The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-07

lar session last g at 8 O'Clock.
Mayor WaddeII presiding. The mem
bers in attendance were Aldermen
Spencer, Maunder, VonGlahn, Sweeney,
Harriss. Johnson, Skinner. Parker n
Mann. Absent Alderman Bailey.
After/the minutes were read and ap-
proved Committee reports were called
Ter. ~
Mayor WaddellN reported for the f.
nance committee that the Strauss
damage suit had been settled
and the amount Of s2,10o had been paid
ever to the claimant. The mayor also
reported thai B. G.. Empie, Esq, had
been employed in the suits against Ire
dell Meares, e. K. Bryan and others
who are holding Lack taxes which they
collected and are retaining on the claim
that the city is indebted to them. =.
Alderman Harriss of the fire COM
mittee reported that they had sold the
nre horse 'Old john for s55 and had
purchased two new horses for $3.50. The
committee was authorized to sell one
or two of the old horses that are to be
substituted by the new horses.
Alderman Skinner of the public build
ings committee reported that bids for
the lease of the opera house for w
years beginning June LIST had been
opened and the bids were as ollows:
r. II. Cowan, sS51.50; S. A. Schloss, $3.50.
The committee recommended that the
Il - NJ Coura ~ ha onnonto6 nrnUi6a1
the lessee receive the opera house as
the city may be able to deliver it, as
the committee was Informed II be-
heves tina there is to be a controversy
as to what property in the opera house
belongs to the city and what to the
former Jesse, Mr.. S. A. Schloss.
On motion of Alderman Harriss the
feasibility of selling the opera house
was referred to the public buildins's
committee to investigate and report.
B. G.. Empie, Esq, attorney for MI.
Cowan said the books of the board OF
audit and finance showed what prep
erty in the opera house belongs to the
city, and he further stated that Mr..
Cowan would agree to accept the opera
house on the terms named by the COM
mittee. ..- 500
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES.
Mr. IT. S. McManus, local manager Of
the Southern Bell Telephone and Tel
eeraph Company, and Mr.. J. H. Therre!l
of Atlanta, representing the construc-
ton department, were present. MI.
HcManus said he was present to ask
the privilege to runs its wires under
ground, and ordinances were read
which the company asked the board to
adopt. The ordinances reconfirm to the
Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph
Company the privilege to erect, operate
and maintain lines of telephone n tel
egraph, including the erection of poles,
necessary fixtures and electrical con-
ductors upon, along. and over the pub
lie roads, streets and highways of the
city of Wilmington and subways for
electrical conductors d the same,
as its business may from time to time
require, provided that all poles shall be
neat and symetrical. The ordinance
DIONt nue. Ihdl lHS COMPANY SAAo ~
days before any excavation or altera-
tons are made in the streets Of Will
mngton in connection with the work
contemplated by the ordinance, deposit
with the city clerk and treasurer the
sum of SIS. 900 as security for the ope
restoration of the streets, and the mail
ner in which the $1,000 shall be expend-
ed towards the restoration of the
streets shall, upon failure or neglect Of
the to comply with the ordi-
nance to restore the streets, be left to
the direction of the streets and wharves
committee.
Mr.. McManus said his company had
these ordinances prepared in order to
ance line which it was to build into
Wilmington. He said that in addition
to building its long distance Incl to Will
mington, the local system would be en-
tirely rebuilt and an entire metallic sys-
tenn be substituted for the present sys-
tenn. He said the company had to re-
build it's system here and as sooner or
later they would be compelled to put
the wires under ground his company
asked the privilege to do so now. He
said it was at least the plan to put the
wires under ground along Water street
from Orange to Red Cross, on Front
from Orange to Red Cross, on Princess
to Sixth or Seventh streets. and from
the end OF the conduits to then mount
the wires IN cables overhead. HesXp-
planned tbs this would take from over.
head great network Of wires and cable.
down town, and that in the other Sec
tions of the city the wires would prac-
tically be confined to cables. so that
there will be less wires overhead than
at present. He said his company want
ed the ordinance adopted at once sc
that the estimates a be made up. HI
stated that his company would agree tc
any reasonable regulation the boaro
rf1bt now mass ar hereafter mass.