Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-08
PHONE PROBE
WILL Be HELD
-~H-e--a s. w.
Committee is Named to Investi
gate Business of Concerns
in This City.

Grand Forks telephone companies
will be subjected to a thorough In
vestigation Monday at the hands of a
committee of the city council appoint
ed by Mayor James A. Dinnie. last
evening.
Aldermen Whitman, Kleven and
Turner represent the council on the
committee. and private citizens who
are named as members are o. Young
and F. L.. Goodman.
Under a resolution passed by the
council, this committee will hold reg
ular hearings and make a thorough
probe of the telephone companies In
this community.
A committee was also named by
the mayor to look into the matter OF
having new bridges built across the
Red river at this point by Joint &C
ton Of Polk and Grand Forks counties
and the cities Of Grand Forks and
East Grand Forks.
II the committee fails in the pur-
pose Just mentioned. 1t will make ar
effort to interest private capital In
the construction of toll bridges, &C
cordfng to the recommendations made
by the bridge committee OF the coun-
eli at the annual meeting. The men,
bers of his committee are Aldermen
Lockman, J. F. Smith and Peterson
for the council and Calvin Reed and
"A. l.. 11uIlNC TN Wy -
Suit Against City.
The city inds itself in a peculiar
position as the defendant in ar action
instituted in the federal district court
at Fargo by I. H. Jewel of Chicago.
The exact nature Of the action is as
yet unknown, but 1t Is understood to
have to do with the alleged violation
Of Jewels patent rights in connection
with some Of the machinery to be in
stalled in the projected water soften
ing plant by the Pittsburgh Filter
has. 1t Is understood, been instituted
against the city of Fargo.
City Attorney G. A. Bangs expects
to receive a copy Of h complaint in
the cas- during the next few days and
will then be in a position to take the
matter up with the manufacturing
company.
The city attorney pointed out in
this connection that as the construc-
tton Of the Grand Forks plant had not
as yet begun. the only form IN which
Jewel could bring action against the
city would be an injunction against
the use of whatever patent rights he
may claim. In any case, steps will be
taken to see that the city is fully pro-
report on the matter will be made al
g special meeting Of the council to be
held e Saturday night.
Power Company's Offer.
Alderman ]. D. Turner. on behalf
of the waterworks committee Of the
council submitted a rough export on
the proposal Of the Red River Power
Co. to supply power for the city pump
ing plant. The report indicated that
the city might effect a saving Of some
$1,000 annually on the bare cost OF
operation. w. H. Brown appeared or
behalf of the company, and asked thai
representatives of the concern be CIV
en- an opportunity to explain their
proposition to the committee in charge
of the matter.
As Alderman Turner explained thai
his report had been very roughly
drawn this request was granted an6
the meeting will be held saturda,
afternoon.
On request Of the local chapter o,
the Red Cross. the committee room OF
h second hoo of the city hall wa.
turned over to that organization FOL
. use as a work room.
Object to Vacation.
A communication vas received from
a large number of the residents o.
Cheyenne avenue Directing to the
vacation Of the street in the bloch