The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-16
COMP ANIES
WILL FIGHT
Regard Underground Conduit
Ordinance as Unjust.
PETITION OF MR.. COHEN
Co.Operative Lighting Plant Mattel
Goes to Subcommittee-Broad-
Street Merchants Ask for
Mammoth Sewer.

It dcveoped at the meeting Of the Com
mittee on Streets yesterday afternoon that
the Postal and Western Union Telegraph
Companies are unaltcrably opposed to the
present city ordinance. which requires al!
electrical concerns to put their overhead
wires underground In certain secuon
Of Richmond. AS n result, the hoped.to or
settlement Of the question was not reached
yesterday, although four or five Of the
most prominent telegraph officials IN
the country were in town for the especial
purpose of reaching conclusion with the
Street Committee.
Among tho "big guns" OF the Postal and
Western Union Companies, all of whom
were present at the meeting at the City
Hall were G. C. Adams. Of Atlanta, gen.
eral Superintendent of the Postal; b.
Brooks, of New York, general superintend-
ent OF the Western Union; George II.
Tearons. New York. general attorney OF
the Western Union; G. Fl. Bristol, New
York, general superintendent OF construc-
tion OF the Western Union; y Major Robert
Stiles Of Richmond, appeared as an at
torney representing the two telegraph in
terests.
It appears that the rival companies
have elected to stand together In the OPP
position to the underground ordinance. al
though both arc perfectly willing to con-
form to that one section OF the law re.
uuiring them to remove their overhead
wires in a certain section Of the city.
Their solo objection is to that feature Of
the ordinance which stipulates that each
company shall construct conduits 100 per
cent. in excess of the size needed by them,
and shall not use any Of tho excess shape
in future years without first getting per-
mission from the Council.
Major Stiles and NIr. Fearons stated
that in none of the twenty other Ameri-
can cities where they have ben required to
go under ground had either com pany been
made to live up to such an unjust ordl-
nance. To accept the act and abide py
the law would be nullifying certain rights
given them by an act OF the United states
Congress In 1865.
The question was finally referred to a
subcommittee consisting OF Messrs MI
nor, West and Phillips. and these gentle
men, together with the City Attorney and
City Engineer, Will take the proposition
up with the telegraph companies in tho
near future. when nm effort will be made
to adjust the differences. The companies
only desire that Richmond enact an ordi-
nance similar to those adopted by other
cities.
The meeting OF the committee yesterday
a afternoon continued from until p. NJ.
when adjournment was taken until next
Tuesday afternoon at o'clock, when
three more hours of work will stare them
In the face However. many matters Of
puDnc interest were fdtleIlueu " } SeStcA :
day.
The petition OF the Cohen Company and
many other well known Broad Street
merchants for franchise to erect. oper-
ate and maintain n cooperative electric
lighting plant, to supply their stores with
power and light, was referred to "a sub
committee of five, but the gentlemen have
n5t been named as yet, althought Mr.. Pc
tiers will doubtless be chairman. Mr.. Sam
Cohen was extended the privileges of the
floor for few minutes. setting forth such
claims in regard to the present rates of
the Passenger and Power Company as
have before appeared In The Ilmes-D1s-
patch.
The petition OF Broad Street merchants
for the construction by the city OF
memmoth sewer along that thoroughfare
that will furnish adequate drainage for
their stores was referred to the City En-
cIneer for an estimate of the cost. Mr.,
j. b. Mosby and Mr. Sol. Cutchins spoke
In favor of the sewer, relating the present
deplorable condition
As usual, there was another fight over,
paving contracts, when 1t was known that