Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1906-11-08
CITY COUNCIL
Considered Matters of Importance at
r Qular MeetinQ. Action On Phune
Franchise Postponed.

present Monhay night at tn regular
meeting of the council
petition was presented from S.
A. Shain a king the right to build a
private sewer from his hotel to con-
meet with the 4th avenue sewer,
which was referred to the committee.
A commnnicat ion from the North
ern Pacific railroad company vas
,rad, which stated that the company
was desirous of increasing its faci'i-
ties here and 10 do so 1t woulo be
necessary to vacate ce't,in highways
and crossings now used bv the ci'..
A large map accompanied the COM
munication showing what the COM
pany desired in this matter Of great
er facilities to handle thei increased
traffic. This was both of local and
through nature. The communicat tion
offered to build depor to cosl some
10000, and to remove the sewer and
to give $500 tOw,rdS moving the
water pipes on 4th avenue, also TO
give $500 towards he cost of opening
Fourth street.
A special commit tee of the council
of Two with the mayor and co NJ
mittee OF the commercial club of two
with the PRESIDENT, Mr. Sell r, were
appointed to act as joint commit
te. to consider the railroads. PROPOSE
tion and to further Investigate the
company's proposition and reach
conclusion which will b. to the bet
int. rests of the city at large. It is
possible the com m1ttee NAV go to st.
Paul to confer with the railroad off,
cials about the matter. The most
important change desired in the COM
pany's offer was concerning the clos
irg Of 4th avenue as a street.
The other changes related to cross
ings vest of the river. The opinion
was expressed that ga, 900 would not
build much OF depot and vas good
deal smaller sum than had been fist
proposed for a depot commensurate
with the growth of the city and for
the future needs.
A communication from Alfred
D,ckey was received asking that the
council turn over to the free reading
roon the sum of 300 which was In
the city treasury credited to he
reading room fund, and the amount
was ordered paid as requested.
The matter of q second telephone
franchise was then taken up and Al
derman Grant reported for the spec
ial committee new or considerably
amended ordinance, differing In sew
eral particulars from tnat first 1ntlo-
duced. The main features were
throwing some additional restrictions
about the establishing OF a second
system for local service and reducing
the time for the expiration OF pro-
posed franchise to 1918. The new
franchise gave the company the right
to erect on streets and alleys OF the
city what wonld be complete sys-
TEN of poles and wires, but claimed
that such were for use only for long
distance service. A long discussion
followed, participated IN by the rep
ressntatives of both telephone con-
panies and several citizens. The legal
aspect Of the proposed ordinance OF
the Independent Co. was discussed by
the council, and Alderman S'fton
desired that the most complete inf"r-
nation be- had possible as to what
rights for protection of itself against
a second phone system, the city had
in case the new franchise was grant,
ed Whether the restrictions could be
legally enforced BY the city in case
the Ind, Tel company chose to sell
its property to another company, or
to transfer its franchise.
Mr.. Default favored the new fran
chise and stated that the present ser
vice of the N. W. company reached
l4O towns In the state, and that OF
the OF her company with its small ex-
changes connecting. 100, that there
are about 500 points. possible to be
reached by phone, and only 80 we're
reached by both companies at present.
Mr.. Graves pointed out that there
we're practically no towns in the state
reached by the Ind. company to
which messages would not first have
to be sent over the N. w. company's
lines end that its contract with Val
ley City, Darlington and Casselton
already gave such service as the new
company proposed to duplicate.
MI. Richardson Of the Ind. GO.
said that there were 60 towns west OF
the Misso 1ri river and north to Gar
rison tnat the new company controls
8led. not at present reached BY the -.
". company.
Mr.. Seller, on behalf Of the n. y.