New-York tribune., 1911-09-26
'HALTS ACTION IN F1GHTS'SAYS v. j. OWES CITY
Thompson Tells Mayor 1t Has
Made No Payment Since 1885.
ESTIMATE BOARD WILL ACT
Report States Many Concerns
Have No Franchise TO Run
Wires Through Streets.

There will he an investigation by the
Board of Estimate and Apportonment to
determine Just what rights, II any, the
various fire alarm. district messenger ana
stock quotation companies have to run
their wires through the streets. Commits
sioner Thompson Of the Department OF
Water Supply. Gas and Electricity has re-
ported TO the MAYOR that so far as he can
ascertain from the records in his depart
ment many OF the companies are dong
business through tho city's streets without
any franchise whatever.
The Commissio speaks i'm his report
Of the alleged franchise" Of the Western
Union Telegraph Company OF IT he says:
/ I'm tho case Of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company | have found that no pay
mont has been made to tho city by them
since 1885. although the company has since
that time made many extensions to thelr
service and the money due the CITY uhder
their alleged franchise or authority 10
Cperstc amounts to considerable The COR
/ oration Counsel has already advised this
department that hc doubts whether TINS
particular company could. At this late date.
obtain permission 10 use he streets OF the
city under the extremely broad and sweep
ing terms OF the resolutions Of the Board
Of Aldermen without first obtaining the
consent Of the Board of Estimate and APP
Orticnmcut.
Acknowledging that the wires OF some Of
the companies are in the ducts Of the En-
pire City subway Company, whose right
( to use the streets was much mooted
question i'm the administration OF Mayor
Mcclellan, tho report goes on TO say:
To my mind tho question Of the rights Of
| sll the companies occupying space In the
uubc streets should hs Immediately in
vcstigated and those companies which are
found not TO possess the proper consent or
authority 90 operate should be compelled
| to make application for franchises and TO
/ pay into the city treasury the amount due
| for tho period Of time I'm which they were
unlawfuy occupying space IN the streets
These companies frequently apply 10 the
department for permits, and If would appear
! important that this subject receive carly
attention and tnat ! be informed which
companies arc entitled to receive permits
from this department
The companies whose rights IN occupy the
citys streets with their wires is disputed
! BY Commissioner Thompson are the
American District Telegraph Company. the
! Holmes Electric Protective Company. the
Stock Quotation Telegraph Company. the
Bankers and Brokers Messenger Company
the Automatic Fire Alarm Company, the
Consolidated Fire Alarm Company, tre
Manhattan Fire Alarm Company, the Ma
tional District Telegraph Company and the
Special Fire Alarm Electrical Signal Com
rany.
In regard to those companies Commits
sioner Tho mpson says:
Nv investigation Of the right Of these
companies TO operate and maintain their
wires has disclosed that the only authority
which some possess is their certificates Of
Incorporation. Others arc operating under
authority given by resolution adopted by
tho Board Of Aldermen and by the Boar
Of Electrical Control. In one or two cases
was unable To find any record Of inCor-
uorat tion. any resolutions or any authority
from the state to occupy the streets with
their wires.