Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-04-25
2-YEAR DEBATE ON
CONDUIT NEAR END
Joint Bridge Committee Gives
n. Y. Telephone Go. Plank
Road Tentative Grant.

The Board of Freeholders at its meet
ing this afternoon will consider the ten
tative grant by the joint bridge COM
mittee ALLOWING the New York Tele-
phone. Company the rightto operate an
underground conduit system on the
Plank road for forty years. The per-
mission was practically granted at the
meeting of the joint bridge
after amendments had been offered TO
the original resolution. The compensa-
ton to be paid by the company will be
$4,000 year. For two years the appli-
cation had been debated.
In its application the New York Tele-
phone Company asked permission 70
construct an eighteep-duct system. VI
these six were to be used exclusively
by the company, six were to be deVoteu
to the use of fire and police systems
and the rest we're to be rented to other
companies. A provision in the appl-
cation allowed for the reversion OF
these latter six ducts, or such OF them
as were not in use of the telephone
company for its wires after the ex-
piration of ten years.
Consideration Of this subject brought
on a. discussion. Freebooter Ahner
COtitCAoCo LAhh tANN POAACA
extended to fifteen years, his reason
being that if the original period We're
adopted another company might apply
for permission to construct a conduit
at the expiration of that time, which
the board would have to grant, and
which would necessitate the tearing up
of the road.
Whole Committee Agrees.
49, - - l. n
Chairman Doody. of Hudson, that the
board of that county was in favor of
extending the time at which the extra
conduits would revert to the New York
Telephone Company to the fun term of
the franchise. This view was finally
taken by all the committee.
The question of compensation to be
paid by the telephone company was a
subject of a good deal Of discussion.
The soriginal proposition was to grant
free and unlimited telephone service to
all parts of the two counties from Ave
separate points, namely. the Clay
street. Bridge street and Jackson street
bridges e the Passaic River and the
Hackensack and Passaic river bridges
on the P~lankgroad.
This proposition was objected to by
many OF the f~reeholders. some of whom
ms. ssed that "a cash compensation
should be paid. Director Evans, of Es-
sex. ssexplained Shat he was anxious
some action be taken so the entire
natter could be cleaned up.
." hope he-said. "if there is any
Intention Of blocking this matter that
it will not be carried out. Amend it
If you will, but. don't block it."
Formal objection to the granting of
the franchise under any terms but a
cash compensation was presented by
Freebooter Doody in Il communication.
In this 1t was commended that if the
law permits the company. to maintain
trunk lines, the company should erect
& pole line. OF if this We're not agree
a leathe company should pay a rental
for the right to lay conduits based on
the Eum thab2 would be required to
crecx maintain and operate "a poleRhne.
F-inotheEo biectio overcome.
An6there objectton was that the law
did mot give the company the right
to operatsla local, service line and the
application was for this right also.
Alter a long discussion two propo-
sitiols were advanced. Freebooter
AhnerEi Offered an amendment that the
rental be 1900 a year, and Director
Evans suggested that the rental be
500 asyear. for each. duct in use. By a
vote of. seven to three Freebooter
Ahner's amendment prevailed.
Favorable action was taken on the
requests of the engineers, bridgemen
and roadmen for a 10 per cent. increase
in salary. This will be recommended
to the two boards. providing the
county counsel of Hudson approves.
The latter provision arises from the
statement by Freebooter Doody, who
explained that Counsel Griffin had ex-
pressed the opinion this would be i'm
possible in view of the fact that the
budgets. will not be prepared until
August and the accompanying appro
priations are not available until De-
cember of the year following.