Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-17
TWO ASK FOR FRANCHISES
Independent Telephone Companies Again
Before City Council.
ONLY ONE PROPOSES LOCAL EXCHANGE
latest 20 Enter Field Simply Desires
Connection with Outside Inde-
pendent Lines and City
Customers.

The Western Iowa Independent Tele.
phone, Telegraph and Terminal company
and the Council Bluffs Independent Tele-
phone company both introduced ordinances
asking for franchises at the meeting Of the
city counci last night. The hrst-named
company is the one organized within the
last few days by DR.. Macrae and his asso-
clates, while the latter is the company
organized by H. H. Van Brunt and other
Council Bluffs men a year ago.
The Western Iowa company proposes TO
make connection with one or more Of the
Independent companies now operating in
southwestern Iowa, the Shelby company
preferred. 1t does not propose to establish
an exchange in Council Bluffs, but will
maintain a central once" Phones will
be placed free wherever desired. the COM
pany deriving its revenue from tolls. II
also proposes to establish a number of toll
stations throughout the city, from which
connection can be had with the independ-
ent companies now operating throughout
the state.
The company asks for a franchise for
twenty-five years. Work Is to begin within
six months from the granting of the fran
chise, and to be completed within eighteen
months. The city shall have the use Of
the c~ompany's poles and wires for its FIRE
and police alarm system.
Rates for Local Service.
The Council Bluffs company also asks
for a franchise for twenty-five years. It
hs willing to place its wires in underground
conduits on Broadway, between First and
Tenth streets; on Pearl street the entire
distance, and on Main street, from Broad
way to Ninth avenue. On other streets
above ~ updar gr1-.ud IN fha ~,
may elect. II will provide a hrst-class me-
tallic circuit, long-dlstance equipment with
these rates:
Business Houses-one party line, S36 a
year; two party line, $24 a year; three
party line, $40 a year; four party line, SIS
year.
Residences-One party line, $24 a year;
two party line. $1S a year; three party
Tine. SIC a year; four party limo. s12 a
year.
When the company has $500 phones In
stalled 1t shall be privileged to add 25 per
cent to these charges and 20 per cent for
each 500 phones over $500.
The company will furnish the city with
ten free 'phores for the use OF the sew
eral city departments.
No assignment, lease or transfer OF the
franchise is to be made to any company,
corporation or persons now or hereafter
engaged in telephone business IA this city.
No assignment Of tie franchise shall be
Of any force or valid until written notice
shall have been served on the city clerk
and approved by the city clerk,
The company is to begin work within
one year and complete the construction Of
its system within two years. Faiu-e to
conform to any ordinance or legislation le-
gally passed by the city council shall result
in forfeiture of the franchise. Written
acceptance OF the franchise must be filed
with ninety days.
Desires Bluffs Connection.
H. W.. Cutshell of the Shelby Telephone
company addressed the council on the i'm
portance of Council Bluffs securing con-
nection with the independent telephone
companies. He called attention to the fact
that in the east end OF Pottawattamie
county there we're about 1000 independent
phones. in Harrison county 900 and in
Shelby county 900. In answer to a ques-
tion OF one Of the aldermen, Mr.. Cutshell
said his company had no choice between
the two companies before the council ask
Ing franchises. All they desired, lie state1.
was connection with Council Bluffs.