Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-25
IMPROVE TELEPHONE PLANT
Nebraska Company to Erect Building and
Put in New Exchange
NO CONCLUSION ON THE INDEPENDENTS
COunciImen Hold a Long Session, but
Each one Appears to Have n
Different idea REGARDING
Franchise.

= President Yost and Attorney Morsman
Of the Nebraska Telephone company spent
several hours in the city yesterday looking
over sites for the company's new exchange
building. They have two or three sites
in the business center Of the city under
consideration and a deal for one Of them
will probably be closed In a few days.
With the placing OF it's wires in under
| ground conduits in the business part OF the
city and the erection Of an exchange build
| ing, together with other improvements.
President Yost stated that his company
planned on expending from Ss5,O0o to
100000 in Council Bluffs for the better
ment Of the service.
The company's business. President Yost
| admitted, had outgrown its present rented
quarters, and the service had to some ex-
tent suffered in consequence. The com
pany, he said, had not felt disposed to
make any extensive improvements while
occupying rented quarters for its exchange,
but that as soon as Its own building was
completed a considerable sum OF money
would be expended in the installation of
new and the latest apparatus. New switch
boards will be installed and the service in
every respect brought UP to the highest
standard possible.
Work on the underground conduits will
be begun in the near future, the material
for this improvement having already been
ordered. 1t is possible that the work OF
laying the conduits may be completed this
year
Council All at Sea.
The city council. after holding a two
hours session Monday night behind closed
doors In the mayors office, adjourned
shortly before midnight without having ar
rived at any definite conclusion in regard
to the independent telephone franchise or
dinances. Each alderman appears to have
different opinion on TIE matter. Some
favor the proposition OF DR.. Macrae's COM
pany, while others are inclined to favor
that submitted by II. II. Van Brunt's COM
pany. 1t was decided to meet as a com.
mittee of the whole next Monday evening,
when the whole question will again be
threshed over.
Alderman Lougee stated that he was in
favor OF the council first deciding on ex-
actly what IL desired IN the way OF an In
dependent telephone service for the city,
and then having the city solicitor draft
an ordinance in conformity, this ordinance
TO be then submitted to the two COM
panies now seeking q franchise. II either
of the companies were willing to accept
ouSh az (ueu tue COuuCll
allow II to be submitted to the citizens
for their approval or disapproval at a spe-
cial election. This he believed the only
manner in which anything tangible would
result.
Alderman Fleming of the Fifth ward
said he was inclined to act cautiously.
Past experience showed that the city, in
granting franchises. had been grievously
victimiEed. He cited as instances the
franchise granted the Lake Manawa Rail-
road company, which subsequently sold it's
charter to the Omaha & Council Bluffs
Railway and Bridge company, and the
franchise granted the Blum City Gas and
Electric Light company. which, as soon as
II secured the charter. disposed OF It to
the old Council Bluffs Gas and Electric
Light company. reorganized under the name
OF the Citizens Gas and Electric company,
with the result that the current for the
lighting OF the city is now furnished by
Omaha. Alderman Fleming was emphatic
In his statement that he would have to be
satisfied that neither of the two companies
row seeking independent telephone fran
chises would sell out to some other con-
cern as soon as II secured a charter. Those
interested in the two new local independent
companies deny any intention OF selling
their franchise, IL one is granted them.