Fergus County Democrat., 1913-02-18
THE RAISE IN
PHONE RATES
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phones in homes was the standard
rate and was really lower than that
charged in some other cities. The
rates here were lower than in Great
Falls.
Mayor Marshall said that what was
chiefly objected to was the action of
the company in coming in here and
suddenly jumping rates up in this way
without notice.
Mr.. Ball, for the company, explained
that the contracts were the notice.
They did not go into effect until April
1, which certainly allowed ample
time.
Louis Lehman read some extracts
from the annual report of the Noun
tain States company to show that even
if the claim made that the company
had never paid a larger dividend than
seven per cent, a large sum had been
accumulated as reserve and asked
when it was intended to cut the 3d.
100000 melon.
The representatives of the company
claimed that the reserve fund had to
be set aside to represent the deprecia-
tion.
Much was said by the representa-
tives of the company about the "tele-
phone paradox" by which was meant
that the more business done the more
the service was extended and the
heavier was the expense.
Noble Walker said that although
the raise would hit him as hard as
most people, the charge, in itself, was
rooSnnoh1n cnu1narn1 with what
was paid in other cities for first-class
service, such as we would get. He
did not object to the rate particularly,
but he was concerned, he said, about
the wages that were paid the opera
tors, what their working conditions
would be and SO on. That, to his
mind, was a very important feature
in considering the matter.
After the discussion had run along
at great length, Alderman Berkin
finally moved that committee of two
alderman, with the city attorney, city
clerk and engineer, be appointed to
go over the telephone statistics and
ascertain, as nearly as possible, what
would be fair rate for LeWiStoWn,
the inquiry to include all the other
features touched upon.
Mayor Marshall named Alderman
Saxl and Traywick as members of the
committee and the inquiry was be-
gun this morning.
Pest House Question.
County Attorney c. J. Marshall was
given the floor earlier in the evening
to protest, on behalf of A. H. Brew,
against the action of the city in TAX
ing smallpox patient to house in
the neighborhOod of the Brew home.
1t seems that case of smallpox de-
veloped Sunday in an apartment house
in which there were many roomers.
The city authorities, to protect 9TH
ers, had taken the patient, who had
consented to the arrangement, to the
house in question, that seeming to be
the only satisfactory solution possible
in thirss-em emergency. This made the
place, as Mr.. Marshall viewed it, a
pest house, and he declared that there
was no law warranting such action:
City Attorney DeKalb explained TIC TIC
emergency that had arisen and de-
clared that Mr.. Brews family was not
endangered in the least. The county
pest house had been torn down, the
city had no such place, and to meet
the situation the authorities had act
ed, as he thought, wisely and justly
and in the interests of the health of
the whole community. He advised
the council to "stand pat" and it so
Stood
DR.. C. C. Wallin called attention to
the fact that in creating the improve
ment district that included his home
there had also been created nuisance
Water poured across the property and
was now going through the founda-
tion, filling his cellar. He thought
that a little grading would remedy
this and asked for Immediate action.
1t viii be given attention at once.
Fred Catlin asked permission to
place an ice box for meat outside OF
his restaurant. Referred.
The Great Northern.
O. w. Belden brought up the mat
ter of granting to the Great Northern
the right to cross Main street at the
intersection of High and again in Ju
dith Place, on it's extension eastward
This petition was granted two weeks
.ago and the matter was brought III
again in accordance with the under
standing at that time so that plats
might be filed and a written petition
presented. The previous action was
confirmed
About An Alley.
Mr.. Belden next brought up the mat
ter of the alley in the block on which
the Bank of Fergus County was sit
uated. This alley, which terminated
in the creek, was closed in the spring
of 1903 by the city council upon peti
tion OF Brooks Bros. A resolution was
passed. based upon a petition, but the
original petition or any further rec
ord could not be found in the city
archives. The bank building was