The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-29
HEALY REPORTS
ON FRANCHISES
CITY ATTORNEY DEFINES STATUS
OF VARIOUS CORPORATIONS.
The Report Shows that the Gas Com
pany Has the Oldest Grant, Which
Expires in 1911-Many Of the Public
Service Corporations Have Involved
and Overlapping franchises.

City Attorney Frank Healy, who has
been searching the city archives to de-
termine what franchises are now in
effect, has completed his report for the
council.
The oldest Minneapolis franchise is
company, granted to Dorilus Morrison
in 1870 by Minneapolis and to T. A.
Murphy in 1871 by st. Anthony. This
is to run forty years, or to 1911, at the
end of which time the city has the
option of purchasing the plant and dis
tributing system. ....
The Minneapolis Street Railway COM
pany, which was organized IN 1873, Sc
eured, the passage of an ordinance to
life, which was fifty years. The ordi-
nance was passed in 1875. The electric
present transfer system was ordered in
1892. A movement to test its validity
was started, but was not carried to
the supreme court. Both the gas and
the state legislature in 1879.
The first electric light and power
franchise was granted in 1882 to the
| Minneapolis Light & Electric Motive
| Power company for thirty years. The
| company later became the Brush com
pany, and later the Minneapolis Gen
eral EleCJf1C company. --@
In 1889 the Edison Light & Power
| company received a grant and agreed
to pay a grossearnings tax of 3 pei
cent. The company has disappeared.
| The National Subway company re-
ceived a franchise for the Dorsett sys
TEN, the privilege to run thirty years
The rights have since been transferred
to the Minneapolis General The
Thomson-Houston company secured {
|
In 1896 the st. Anthony Falls Water
franchise. H.
In 1904 the Minnesota Power & Troll
| ley company (kiichli $ system) re
ceived grant in which there are pro
visions for gross earnings tax. maxi
mum rates, arbitration, acquisition Of
plant by the city and many other con
ditions.
The Northwestern Telephone compa
ny has an unlimited franchise. altho
the company is incorporated for bu
thirty years. The privilege was grant
ed in 1883. The ordinance was re
pealed in 1900, but Mr.. Healy state
that the repeal is probably of no effect
in view of supreme court decision.
Il A telephone franchise was granted t.
the American i 7od Telegraph e. Te n a
incorporated for thirty years, but Their
is no limit to the franchise.
The Twin City Telephone compan'
also has an unlimited franchise, grant
ed in 1898 to it's predecessor, the Mis-
sissi ppi Valley Telephone company, in
corporated for thirty years. The Cen
trail Telephone company-a long dis
lance company-has franchise datin
from the same year.
In 1881 the American Union Tele
graph company obtained franchise
The A. d. T. and the Western Unto
obtained their privileges in 1883. Bot
franchises are unlimited. A concer
known as the Rapid Transit Telegram
company received it's franchise in 1881
as did the Chicago & Northwestern TIE
egraph company. g. q ....' -. = II"
Franchises for conducting heat III
der streets and alleys, within circun
scribed limits, have been granted t
the Northwestern Guaranty Loan con
pany, Thomas Lowry, the Powers Me-
camille company and the Cudahy Pacl
ing company, all the ordinances havin
been passed in 1908 and 1904.
Of other franchises is one to the S
Anthony Falls Water Power compan
for a canal under Main street Sc;
, the Bryn Mawr Land & Investmer
/, company, and to w. D. Washburn
| lay watermains, the latter in .Washbur
Park; to the salvage corps, the Centr;
Market company, granted in 1891, an
, to J. F. Duffey for a wood and ha
market.