The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-31
POLES ARE DOOMED
ON PAVED STREETS
COUNCIL TAKES OVERHEAD-WIRE
BULL BY HORNS.
Dilatory Tactics Of Electric Companies
Stir Aldermen to Action and Now
Something Must Be Done-Figures
Will Be Obtained on Cost of Electric
Light and Power. .- =.

After dallying with the. overhead:
wire problem for years, the council
last evening put it's foot down hard
and passed a resolution directing the
removal of all poles and electric wires
in streets on which new paving has
been ordered for this year. If the va
e east eomRs en desire to Sdiapy ua these
ground conduits before the paving is
laid.
The resolution was presented by
Alderman Charles B. Holmes, and was
nesting nesting Of the he special Committee on
underground wires held yesterday after
noon. Representatives of the electric
companies were present, among them
Manager A; W. Leonard of the the General a.hs al
what the company proposed to do in
the matter of removing the pole lines,
Mr.. Leonard stated that the company
could not do more than look after the
downtown district this year, as it had
planned to expend only about 100000.
Council Has Say.
Mr.. Holmes reminded him that the
council had the power to compel the
removal of pole lines within reasonable
limits, and if the company would not
comply with the order the city engi-
neer could be instructed to chop down
the poles. The people, he stated, had
long ago become weary OF the d1latory
tactics employed, and demanded re-
suits. He stated that it was no concern
of the council how much the work
would cost; the main question was the
protection of life and property. 1t
certainly was not unreasonable to re-
ouire the companies to remove their
poles on paved streets.
No action was taken on the proposed
| iournment being taken for two weeks
At the instance of Alderman Plat
3. Walker the sum of $500 was appro.
| priated to defray the expense of secur'
ing an expert report on the local stu;
| alton wit hregard to electric light and
! powers as compared with other cities
This report will form the basis for ar
ordinance granting a franchise to the
Minneapolis General Electric company
which will follow the general provis
ions Of the franchise granted a,year age
company. A special committee consist
ing of Aldermen A. E. Merrill, Plat b
Walker and Wendell Hertig will have
general charge of the investigation.
Committee of the Minneapolis Retail
Dealers association will also assist IL
the work.
Alderman Perry Starkweather or
dinance charging the authority of thu
police in making raids on gambling
houses and places in which gambling il
supposed to be carried on, was referred
to the committee on ordinances.
Some Minor Matters.
| The council appropriated $3.50 as
i premium for the 100000 surety bon
for the city treasurer and $500 for en-
forcing the new express ordinance re
curing expressmen to report to tn
police the destination and the name o
the owner of all personal property re
moved by them. Contracts for 1000
900 sewer brick and 100000 cemen
brick were awarded, the former at 1872
2 per thousand and the latter at $3.50.
The city. clerk was instructed to &C
vertise for bids for publishing the ar
nual report Of city officers for 1905.
Bids were received for tools for tn
waterworlxs department, rubber boots
lumber. ard gasolene for street light
ing. The Standard OIL company offer
to supply 5000 gallons Of gasolene a
lOA cents per gallon.
. It was decided to cut up the 5000
put into the revolving fund from tn
sinking fund as follows: Paving, $27
900; sewers, $4,000; curb and quite
$4,000.