La Junta tribune., 1914-12-12
CITY COUNCIL.
City Dads Hold Interesting Session
and Discuss Telephone, Gas and
Electric I.ight Pr0biesns.

~ 1S0As 1.sps~s 1ss~SS~ssss8 sNStSss'sA
and Discuss Telephone, Gas and
Electric Light Probiesns.
Last Monday night the city council
put in most OF the time wrestling
with the telephone. gas and munich
pal electric light problems-with the
telephone problem in the ascendancy.
the franchise Of the Mountain States
Telephone Company expired In Oc-
tober. and probably would not have
been called to mind had not the fact
that franchise was granted 70 this
corporation twenty years ago been
chronicled In the reminiscent column
Of the Tribune. At least the Ques-
ton was not brought up In u council
meeting until = month after the
franchise had expired.
The question of renewing the fran
chise was discussed at q special meet
ing Of the council two weeks ago.
Al this meeting J. s. Elfred. OF Dem
yer. representing the general mana
gers office Of the telephone company
appeared before the council and ask
ed for . renewal OF the franchise. Of
fering In consideration therefor two
per cent Of the gross receipts OF the
company at the local exchange. The
question was discussed. pro and con,
some of the aldermen holding out
for three per cent OF the gross re-
ceipts and free phones for the city.
There was nothing doing. however.
Mr.. Elfred contending that two per
cent Of the gross receipts was the
only cosideration that would be
granted by his company-that being
all that was granted by his company
In any city In Colorado. and being
the same ~ vas received from the
Arkansas Valley Railway Light. and
Power Company.
NJ Hlfss1s hswever. got himself
Into deep water when he made the
declaration that bis company had
olls.eee invesasd N The locsl Dlaat.
nAagooagpeae - ~. p,aae = La
klk tt(Y ~ ISIl fSoiyy so:
'sSe. and IN ths satirs county oaly
ei7s.sle. Last year the company
paid taxes 10 the county 70 the
amount Of 5000. II 10 very evident
that the telephone comDany ID not
being assessed for its full cash value.
Mayor Lamb then suggested that
the city would be willing 70 slimin-
ate the donation Of two per cent Of
the gross revenues and grant the
company . franchise providing Il
would agree 10 place all wires In the
business district under ground and
erect . central station for the local
exchange. Mr.. Elfred said that II
would cost $4,000 10 place the wires
In the business district under ground
about eight blocks In al. and that
u this was done II would BE- necessary
70 increase the local rates 70 that the
company would realise ssvsa per
cent on IL investuent. He said
hs would take the matter ~ with the
company at oacs and have another
proposition 70 submit q The nsxt
meeting Of The aidermanic body on
Dscsnbsr 3lse.
Dusing the discussion some later.
eseing Information was brought out.
NJ. Eifrsd said the rsciepss Of bis
company In L. Junta last year we're
e35.sS7.7e. and two psr csat Of this
amount would yield ~ city . rsvssus
Of e%so.ss. or e37.se ~ moath. La
Junta had besn rscsiving free phone
service 70 the amount Of 1880 per
annum. but under the new public
utilities Law this would have 10 b
eliminated. This would leave the
city . net revenue Of essS.ss PER an
nsm. or s22.3s per month. providing
Il was determined 70 accept the offer
Of two per cent Of the gross rsvsaus.
A. The present time there ere s37
tslepAeess In Ia Juats-sSs Of which
ere rssldence telephones and i73
busoaess Dhones.
Thsss vii probably b. another
lively Telephone session one wssk
from aszt Monday aisht. and ws
would lite 70 ses the city dads wls
oct II thsls demand soe . csasssI
station aa1 - place al viFss h ths
buslaess district usdsf grousl. TIE
es1eoAeee ee0Dasy shesil ~ h 1lse
wttA eo0e e oos progressive eleissas
W. aso seslviAg y nake L. Junea
- - - ~ 0ewA aa1 . Ooo1 Doaeo
= vt1eA - Evo.
=. q UD11ba Dges11sss q ~ oooso|
g. Coakooavs oubnleasl . ~ 49,.
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