Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-10-06
"reminiscences of Hon. George W-Bene-
dict and the Telegraph.

Editor Rutland Herald In your paper
If the 9TH inst. [ noticed short biographical
,ketch Of Hon G. W Benedict, late OF the edi-
torial staff Of the FREE Pass AND TINES, and
formsrIv Professor in the University Of Yer
mont. and Superintendent and master spirit OF
the Troy and canada Junction Telegraph loIn-
many and think it, at this time, not map
propriate to lock ST the history Of this company
and its original operators and superintendent
The first steps towards building the line were
taken in 1876, by Hon. G. W. Benedict assisted
BY some friends in Burlington IL was tae IN
tention Of the projectors to run the line from
Trov via Pennington, Rutland, Brandon snd
Burlington. to the Canada line, to meet the
comnanv from there to Montreal. To do this,
the cost Of the lire, two hundred dollars per
mile FOR one hundred and eigety -hve miles, max
ing s37 900 in all, Was apporuoned to eAch
town on the line where il was proposed 70 open
offices and Professor Benedict visited edcn town
n.rsoually 10 present the claims Of the proJec''
An the towns On the line heartily scqulescei 10
the nrorositiou Of the Professor, snd took the
stock that hsd been apportioned TO them, except
Br.ndop. They refused to accept the pro
nosed terms, and Prof Benedict s0ld them mat
unless they took the stock sppOrtoned them, they
would have no Office, FOR there would be no wire
running through the town. They thought diaer-
emily. and believed that the wire must pass
through Brandon, and that after short time an
Office would be opened in the town without any
expense to them. For y years Mr.; benedie'
had been a col eye professor, and had oeeu lu
the habit Of having his demands compiler WIN
and did not ike the idea Of being inWartei 10 nlh
scheme By the people Of Brandon, so he there
80 located the line from Rutland to Midlebury
via Whitehall and Orwell, making the distance
.oo,e TWENTY-FIVE miles more than via Brandon,
with Castlefon. Whitehall and Orwell 10 assist IN
building the line Capitalists IN these towns
readily offered their assistance, and before Feoru
srv. ISIS. Troy and Montreal were within teie-
or.nbis communication. Mr.. Benedict VAS the
6r,t superintendsut OF The line, and held the pc
sition. think. until the spring Of 1917, "nen
he WAS succeeded by L. c. Dodge, the operator
in the Burlington ofIce, and presen; Msyor et
Burlington, who held the position until 1870,
when he resigned for the purpose Of going 10
California. where he filed many offices OF honor
and trust. He wss succeeded BY his brother,
0. A. Dodge, who held the Office until be became
quite wealthy. ami until the line had been trans
ferrei to the Western Union Telegraph company
He had charge Of the transfer Of the line from
the highway to the railway.
Nh Benedict was a strict disciplnarian, AMI
insisted that all Offices should be conducted BY
strict
cards. and the reading Of novels was prohibited
OccssiouaMy, Mr.. Benedict would start on
tour OF observation, and Luther, as he vas
then called. although We now must call him Mr.
Msyor. would inform the operators OF the pre-
posed visit. and that the superintendent bad
started for such an Office. Presto, how quick
Josephus would take the Place Of that pack OF
cards that box Of pipes and tooacco would
leave tie telegraph office for some safe place, and
the operator would spply himself sssiduously TO
cleaning the relay snd register, and perhaps
when the SUPERINTENDENT came into the office,
they would be busy reading the Ten Commant-
nents, or Parley's Evidences Of Christianity.
| will give, as rear as I can, tie names Of the
respective operators, with calls Troy, :, VI l.
Wood Bennington, Bn., George Harrington
Rutland, Ru., W. L. C. Stoddsrd Csstleton,
W. Rice Whitehall, H.. Charles Harris
Orwell, Or, t. NJ. Wright; Niiilebury, D.. ).
W. Stewart Vergennes, Y, P. V. Phelps
Burlington, B, L. c. Dodge St Adams. Sa-,
VIM. Burgess St Johns, j.. (forgctten); Mon
treal, Y, Geo Barry. Of these operators,
| know Of but three O. them thst
are dead. Mr.. Burgess died early n
1915, and his office was taken charge OF
by the writer OF this in few yeaFs after Mr..
StoddArd died, and Mr.. Rice died in 1861 J.
W. Stewart is the present Governor Of Vermont,
and an honor to the State, as he would be TO
.ny State in the Union L. c. Dodge is now
Mayor Of Burlington ?. V. Phelps holds
verv honorable position in the lsw st the west ;
MIR Wright still sells goods in Orwell anil is one
Of the directors Of the FairhSven x Lake Shore
Railroad. Of which H. G. Wood is superinten-
dent, and, whibh like the trip to the moon, will
doubtless remain in the Imagination Of its pro-
jectors and o. A. Dodge is a hrokerin New ork
shall ever consider il an honor to have teen
associated with such noble band Of men.
Though many Of them have never seen, yet l
feel confident, that il it should be my good for
tune 70 meet them, l should find 10 them as
warm friends as those personally know.
The telegraph, besides being Of so great value
to the public, is one Of the best schools for the
young The circumstances connected with the
French Rebellion in 1878, the Taylor campaign
are fxsd indellibly upon my mind. The opera
tor must read and understand. Like the steam
engine, il has been a great power for good. and
the name Of the late G. W. Benedict will ever be
connected with the first projectors Of the elec-
-. =. III