The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-20
The Company Operating Conduits
Downtown Extends Scope of
Privileges Sought.
TO ALL PARTS OF ST. LOUIS.
Subway Concern Said to BE Nego-
tiating for Western Union
Wires and Also for
Mail Tubes.

| Provided an ordinance pending in the Mu-
nicipal Assembly is passed the National Sub
way Company, which now owns and oper-
ates conduits for underground electric wires
in the downtown section. may install pneu-
matte tubes and extend system for the
transmission OF parcels to all parts OF St
| Louis
This company, which is patronized by the
Postal Telegraph Company, is said to be ne
gottating with the concern which recently
secured the Government contract for pneu-
matte mail tube service, and obtained a
franchise from the city.
The national conduit concern. 1t IS said
also is negotiating with the Western Union
Telegraph Company for the latter to use an
extension of the conduit system.
The general proposition is to consolidate
the underground system of conduits so as
TO include most of the underground wires
the postal service, the mail tubes and a
general parcel delivery to reach many sta
tons IN ST. Louis. wherever the company
may desire to build its subway. The parcel
system may be operated independent of the
mail.
Inc ordinance authorizing the National
Subway Company of Missouri to lay pneu-
matte tubes in conduits was held up last
night by the Committee of Public Improve
ments Of the City Council, to which it was
referred.
The measure was presented as an amenda-
tory ordinance to the one which gave the
National Subway Company authority to
operate. 1t was approved February Is 1889.
The new ordinance is to give the additional
privilege to the company of using the sub
ways for pneumatic tubes. as well as cleo
trio wires. and places no restrictions as TO
streets to be traversed.
EXTENSION OF SYSTEM
The National Subway Company. known
as the Suffer Company, has recently
changed hands. it is understood. and
seeks to extend the usefulness of the sys-
TEN. At present the concern has put a
short route of conduits. extending from
Twelfth and Morgan streets TO Broadway.
thence to Elm. and then by various routes
to Washington avenue.
The Postal Telegraph Company uses the
conduit for some CT its wires.
1t is said that the National Subway Com
pany has treated with the ST. Louis Pneu-
matte Tube Company, that has the contrac.
with the Government, looking to the con-
structon of necessary conduits to cover the
postal routes proposed.
1t is also reported that the Western Union
Telegraph Company, which still used the
overhead wires within the conduit limits.
has recently been negotiating to obtain con-
duit space.
1t Is said that the extension contemplated
by the National Subway Company is the
space upon which the Western Union is
figuring
The Keyes bill, which became an ordi-
nance in 1889. provided that all electric
wires should be placed underground from
the river to Twcrty-sccond street and from
Wash to Spruce streets. At that time the
National Subway Company started opera
tons The policy of the electric and tele-
phone companies to build their own con-
Quits. tended to curtail the growth of the
national system.
TO COMPENSATE CITY.
The ordinance, which does not confine
the construction of subways to any fixed
route or section, provides that the company
shall pay per cent of its net income for
the first fifteen years. and per cent there
after. The term of the privileges sought is
fifty years.
I'VE have not yet considered the ordi-
ance," said Chairman Markham of the
Council Committee on Public Improvements.
Il understand, however. the purport of the
ordinance, but l cannot say what will be
done with it. We have had so many pneu-
matte tube and conduit ordinances that it
Is hard to distinguish between them
General Manager R. H. Bohle of the
Western Union said that his company was
negotiating to obtain conduit space for
wires, but that he did not know from whom
1t would be rented