Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-13
Listen to Petition Of the
Telephone Company
Use Of Another Phone by CITY
Appears in the Case.
Petition Laid on Table Until the
Phone Matter Is Settled.

\ special meeting of the municipal
officers was held Friday evening, prlh-
cipaly to act upon the petition OF the
officers ot the New England Telephone
CO., who desired to run the wires
from the underground duets to poles
IN several of the streets OF the city. Il.
r. Emerson. district superintendent,
and stephen Wing, local superinten-
dent, We're present.
a similar matter came up last year
under the previous administration, the
company asking for Il relocation. The
yovt rnment agreed. il the city were
given the use of another telephone,
making six III all The company allows
one free telephone for every 2O00 in
haJitants. Mr. Emerson claimed that
Mayor Bunker agreed to furnish him
with /: letter stating that there were
1900 inhabitants, but no such letter
was written! The committee at that
tine Of which Alderman Hubbard was
then chairman is firm in their belief
that the verbal word OF the committee
was taken as voucher. over THIS
matter there was considerable dis
agreement last evening.
Mayor Redinston in opening the
meeting stated that the use of street
nolns Oh all streets in the city without
,har9'. WAS tCo great and the privilege
WAS worth something. He stated that
the city ought to get somewhere near
value received, although there was no
laA - stipulate the companies. He
Thought that the city of Waterville,
which is a corporation, should do busl-
ness as such.
Mr.. Emerson of Bangor stated that
his company asked for additional pole
riontA in order to furnish the sub
scribers with sufficient telephone SER
| vice He said that their company never
asked for blanket rights but was al
| was granted such privileges as was
desired from time 20 time. A year ago
when The company asked for additional
| free telephones q location was asked
| for on Ticonic street and he was wait
| ing tor the letter voucher, which he
CLAIMED Mayor Bunker agreed to write
over his signature to the effect that
| there we're 1900 inhabitants. He stated
| that lhe rates were based on the size
Of the city or town and that towns of
| less than 20oo inhabitants were given
| / discount Of 80 1-3 per cent. He was
confident that his company would not
| allow more than one telephone for
every 1000 for il would establish a
| precedent. The Waterville rates are
the same as in Eath and other places
| of its size. In Watcrville there are 1906
| telephones in use, 914 of which are pay
ing $50 per month. He mentioned the
cost of service and investment at sta
| tions and stated that the profit was
very small. W"tcrville has the free ser
| vice vita subscribers in Fairfield and
| Oakland.
| The streets upon which the company
| desires to have poles so that wires
may be taken from the terminal of the
| underground are TiConic, Appleton,
fharles, Chaplin, and tc repair the
| onGul on College avenue. which was
| :ir"k"n wnen The new road was laid
Alderman Hubbard. closely question
q Mr.. Emerson, bringing up every
| thing that was beneficial to the citi-
zehs. He, as chairman of the commit
tee under tie previous administration,
| thought il rather funny that the extra
telephone had never been given.
He asked Mr.. Emerson whether or
n"t the company regarded its fran
|
| Nhch MI Emerson answered that if
'iId not. Alderman Hubbard and others
| were greatly surprised 1T This and even
| more $" When someone said that the
| "nmpany paid 10 tax to 90. city OF
| WatcrIiiin.
| The matter underwent a lengthy dis
| cusSiCn, but 20 decision was reached
| MY. Emo rson agreed to ascertain if he
| '"uld give WaterviIe another tele
| phone on the strength of the commit
| zee ; Statement and the matter was
| ordered to he laid on the table.
| The city has at present - municipal
| telephones. four Of which are free and a
| reduction made Of the ones i'm the fire
stations The amount paid by the city
to the New England Telephone 60. each
month is S&.l5. The hose houses were
hll!ed at Sloa6 but were reduced. making
tn Sal rate. The following are the
prices paid for municipal telephones:
t!tN Marshal Office ................ Free
| NitN Marshal home ................. Free
city Clerk .. g. OS