The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-10-23


instruments will see the passing of
the old courier system of transmitting
messages and the beginning of a new
era in the business life of the new
city.
Independents Routed.
incidentally. the Chicago Telephone
company has fought the Independents
to standstin, and with it's fifty year
Gary franchise is so firmly intrenched
in the Calumet region that it need not
fear the invasion of the enemy in the
future.
The board meeting yesterday was
characterized by a full attendance on
the part of the board, attorneys and
telephone men. The earlier part of
the routine work was finished In
ord time. there being no reports. AT
a call for ordinances and resolutions
the Chicago Telephone company pre-
sented it's amended ordinance to Mr..
Abbott After the reading. Presi-
dent Knots asked the board what
should be done with it. Trustee NJ. A.
Caldwell moved its adoption. The mo-
ton came seemingly half expectedly
but objection after objection together
with numerous questions came from
the several members. They were all
met by the telephone company's rep
resentatives in a sauve, logical manner
that disarmed all criticism and inti-
mated only the largest desire on the
part of the company to subserve itself
to the peoples needs and wishes,
Trustee Sears did most of the objceting
in an argumentative manner that drew
out information he desired before
finally seconding the motion. He
seemed thoroughly satisfied at length
as did the other two members that
the Chicago Telephone company was
the best bidder and the motion to
adopt the franchise ordinance num-
Der 46 carried unanimously. One more
OF the important problems are solved
and service is promised within thirty
days. The franchise is for fifty years.
It requires the usual public precautions
that the trustees have insisted upon
in other franchises. The grant is not
exclusive The board retains the
right % make other grants of the tele-
phone franchise If it sees fit.
The rates UP to 5000 phones are;
single party. business. 81 per month:
residence. SS per month. Two party.
business. So per month"; residence. 81
per month. -Four party. business 81
HcA AAekttAA' ASsA0NACet Slo0 per month,
making a rate that conforms In general
TO its rates in other cities Of thar size
or using that number OF nbones
Above that number the companv
makes a reasonable rate II 1t sees fit
after a full conference with the board
This leaves the question of rate largely
open with the common law resort To
the courts to determine whether or
not the company is reasonable. This
last point seemed a mooted one 20 the
board but their Investigations during
the last two months have resulted In
their finding that arbitration clauses
IN franchises have generally resulted
in the decision Of some court being
taken before the arbitration was com
pleted. The town has the right 10 usa
the poles for its police and fire alarm
wires and the company furnishes
phones to all Of the town officials ana
to all Of the schools free Of charge in
addition to which a reduction of twen-
ty-five per cent is made in the cost
of other phone service needed bv the
town The company gives free ser
vice TO its subscribers between hare
and Toleston making a total area Of
about thirty square miles over which
II gives free service, probably the
largest anywhere.
1t was apparent from the start that
the Gary trustees favored the com
pany TO which the franchise was