The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-09-26
RENTS DUE FOR STREET WIRES
CITY SHOULD COLLECT, THINKS
COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

Hc sayp He Can Find No Returns From
Nine Companies which Pay Rentals "a
the Empire City Co.-ThitSks Some
Are Operattng without Authority
Commissioner Thompson Of the De-
partment Of Water Supply. Gas and
Electricity has written to Mayor Gaynor
telling him that many OF the fire alarm
stock quotation and district messenger
companies which have wire systems
running through the city seem to be oper.
ating without franchises from the city
and without paying for the privileges
which they have. Mr.. Thompson men.
tions nine companies which seemingly
are using the streets without giving any
return to the city. These are:
American District Telegraph Company
Holmes Electric Protective Company. Stocl
Quotation telegraph Company. Bankers ant
Brokers Messenger Company. Automatic
Fire Alarm Company. Consolidated Fire
Alarm Company. Manhattan Fire Alarm
Company. National District Telegraph Com.
pany. Special Fire Alarm Electrical sigma
Company.
Mr., Thompson also says that the W est.
ern Union Telegraph Company has paid
nothing to the city since 1885. The com.
pany pays Its rentals through the Empire
City Subway Company. whose conduits
the company uses. as do most Of the othel
companies mentioned by the Commits.
sioner. Commissioner Thompson says:
My investigation OF the right Of thes,
companies to operate and maintain theiI
wires has disclosed that the only authorit,
which some possess ia their certificate oi
incorporation. Others are operating under
authority given by resolution adopted by the
Board OF Aldermen and by the Board ol
Electrical Control. In one or two cases
was unable to find any record OF incorpora.
ton. any resolutions or any authority
from the State to occupy the streets with
their wires.
In the case OF the Western Union Tele.
graph Company have found that no pay.
ment has been made to the city by them
since 1885. although the company has since
that time made many extensions to their
service. and the money due the city under
their alleged franchise or authority Ia
operate amounts TO considerable. The
Corporation Counsel has already advised
this department that he doubts whether
this particular company could at this late
Of the city under the extremely broad and
sweeping terms Of the resolutions Of the
board OF Aldermen without first obtanina
the consent OF the Board OF Estimate and
Apportionment.
To, my mind the question Of the right &
OF all the companies occupying space In the
public streets should be Immediately in
vestigated and those companies which are
found not to possess the proper consent
or authority to operate should be com.
PEELED to make application for franchises
and TO pay into the city treasury the amour,
due for the period OF time in which they were
unlawfuily occupying the space in the
streets. These companies frequently apply
to the department for permits and IL would
appear important that this subject receive
early attention and that ! be informed
which companies are entitled to receive
permits from this department.
The Mayor directed tina: the letter be
brought before the BOARD OF Estimate
next Thursday for an Investigation Of the
conditions under which the companies
are using the streets.