Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-08-11
Farmers and Merchants Tele-
phone Company Seeks Right
to Occupy Streets
WILL GUARANTEE NO DAMAGE
Willing to Put Up Satisfactory Bond
That All Streets Will Be Put in as
Good, if Not Better, Condition Than
When Torn Up-WilIns to Specify
Rates in Franchise-Action Soon.

The Farmers and Merchants Tele-
phone Company. the new automatic
telephonej concern, which has been or
ganized to fight the Bell interests,
night with franchise ordinance which
the company seeks to have adopted,
calling for a special election to have
the people pass upon The question of
whether or not there shall be compe-
tition in the telephone business in
MarshalltoWn.
The ordinance asks the right of the
use of the city's streets for twenty
five years, for the erection of poles,
wires, Underground conduits. and other
appliances necessary for the malnten-
ance of telephone company. All
wires are to be laid underground
when practicable. The company grants
to the use of the city two free tele-
phones for city purposes. to be in
stalled where the city may direct
That the ordinance might be ready
for amendments and debate at the adj
journed meeting, to be held next Mon
day night Devine moved the suspen-
sion of the rules. which carried. The
ordinance now stands on its second
reading.
Mayor Wants Something in Return.
Mayor Ingledue said he was not will
ing to hand out franchise to any one
without some return to the city from
the company. He thought that the
proposed ordinance would need con-
siderable amending if it were finally
adopted, and he wanted each member
of the council to familiarize himself
with the terms of the document before
the next meeting, that it might be
thoroughly discussed. 1t was suggested
that possibly a per cent return to
the city on the business done, after a
period of five years, might be agree
able.
Martin Explains Workings.
e. III. Martin, of the company, adj
dressed the council, explaining the
workings of the franchise, and what
the company proposed to do. He said
the company represented collectively
a capital of about s5,000,000, and was
organized for the express purpose Of
fighting the Bell company for the pro-
lection of the Independents. If the
Bell company We're allowed monop-
oily in this city, Dubuque, and other
places where the same deal had been
worked here was in force, it would
not he more than few years before
the Independent companies would have
nothing.
Will Guarantee Streets.
Mr.. Martin said that the company
would put UP good satisfactory bond
that the streets used would be put
back in just as igoou, If not better,
shape than when torn up for building,
and that the bond would cover an in
spection by the city of all streets. The
company's engineer has estimated it
will be necessary TO lay over 300 miles
of conduits in Msrshaltown. Practic-
ally all Of the system will be built
underground with the exception of the
distribution service.
Will Put Up $4,000 Building.
Mr.. Martin also said that the COM
pany was making arrangements, pro-
viding it was permitted to do business
here, to erect $4,000 building as an
exchange The company was willing,
and ready, if necessary, to put up a
bond for $4,000 to the city, to guar
antee that it would not sell out to the
Bell people.
Rates in Franchise.
The company was also willing to
have inserted in the franchise the rates
chargeable for service, s2.75 for bust
ness phones; $1.75 for residences; and
s1.25 for party lines, with a discount
of 25 per cent for prompt payment Of
bills This would make the net rates
$3.50, $1.50 and 81. MIR. Martin said,
however, that the fact that the cons
pany was on a competitive basis would
guarantee the rates being equitable.
City Not Entitled to Share.
That the city is not legally entitled
to any share in the profits Of the COM