St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-05-14
A TELEGRAPH POLE WAR.

The peacefulness of our quiet village
has been greatly disturbed the past
week, owing to lively controversy
between DIR. 6. B. Bullard and the
Western Union Telegraph Co., over
setting new poles in front OF DIR.
| Billiards. house. The various in
cidents in the matter have been
grossly exaggerated and many false
reports have been circulated concern
ing the controversy. The Caledonian
believes in giving the facts in the case
and interviews have been secured
from all parties interested and are
here given.
DR.. Billiards. Story.
"About two weeks ago." said DIR.
Bullard to a representative of the
Caledonian, "Mr. Peck and Mr.. Bios
som, trustees of this village, came to
me and asked if l had any objection
to new telegraph line up the Ave
nue. by my place, provided the poles
be good and straight, SO feet above
the ground, as that would carry them
| dOONO IHC IlCOS, hOPl WCll PdlHlCd anu
free from advertising 7" l told them
that under those conditions l had
not, and that if the wires did not
clear my trees they might trim the
trees if necessary. l heard no more
until last Thursday when l came
home about half past three and found
men at work putting up crooked, un-
couth poles. [ ordered them to stop.
l said they mustn't set those poles.
That night Mr.. Silsby came to me
and asked what the trouble was
about. l said that first wanted the
original talk carried out, and
second that l wanted only three
poles used in crossing my land,
about 25 rods. Mr.. Silsby and 1
looked it over and he said that my
requests were all reasonable and
right, and that they would be grant
ed. We can get along with three
poles,' he said, and l knew there
wouldn't be any trouble The crook
ed poles were taken away and
better ones substituted, and l con-
sidered the matter settled. The next
morning at o'clock Mr.. Silsby
came to me and said that he would
repudiate all that he had said as he
had heard from headquarters and
had instructions to put in as many
poles as they pleased and where they
pleased. Says he: L know what you
will do. You will serve an injunction
on US, but we are ready for that l
said very well, and he went away.
They Immediately set the whole force
to work putting in poles where they
wished. l went out and chopped one
down. In the afternoon Mr.. Peck
and Mr.. Blossom came and begged
that yield and let them have an
other pole. l said that 1 would
provided the poles be straight,
full length and taken care of as
above. They proceeded to take the
pole which l had objected to and cut
down, and set it back, 10 feet shorter
than the others, which were only 43
feet above the ground. This was
Saturday afternoon. Upon reflection
over Sunday concluded not to have
the poles at all, since they had viola
ted the original understanding
l proceeded at eight o'clock to Mr..
Blossoms house and told him that
they mustn't put up any poles or
string any wire on my side of the
street. Well says he, what will
you do p said that they might go
around back of my buildings and up
through the Court House grounds,
provided the county would let them.
BY so doing they could use common
poles, it would take only two more
of them, and only $50 or 200 feet
more wire for a line. Mr. Blossom
said that that would cost them a
good deal, as there would be about
80 wires in all. Finally he said: Will
you put this in writing?' 1 said:
Yes He said that he would see me
about it in the morning.
have information that he went at
once and told the telegraph company
to string their wires that night,
which they did. Next morning I
went out and found the wires up.
l got my saw and cut the arm off
and chopped down two poles, and
they are down now, and if it is nee
essary to preserve my rights in the
case, shall cut the other two down.
Monday evening they strung wires,
and pretended to use them, from the
lower pole to the upper one, using
only two poles in crossing my land,
when a few days before they said it
couldn't be done with less than four
poles. AS for obstructing the pass
age of the electric current, one pole in
falling did not rest on the wire more
than ten seconds, and the other only
a minute or two"
The Doctor says that no telegraph
poles stand in front of Gov Fair
banks, Col. Franklin Fairbanks
or VIM. P Fairbanks houses, nor
any other good residence in the
state and that none shall stand in
front of his until the supreme court
gives the company permission to do