Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-07-13
A GOOD BEGINNING.
The Citizens Telephone Company Al
most Ready for Business.

CltlXeuS WHO nave dlTeduy SupoCIipcu
for a new telephone in the Citizens
Company, was held last night in the
Granite Manufacturers rooms. There
were over fifty present when the
meeting was called to order by Chair
man Henry X, Bush.
T.. w. Bisbce again read the report
of the Investigating committee, which
set forth the facts of the needs of "A
new company, also the benefit which
would accrue to the citizens by having
something they could control them
selves and to the shareholders who
would undoubtedly get their money
back in a short time. 1t was a good
report and pointed out the alleged
absolute need of citizens company,
which could give telephones to sub
scribers at one half the price they are
paying now.
The chairman stated that the COM
mittce had done their work well, as
they were in need of only 200 sub
scribers to start the new company,
but they had succeeded in getting
more than this as the list showed 2ll
IIe-also said that they
had decided that only 200 shares
would be issued at $50 per share and
that $50 had already been subscribed
for. This news was received very
ioyfully by those present and express
SionS made to the effect that at the
next meeting the balance of 80 shares
would be reported as being subscribed
for.
AS the committee was at present
Of only five mcmbers and as
they had to solicit during business
hours, making it very arduous, it was
decided to raise this body to nine
members. They are: l.. NJ. Williams,
Il. w. Bisbee, Homer Fits, AleXand-
err Gordon, II. X. Bush, n. M. Nc
liver. II. w. Scott, John w. Dillon
and w. &. Reynolds.
These gentlemen would thank all
those desiring shares to notify item
personally as it would help them
greatly.
The meeting adjourned subject to
the call of the committee.
We have investigated the feasibil.
ity of such an undertaking. 1t may
generally be expected that an indie
pendent company will meet with
many kinds Of opposition from the
present company. But your
committee, from such Investigations
as it has been able to make. have
reached the conclusion that it is fea-
sibe to establish and maintain an in
company here to be owned
and controlled 10y it's patrons, that
just as good Instruments and equip
mentS of all kinds can be procured as
those had and supplied 10y the New
England company and that the scrv
ice can be just as good as the patrons
desire to make it at less cost than
that charged by the present company.
The committee desire to emphasize
lhe fact, however, that one of the
argc elements of the slcccss of an
company is dependent
Upon the extent to which the citizens
oatronizc it and their fidelity to such
/ company.
Papers on which subscriptions for
shares might be made and pledges
aiken to rent the telephones of the
have been circulated \
Under the circumstances we are pleas
I'd with the cordiality with which our
citizens have expressed themselves
the matter snbscl libel for
shares and agreed to take inStru-
nentS.
We are unable to believe that any
hing satisfactory can be obtained |
rom The pres ent company that will
asst very long after the prospects of
IN opposition company have been over
ome. On the other hand we are in
ormed that the present company has
lot yet acCo nplished its full purpose
hOugh they have greatly trimmed the
erritory covered by ordinary rental
nd have raised the rates, but only
PARTIALLY up to their true ideal. As
Don as they get US SO We will humbly
ndure the present conditions, we be-
leve they propose to make another
aiSe in prices,
Your committee believes that great
are should be taken to have IA new
liant constructed ia the frs place,
that such course will prove
economical and satisfactory in the
nd to all concerned. The expense
f construction will b, more, but the
ost of m 'intaining and necessity for
arly repairs ill be much less.
We have communicated with vari-
us parties who have had experience
n establishing and maintaining CHI
ems companies and have found some
them most successful. The COM
llltee here instanced the iudepen.
Mt company at Wausau, Wis, which
as established in 1895 at cost of
bout $40, oO0 raised Jan ], 1899, by
'pairS and additions to $l3.5l7 and
hich has had Il successful career from
he first.
WauSau is town about the size Of
ARE, and on January last, had an