Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-27
FIGHT CONDUIT ORDINANCE
Both Telegraph Companies Flatly Refuse to
Bury Their Wires.
ELECTRIC LIGHT MAKES A MILD KICK
willing TO Put in Conduits in Small
Area, but Nothing Like to the
Extent Proposed by the
city.

The Western Union and Postal Telegraph
companies will refuse to place their wires
in underground conduits and have so noti-
fed the special committee OF the city coun-
ell. The Citizens Gas and Electric COM
pany objects to the ordinance as now
drafted and will only consent to place its
wires under ground within a small area
in the vicinity of its substation.
The Western Union Telegraph company
officials, when called upon by Alderman
Lovett, a member OF the special commit
tee, stated that tLey had for some time
contemplated placing their main wires in
one cable. This they had planned doing,
they stated, loLg before the underground
conduit ordinance had been suggested or
even seriously thought OF in Council Bluffs.
The company maintains sixty wires on its
main line and these will be placed in one
cable. AS to placing the wires In undei-
ground conduits, the company's officials
said such a plan at this time was not
feasible and they would not consent to It.
II the city insisted on passing such an
ordinance the company would be compelled
to appeal to the courts. 1t was pointed out
to the committee hat in none of the
western cities such as Omaha, Lincoln, st.
Joseph and others had the company been
called upon to place its wires in under
ground %conduits, and they covld not see
why Council Bluffs desired to be the pio-
neer in such a movement.
The Postal Telegraph company has but
recently completed the installation Of new
wires and has notified the committee that
under no circumstances would 1t consent
to being forced to place them under ground.
The company told the committee that its
business in Council Bluffs has never paid
the running expenses Of its Office here,
which for several years has been main
tanned solely for the convenience of the
public.
Alderman Lovett, the member of the spe-
cial committee who conferred with the
o~ffcials OF the two telegraph companies,
expressed himself yesterday afternoon at a
meeting Of the committee that he was not
in favor of compelling the telegraph CON-
panies to put their wires under ground
ut this time. He gave 1t as his opinion
that IL the Western Union was willing to
place it's wires in a single cable as pro-
posed 1t should be permitted to do so and
not be forced to place them in underground
conduits. AS to the Postal company, Mr..
Lovett stated he was aware that the bust
ness of this company in Council Bluffs had
never been on a paying basis and he was
opposed to placing any further hardships
on II.
Alderman Lovett, however, said he ia
vored compelling the electric light COM
pany to place It's wires under ground
within the area prescribed by the proposed
ordinance. The electric light company off,
Gals notified the committee that it was
willing to place it's wires from the sub
station north to Indian creek and south as
far as Fifth avenue under ground, but that
this was all It would agree to do. On the
north side of Broadway the electric wires
run east and west on the banks Of Indian
creek and the company insists the city
would derive no advantage by having them
under ground. The wires south OF the
substation run in the alleys and for this
reason the company says 1t fails to SEQ
why they should be put to the expense of
placing them under ground. 1t was init
mated that the company would appeal to
the courts before c%onsenting to obey the
ordinance now proposed.
The committee will meet again Saturday
afternoon to formulate its report, which
will be submitted at the meeting OF the
city council Monday night.