quarters and
adopt new system, all involving an
expenditure of $2S, 900 to $50, 900. The
greater the number of subscribers, the
greater is the cost of operation per
subscriber. When the franchise was
secured, a maximum charge Of 81. %
for residence phones and So for bust
ness phones was made. The company
now asked to have the franchise
amended so as to change the maximum
rates after 900 subscribers have been
secured. The company does not desire
to get rich out of the people, but to
give the very best service possible.
More money is made with smaller
plant. 1t is desired that the franchise
be SO amended that when the company
has 600 to 500 subscribers the charges
may be 50. 30 and 81. so Cor business
and residence phones, when it has
800 to 1000 subscribers the charges
may be So. rs and $1.75, and when it
has over 1000 it may charge So and
81. rs.
DIR. J. 81. James, president Of the
company, said that the plant had been
/ built on the basis of 800 subscribers.
A plant of 100 phones costs $40 each,
a plant of 300 phones costs $45 each,
and a plant of I, 900 phones costs 500
per phone. The yearly depreciation
is ten per cent, poles lasting out fifteen
years, and the operating expenses are
twenty per cent, making total that
is less than the rents under present
rates.
! Manager Chas. K. Willard said that
it was expected to place most of the
wires in the business portion of the
city under ground, as there were COM
plants of too many overhead wires
The present plan is the return system
but the new system is much better.
The switch board is simpler, electric
lights being used. The new system is
the double supervisory system. and it
/ will avoid many mistakes that are now
made. There will be no ringing, the
raising of the receiver calling central.
There will be no phone batteries to
get out of order.
Aid. Taylor thought that if the
franchise was amended the city should
&c allowed eight or ten free phone:
instead of one at present.
-. Mr.. Funk said that the company
would grant the free use of all phones
needed in the city hall, and q one.
third discount on all other phones
used by the city.
( The amendment to the franchise
was referred to the committee on or
dinances. The ommittee retired fol
a time, when the ordinance was re-
ported upon favorably. The rules were
suspended and the ordinance wa:
given it's first and second readings AM
was passed.
| Another EIks Carnival.
W. B. Davies appeared on behalf Of
: the Elks and asked to have the street
!; privileges for the week from June
3Oth to July 9th that were granted 6
year ago, as it is desired to have an
other carnival week.
The same resolution that was adopt
| ed year ago granting the privileges
was adopted.
A. R. Pau Jr. appeared on behal
: of the Omaha and G. & N. W. road
, and presented petition asking for tn
vacation of the portion of Walnut
, street from the easterly line of tn
: union depot to the river, for the erec
, ton of lunch room.
The recorder was instructed to Civ
} the necessary legal notice, the dat
3 of hearing to be at the next regula
meeting, which is three weeks hence
J Mayor Petersen suggested to tn
3 committee on ways and means that
! was their duty to keep track of variou
funds, to see that they are not over
? drawn.
= Health Officer Hielscher said that h
} has no quarantine station and ha(
, been unable to get suitable building
r although he had been all over the city
/ A case of small pox was likely to turl
3 up any day, in which case he wanted
t to know what he should do.
, The matter was referred to the com
? mittee on health with power to act il
/ case they find a suitable building.
Will Start Nursery.
Aid. Deebach reported that four lot
could be purchased for park nursery
for 1915, and he moved that they b
l purchased.
. Park Supt. Blake said that the pur
2 pose is to raise trees for the streets, t
be paid for by property owners
Q TIL ere are plenty of trees in the parks
and it is not intended to raise tree
for them.