Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-03-15
ORDINANCES WERE PASSED
GRANTING TWO FRANCHISES
Nezperce Cooperative Telephone Company and
Proposed Gas Company May Operate in
Lewiston for twenty-five Years

The city council met last night in
adjourned session and transacted con-
siderable business During the session
two new ordinances were passed grant,
ing franchises and the investigation
committee appointed some time ago by
Mayor kress to inquire into the con-
tract on the Normal Hill sewer report
ed The committee were divided in
their opinion and majority and mi
nority report were submitted to the
council.
Attorney John 3. Anderson addressed
the council and stated that lots 6. I and
in the Risdon tract were not served
with house laterals to point eight
feet from the alley line and offered a
plat to show that an alley had been
dedicated Engineer Maxon stated the
plat on file in the court house did not
show an alley dedicated from this block
The matter was referred to the sewer
committee.
Mr.. P. w. Mitchell, president of the
Cooperative Telephone company, APP
peared before the council in behalf of
the franchise which his company had
asked for and which an ordinance had
been put up to its third reading grant,
ing the franchise. He explained to the
council that many of the statements
made by the Pacific States company
with reference to the plans of his
company were entirely without foun-
dation and he objected very strenu-
ously to the efforts made by local
Manager McGillivray of the Pacific
States company to belittle his company
and to thwart the company in receiving
a franchise. Mr.. Mitchell very care
fully went over the ground with refer
ence to the companys system of lines
and also stated that a contract had
been let for poles which would be used
in the extension between here and Gull
desac and also stated that the con-
tract called for the delivery of the
poles before April first.
MIR. McGillivray of the Pacific States
company was present and addressed
the council briefly. He stated that his
company was not opposed to the CO.
operative company and would welcome
them to this field and advised the coun
Gil to grant them a franchise. He did
oppose. however. the council granting
a franchise that would give to them
the privilege of operating an exchange
system which would enable them to
place phones i'm the residence district
Mr.. McGillivray stated that they
would be glad to cooperate with the
new system in allowing them to use
their poles in the city provided they
would pay the standard rate Of so
much per contract. He would also al
low them to run their lines into the
Pacific States exchange in this city
and would pay all expenses of help
with exception of keeping the lines in
repair provided the company would
give them Is per cent OF the gross
earnings of the company. Mr.. Mitchell
here stated that his company would not
enter into such a contract and gave out
the information that deal was pend
ing now with another independent
company which would give his line
connection with all Palouse country
and Spokane points. He stated that
this new company expected to build in
here In the near future and connect
with their line. The council finally
placed the ordinance on it's final pass
age and was passed unanimously
The ordinance granting Geo. L.
Thayer Of Spokane franchise to ope-
rate and maintain q gas plant In this
city was placed on its final reading and
was unanimously passed.
The reports OF the investigating COM
mittee on the sewer scandal We're read
and placed on file. The reports varied
and took the form Of majority and
minority report and will be found pum-
lished in another column of this issue
The reports were ordered placed or