This Day in History: April 28th, 1911

This Day in History: April 28th, 1911

OPPOSE 50 YEAR PHONE FRANCHISE

Opposition Crops Out at Public Meeting in Milltown to Give Citizens Opportunity to Be Heard Upon the Subject.

MILLTOWN, April 28-A public meeting was held in the Borough Hall last evening to permit the citizens to express their views on the granting of a 50-year franchise to the New York Telephone Company for the operation and repairing of Their system on all the thorough- fares of the borough. The company at the present time has an unlimited franchise on North Main street, Washington avenue and Riva avenue, and has obtained from the Borough Council by special resolution the right to operate their system on Church street and Van Liew avenue.

Mayor Richter explained the purpose of the meeting and then gave the citizens the privilege of the floor. William Kuhlthau was the first speaker, and advised the Council to go slow; he said that 50 years seem- ed a very long time to him.

Charles Richter urged that the Borough Council limit the number of poles to be erected, and that they obtain the use of the poles for the electric light wires.

The company asserts that it will erect no poles without the permisslon of the citizens in front of whose property the pole is to be erected, and promises to give one telephone to the borough for every 50 subscribers. The company, if granted the franchise, will install a telephone in the Borough Hall.

As there were no more opinions offered the Council adjourned until May 5, when the bids for motor fire trucks will be received.

Fire Meeting.

The firemen held their regular monthly meeting in the club room at the Borough Hall last evening.

A great improvement is being completed on North Main street. The concrete sidewalks in front of the Bauries, Rappleyea, Sevenhair And Evans properties add greatly to the appearance of the thoroughfare-

Raymond Van Hise. who succeeded Christian Crablel in the South Main street grocery business, is daily improving the appearance of his attractive place and reports progress.

Rev. J. W. Morris will attend the banquet of the alumni of Pennington Seminary, held at the Hotel Martinique, New York, at 7 o’clock this evening.

Everyone is interested in the cake sale which is to be held at the M. E. parsonage tomorrow afternoon.

Miss Mildred Stelle is one of a luncheon party at Brooklyn today. The First Quarterly Conference of the M-E. Church will be held in the church lecture room to-morrow evening. District Supt. Dr. John Hand- ley will preside.

J. Ryan left the borough yesterday afternoon for Kansas City, where he will take up his duties as agent for the Michelin Tire Co.

Henry Baler has purchased a Maxwell touring car.

Oscar Harkins is enjoying many trips on his new twin cylinder seven horse power Indian motorcycle.

MILLTOWN, April 28-Weather permitting, the Crescents will go to South River to-morrow to play their second game of the season. It is thought that a large number of local enthusiasts will accompany the team, in order to size up the chances for a good season.

Paul Matske. well known as a ball player in New Brunswick and vicinity, a former catcher for the Rutgers Prep. School and Dayton teams, will probably make his initial appearance with the Crescents tommarow He will probably play one of the outfield positions.

J. Snedeker and Kuhlthau will compose the battery for the Crescents.


This Day in History: May 20th, 1911

This Day in History: May 20th, 1911

WILL PAY $4,100 FOR FIRE TRUCK

MILLTOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL AWARDS CONTRACT TO JAMES BOYD & BROTHERS, OF PHILADELPHIA THE RESOLUTION PASSES BY 4– 1 VOTE.


MILLTOWN, May 20 – The borough will pay $4,100 for a motor fire truck. It was resolved at an adjourned Council meeting last evening. The resolution to purchase the truck from Boyd Brothers, of Philadelphia, was introduced by Councilman George Crabiel, a member of the fire committee. When the call came for ayes and nays the vote was as follows:

Ayes, Councilmen Baurles, Kulthau, Morris, Crabiel.

Nays, Councilman Rappleyea.

Councilman Miller was absent.

The Mayor accompanied by council members last Wednesday were the guests of the Boyd Brothers and were allowed the privilege of going through the factory. A demonstration was given and it is said it proved highly satisfactory to the members on the scene.

Ordinance for Franchise Passed

An ordinance was introduced to give the New York Telephone Company the rights and privileges of operating and repairing their lines on all streets and thoroughfares of the borough.

Among the conditions named in the ordinance, were that two telephones were to be given free to the borough and that one telephone would be added for every fifty subscribers received after the one hundred mark was reached; that the company shall erect no poles in front of a property without the property owner’s permission; that the company shall trim no trees without the property owners permission; that the borough could use the poles of the company for its electricity light wires. The ordinance was unanimously passed on its first and second readings.

…the company shall trim no trees without the property owners permission; that the borough could use the poles of the company for its electricity light wires.

Robert A. Harkins is ill

For the first time in many years, Borough Clerk Robert A. Harkins, was unable to be in his chair last evening. The clerk sent word that he was too ill to be present.


Original Apparatus - this is what the Milltown Fire Department used to fight fires back in 1911. The 2-cylinder auto car was sold around 1931.
Original Apparatus – this is what the Milltown Fire Department used to fight fires back in 1911. The 2-cylinder auto car was sold around 1931.