Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-03-11
TELEPHONE
SITUATION

Ole JVllllSOu UI1lCS a fOrClDlc
Artick on Past Actions Of
The City Conncfl.
Editor Iribune:-
AS the telephone question is now
coming up for general
public discussion. and bids fair to
be the issue in the next city elec-
ton. l ask space in your columns
for some observations on this topic.
Moreover, as the village council of
l897-consisting of Nassett, Ram
sett. Void, Tallman. Swan Nelson
and johnson (president)-w h ich
fortunately. or unfortunately, hap
pened to be in office when the tele-
phone wave struck this part of the
Country. is now being criticized and
cross-questioned. and sometimes
abused for it's action, l propose to
make simple statement covering
this phase of the question.
On May II, 1897, a franchise for
a local telephone exchange was
granted to John Williams and Ole
Barnstad for term of ten years.
At the hearing of this ordinance the
whole question of giving away city
franchises was gone over from top
to bottom. A long term franchise
was asked for, but we all came to
the conclusion that we had no right,
morally, to bind the future interest
of the city to a longtime contract
of this kind; that such franchise
might possibly in time be a very
valuable property; that new dis
coveries might develop of which the
city might want to avail itself; and,
finally, that ten years. franchise
was long time enough to develop
the enterprise to such a stage that
the city could make some arrange
ment in regard to rates and taxes
and control. One of the conditions
OF the franchise was that this local
telephone exchange should be in &C.
tual operation within a certain
time. The ordinance was passed
by a unanimous vote.
On June %, 1897, a representa-
tive of the Northwestern Telephone
Exchange Co. appeared before the
council and asked for the right of
way through the city for it's poles
and lines and tolling place or places
or connection with the central ex
change Of the city, now already un-
der construction by Williams and
Barnstad. This right or franchise
was granted by resolution and with
out any restriction as to time in
which it should run or how soon it
should be in operation. The reso-
luton passed by the unanimous vote
of the council, Mr.. Nasset being alb
sent.
On October II, 1897, Mr.. Tall
man asked on behalf of the Mime
sofa Central Telephone Company
for the right Of way through the
city for poles and lines and tolling
place or places or connection with
the local central. This right or
franchise was granted by the pass
ing of an ordinance. which Mr..
Tallman presented, and the rules
were suspended and the ordinance
was read the three times this same
session. The reason why the rules
were suspended and the ordinance
passed at the one session was be-
cause Mr.. Tallman earnestly re-
quested it, saying that he had such
applications pending in other towns
and it would aid him elsewhere to
be able to show that he had the
right of way in his own town. It
was granted without any considera-
tion as to time to run or as to time
in which it should be in operation.
One amendment was made to it,
and thatwas that it as made to say
specifically that it as not an exclu-
sive franchise. twas passed un-
animously, Nasset being absent.
This council is now being blamed
for having given the Northwestern
Telephone Exchange Co. and the
Minnesota Central Telephone Co.
the right of way without limit as to
time. Why did the council do that!
It is proper question, and l will
answer it.
Mr.. John Williams and Ole Barn.
stad were then. and are now, ole
and respected citizens of this city
Why did the council after prolonged
discussion refuse to give them {
perpetual franchise-limit it to ter
short years, and require that thei1
telephone system should be in ope
ration in few months, at a Ger.
tain date? Why did the council dc
that, and then within few month!
after give to the Northwestern Tel
ephone Exchange Goa foreign
so-called monopoly corporation-s
perpetual franchise, and to the Min
nesota Central Telephone Co. also {
perpetual franchise, and no condi
tion as to the time when either Of
these companies should be in opera
ton? If these three telephone