The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-28

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tools and apparatus appeared on the
scene The] workmen went straight
to Lexington avenue, andswitIlin TWEEN
ty minutes holes had been dug and the
five poles lowered by the city engineer
We're beings pIaeed in position Several
people in thk Vicinity attempted to tel
ephone the Scfty engineer, but found
that the phones were out of service.
News of THAT was occurring soon
reached SeApy venue, from. whence
Mr.. Rundie s communicated with.
The engineEH NOTIFIED the police de-
partment- cut Beerners was sent
to the scene ~ tn Instructions to ar
rest all persoMs Alternating replace
the wires. The poles were all again
in position, but the arrival of the po-
lice prevented sthe connecting of even
one wire.
Restraining Order Granted @s9
Judge Lewis granted the restraining
order that prevented the city engineer
from completing the task of removing
all the wires and poles, on the applica
ton of L. L. c. Brooks, vice president
of the Twin City company. The petit
| ton recited that the. company was Civ
en- the right by the city council to con-
struet the, poles and string the wires
overhead on Hague avenue, from Vic
toria to F'airvieW, July I, 1901, and
claiming that the wires so strung are
the only means Of COMMUNICATION with
Minneapolis; Duluth .cand numerous
other cities. 1t was charged that City
Engineer Rundlett, by forcibly remov-
ing the poles and wires was doing the
company an injury that could not be
computed in money, being irreparable,
and that as there was no other re-
course that could be taken it was nee.
essary to appeal to court in equity.
As soon, as possible the restraining
! order was served on CITY. Engineer
ton Attorney MichaeI, and the work
was ordered stopped. Subsequent de-
yelopments showing that the company
proposed to, if possible, put the lines
back In. service before, the question is
determined in court angered City En-
gineer Rnndistf who said that he. did
not expect the company to attempt to
proceed tonake repairs until there is
| hearing before Judge Bum. partic-
/ uiarly as the order isareturnable today
Said Mr.. Rundlett:
Rundiett Is Determined
THE company can rest assured that
! | took no arbitrary action until the le-
| gal phases of the situation had been
thoroughly Investigated by the cor
/ poration attorney. When the company
was given franchise in the name of
| the Mississippi Valley Telephone COM,
pany provision was inserted requir-
| Ing that the company should conform
| to all ordinances, rules and regulations
passed after. that time. The Hague
| avenue poles were ordered removed by
the city ,oGoupcl more than four
1 months ago, and upon numerous occa-
slons since that time have endeayor-
ed to secure. from the company an
agreement thai al would warrant me in
announcing iWhen the wires would be
placed -undsft ground. The officials of
reasonable requests, practically defy
ing the authority of the city council
and myself AL their talk that they
| were not notified of my proposed
= sham sss e The police. department
VIII continue to support me- that the
until there IS a court decision, which,
l believe will be in favor of the CITY,"
Corporation Attorney Michael did
not care ITO discuss the case, saying
tnat he was Eprepared to contest the
1 eHort TO secure permanent injunc-
ton against the city interfering with
+ the maintenance of the wires. He says
that the proper place to make known
| the defense Of the city is in the courts.
/ r. l.. Barry, manager for the tele-
phone company, who is one of the per-
sons whose Twin City telephone on
4 Hague avenue is placed out of serv-
Ice, said that the petition of the COM
/ pany~ hfed in court told the story
from its standpoint, and that it would
| be useless To- add to what is therein
| stated: He secured from the chief of
| police an order for the release of the
fourteen linemen. who were confined
in the Rondo street station, and who
had been placed in cells. previous to
the arrivalof the order. He declined
pursue as to making continued efforts
| to replace the wires. Mr.. Barry con-
tends that the greatest injury to the
system is that the long distance wires
OF the company were all on the poles,
with the result that he feels that the
company has been done great financial
4 damage. go 49,