Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-10-12


city council will probably be called
upon to settle for all time the question
of granting a 40-year franchise to the
Southwestern Telegraph and Tele-
rhone company for it's conduits in
certain portions of this city. The
ordinance for this purpose was intro
drced at the last session of the city
council. held last night, and is sub
stitute ordinance for the one which
the Southwestern Telegraph and Tele-
phone company had introduced in the
council several months ago. and
which arounsed so much discussion
and criticism, just or unjust, that it
was finally withdrawn upon request OF
Alderman Fox 1t is claimed for the
new ordinance that the Objectionable
features of the former ordinance are
emitted, while preserving the main
fact of franchise to the Southwest
ern company. So much interest has
Leen taken heretofore in this measure
and so much discussion has been in
dulced in pro and con- that the Graph
io gives below synopsis OF the new
ordinance passed to it's second read
ing and the stage of discussion.
Section / grants to the Southwest
ern Telegraph and Telephone COM
rany the right to construct operate
and maintain beneath the surface OF
the strets. alleys and public ground
in Pine Bluff, towit: On Second ave-
hue from Walnut to Alabama streets:
on Walnut street from Barraque street
J to the alley between Third and Fourth
avenues; on Pine street from Barra-
que street to the alley between Third
and Fourth avenues: on State street
from Barraque street to the alley be-
tween Second and Third avenues; in
| the alley between Second and Third
avenues from Walnut to Alabama
street, on the south side thereof.
or as much thereof as the company
! desires to use, conduits, cables and
wires, manholes. distributing poles
and house connection necessary and
convenient for the purpose of remov-
ing it's overhead construction.
Section provides that all poles on
these streets shall be removed and
the wires placed underground with
in twelve months
Section provides that in consider
alton of this privilege the company is
to furnish the city free of charge one
telephone for each one thousand pop
ulation, as estimated from time to
time by the mayor and superintendent
of the company and a third
umpire to be selected by them. These
telephones are to be placed at such
places as the mayor may designate.
In addition to these.the company. is to
furnish the police and fire stations
with five telephones, if needed. at one
half price.
Section 4 refers to the matter of
tearing up the pavement for the inn
provment mentioned, and says that
not more than $50. feet of pavement
shall be torn up at any one time un-
/ less specially authorized by the city
engineer; that the company shall re-
/ pair all defects in the paving made
- that
the company shall begin operations
within thirty days of the passage of
the ordinance.
Section provides that this grant
for the use of the street for under
sround conduits shall not be exclusive
TO the Southwestern company.
Section 6 provides that the work
shall be done under the supervision
of the street commissioner. and that
the work shall conform to the grades
! now established, etc.
Section provides that the city
the laying of 5000 feet of conduit dur
ing the first ten years Of the fran
chise, of which not less than 1000
shall be laid bi-anually, and 500 feet
bi-annually thereafter, but the COM
pany is granted the privilege of lay
Ing $500 feet bi-annually during the
life of the franchise. the location to
be selected by the company.
Section S holds the city harmless
from damages by poles erected by the
company.
Section says that alleys shall be
used for the poles whenever practi
cable.
Section 10 sets the price for ex
change service during the life of the
| franchise, as follows:
UD to 1900 Subscribers business