Rock Island Argus., 1907-01-24
Central Union Company Makes
Two Propositions to
City Council.
IN RESPONSE TO INVITATION
Offer so Telephone Private Exchange
and Assume Cost of Litigation, but
no Fixed Rates.

As a result of the invitation of the
Mayor McCaskrins suggestion. the Cen
tral Union Telephone company at the
meeting of the committee of the whole
of the council last evening, presented
two propositions, with a view to set
Ting the difficulties between the city
and the company. which are pending
in various forms in the courts. TIE
company proposes the adoption of the
ordinance known as the origi-
nal ordinance. which was sub
mitted and considered during
the first negotiations, and if this ordin-
ance is passed, the company will in
addition to the conditions OF the ordin-
ance. furnish free TO the city a switch
board of 80 telephones. and will as
sumo the city's entire expense in the
litigation growing out of the franchise
difficulties The court costs and at
tendant expense amount to about So
900 at the present time. and it is esti-
mated that the private exchange which
the company agrees TO provide will
cost between S4.5OO and $4,000 to con
struct.
To Provide Exchange.
4. ]. Beverlin. the local manager of
the telephone company. was present
and submitted the following:
Herewith the Central Union Tele-
phone company submits To you a form
of ordinance. and asks that the same be
passed for the purpose of settling the
unfortunate differences which have
arisen between us in the past two
years, and we hereby agree that in ad-
ditiOn to the provisions of the ordin-
ance itself. if the same shall bes passed
and approved by you. We will furnish
for use of your police department. a
switchboard of 80 telephone sets of
the most modern design known to the
telephone art. TO be located at such
points in your city as you may desig- /,
nate. and having connection with our 1
local exchange in Rock Island by 4
trunks from said exchange TO the said |
switchboard. which private exchange !
shall be operated and maintained By !
the city of Rock Island. and shall be !,
free of charge on the part of the teIe-
phone company. and to be returned TO |
the telephone company at the eXpira- |
tion of the contract set forth aforesaid |
COMPANY.
Il. G.. Richardson. President.
attest: w. Chapman. Secretary"
Assume the Costs.
After the reading of the ordinance |
and a discussion of the provisions of |
the cOmpany's proposal to establish |
a private exchange switchboard, the |
proposition and ordinance were re |
ferred to the council meeting TO be |
held Saturday afternoon. This action
had been taken. when Manager Bever- |
lin was asked if the company had any |
further offer. and his reply was the |
verbal offer OF the company to assume !
all costs and expenses of the city in |
the litigation. which he later submit |
ted in written form as follows:
The Central Union Telephone com |
pany hereby agrees, upon the passage |
of an acceptable ordinance and ap- |
proved by the committee on streets. |
alleys and grounds as provided in said |
ordinance, of the poles and lines now |
located. and the plan of underground |
cOndUits to be constructed as prOvid- |
ed therein. said telephone company
will pay all costs of the litigation now |
pending in the courts. between said |
city and said company"
This proposition bears the same sig |
natures as the first. those of President |