Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-11-22
The Telegraph In Vermont.

&c. ID. s." ofCastleton. in the Poultney
Journal, has written the following sketch
Of the telegraph in Vermont. "After the
Fact was established as to the practical
bility of the telegraph, and a line was
established to Buffalo, Prof. Benedict
known as little Benz conceived the idea
of line from Troy to Montreal. Law
renee Brainerd, A. H0ughton of st. Adams,
Toilet & Bradley of Burlington, Tim
Strong of Vergennes, Wood and others
of Middlebury, with others from towns
south of Middlebury. took hold with Prof.
Benedict. A company was organized and
stock taken in most of the towns. Bran
don declined TO take any stock, supposing
the line must pass through Brandon A.
w. Hyde met Mr.. Benedict, and suggested
TO him the idea of changing the line by
going to Castleton, Whitehall and Orwell
to Middlebury from Rutland, thus leaving
Brandon out of the line. The amount OF
stock necessary to tuild the line from
Rutland to Middlebury was taken in
Castleton, Whitehall and Orwell. When
the fact became known in Brandon, Mr..
Conant, DR.. Dana and others began to
see the position they were in, but were
"too late" The line, which was called
the Troy & Canada Junction Telegraph
Company, was erected by Alonzo Cornell
He received for the job 5000 per mile
The line was finished about the first Of
December, 1874. A. B. Cornell, the present
governor of New York. opened most Of
the offices; many were eager for the
offices. In this place there were two
applicants for the office, Dea. William
| Ward and James Adams; but u compro
mise was effected, and L. w. Rice was
appointed. Prof. Benedict was the frs
| superintendent. Those who were appoint
ed gathered at Troy and learned the art
II will give the offices with the operators
and the calls: Troy. H., N. l.. Wood
Bennington, Bn., G. D. Harrington; Rut
land, Ru., w. E. G. Stoddard; Castleton
G., T. w. Rice; Whitehall. H.-Hall
Orwell, Or, E. NJ. Wright; Middlebury
D., j. G. Stewart; Vergennes, ", c. P
Phelps; Burlington, B., L. C. Dodge
St. Adams, s.. A. W. Burgess St. Johns
J.,-Shoemaker; Montreal, X, Johl
Barry.
"The writer was the first person tina
learned or took an Office after learning. il
Vermont. In the early spring OF 18ii
Mr.. Burgess was taken sick. Superinten
dent Benedict wished me TO go 10 St
Adams for few days, which did. In
1913 or 40 line was established from
Poultney through North Granville. AL
these used the Morse Instruments. Abou
the same time line was erected from
Burlington to Boston, that used Baines
instruments. In the spring of 1919, Supt
Benedict resigned, and L. o. Dodge wa
elected to fill his place. The line was
afterwards sold to the Western Union
company after the character of tn
Standard Oil Company. One Jay Goult
erected the American Union as specula
Union; then the Merchants Union wa
erected, and the stock is so fixed that
can never be converted into monopoly
"Of the old operators, j. W. Stewart
has been worthy governor of Vermont
and is now congressman elect. G.
Phelps is an honored occupant of tn,
bench in sister state. The writer
battling rascals and their acts. L {
Dodge is occupying n responsible position
in California. NJ. l.. Wood Is in the EN-
ploy of the Western Union. w. L. {
Stoddard and 7. w. Rice are dead. i M
Wright spends most of his time i'll Orwell
cutting coupons from his government
bonds. Barry has married wife Shoe
maker and Hall have lost sight of.
S"About 1858 a line was built from Rut
land to Boston. The Western Union
under the management of I. o. e. Smith
erected lines upon all railroads. In som
cases railroad corporations have lines {
Lhcir own. There is no reason why NOR,
than ten cents should be charged for
message of ten words from Poulteney Il
Troy. At that price stock would pa
twenty per cent. The Troy & Canad
Junction stock paid with ouo-toIrth tin
present business. and it cost more thai
double to do the business than now