The Saint Paul globe., 1904-12-16
COUNCIL ON TRAIL
OF ILLICIT C()NDU|TS
Joint Committee Will Be Aided
by Friction Between
Companies

The joint council committee to in
yestigate conduits is to first give at
tention to electric lighting companies,
with particular Investigation of the
alleged illegal use of the streets by
the Manhattan Heat, Light and Power
company.
At the initial meeting of the COM
mittee yesterday Assemblynan Schiff-
mann was chosen chairman, and 1T de-
veloped that some one interested in a
competing company has prepared and
turned over to the corporation attor-
ney map showing the points at which
it is claimed that this company has
been burrowing under the streets with
out consent from the city council or
other city authorities.
1t was the opinion of the members
of the committee that the most valua-
bic information obtainable will come
from the competitors in the different
businesses, and it was agreed that as
soon as the revelations have become
sufficiently definite the representatives
of the different conpanis will be call
ed before the committee and asked to
give public testimony.
Battle City Engineer
"It is very difficult to keep track of
all the conduits constructed" explain
ed City Engineer Rundlett. 4It would
not be impossible to construct a con-
duit running from the basement of
some building across the street and the
dirt hauled away without the city sau
thorities becoming aware of the fact.
Miles and miles of conduits have been
constructed in Chicago in this manner.
If there is any particular point at
which it is suspected that such illegal
work has been done, then my depart
ment can ascertain the facts"
HAS the Manhattan company the
right to cross Fourth street, near Rob-
ert, and sell light and heat?" asked
Aid. Mariarty.
"The company has never received a
permit to cross Fourth street to my
knowledge" answered Mr.. Rundlett,
"and if it has done so do not believe
the work was legally authorized"
AsSemblyman Schiffmann had heard
various rumors of the manner in which
the companies are constructing con-
duits and believed that the investiga-
ton should be thorough. If it should
be found that the companies are pur-
suing the same practice that has been
the case in other cities regulative
measures should be taken and the
companies compelled to pay for their
trespasS.
General Confession Sought
st believe that the best method is to
induce the companies to tell on each
other,s said Mr.. Michael. Il have been
furnished with what purports to be a
map of all the conduits controlled by
the Manhattan company" The infer
ence was that the map had been fur
nished by a company competing with
the Manhattan, this being confirmed
by this statement of DR.. Schiffmann:
81 have been told by people doing
business on Robert street that the
Manhattan company has compelled the
firms taking heat1from them to also
take light. The firms were told that if
they did not. also take light their heat
would be shut off. Contracts made
with another lighting company were
therefore cancelled"
City Engineer Rundlett explained the
conditions of the Manhattan franchise.
At the inception some of the grants
were to the company and others to
Smith .& Taylor. In 1900 the company
had applied for and received fran
chise, but no additional conduit per-
mits had been granted since that time.
1t was decided by the committee to
| take up general investigation of the
conduits for electric lighting first, the
| next meeting ofAthe committee to be
| held on the call of the chairman.