Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-05-03
American Telephone and Telegraph Co.'s
New President

Vermont furnishes the new president
of the American Telephone and Telegraph
company in the person Of Theodore n.
Vail of Lyndon, who was elected to the
position Tuesday to succeed Frederick
+. Fish who resigned i'm order that he
might devote his time to his law practice.
Mr.. Fish was formerly one Of the proui-
nent patent lawyers, and it is said that
he has argued more cases in the United
states courts than any other lawyer in
the country. His salary as president was
estimated as high as 500, 900 Mr.. Vail.
who recently returned to this country
from Buenos Ayres, where he has had
large business interests, is regarded as
the most competent man available for the
position He has been connected with
the telephone business many years, and
as general manager OF the American Bell
Telephone company was largely respon-
sible for the organization of the busi-
ness throughout the country in the early
days He was also some years president
Of the New York Operating company,
which he developed into a very success
tul enterprise. He has thorough knowl-
edge Of telephone matters and knows the
problems, the men and the conditions
throughout the country. He has been
one Of the American company's directors
several years
Mr.. Vail is 62 years old and a native Of
New Jersey. In his boyhood he went
with his parents to Iowa, where he was
brought up on farm. He didn't like the
farm and left ii to learn telegraphv
Later he taught school and then became a
railway mail clerk, working his way up
TO superlntendency He saw the possi-
bilities Of the telephone when Bells in
vention was new and he became asso-
ciated with Bell, Hubbard and Watson
the four constituting the original quartet
ot telephone men in the United States.
me hrst Bell company was organized by
Mr.. Vail and Gardiner G. Hubbard for
the exploitation Of Bells invention. This
association was succeeded by the Nation
al Bell Telephone company which in 1878
was consolidated with the telephone in
terests in New England into the Amer
can Bell Telephone company. with Mr..
van as general manager. This companv
ABOUT 1890, was reorganized into the pres
ent American Telephone & telegram
company. The previous year Mr.. Vail left
the telephone business, and spent nearly
10 years in Europe and South America.
where he built street railways and electric
lighting plants. In Buenos Ayres he con-
solidated Independent tramways that were
operated by mule power, and equipped the
system with electricity This property
Mr. Vail disposed of last fall and since
then he has relinqulshed practically all
his foreign holdings.
Mr.. Vail has divided his time in recon,
years when not abroad between New
York and his home in Lyndon. where he
has fine estate OF 5000 acres. known as
Speedwell Farms. and finds a diversion
IN breeding fine horses and cattle.
President Wallis entire life has bear
lived in an atmosphere supercharged with
electricity. so to speak. His relatives CO.
| operated with Morse and Henry in the in.
Vention of the telegraph, and Stepher
| VAIL cousin, was a grandson of tn,
stephen Vail who built the first steam en-.
gine that ever propelled a ship across tb,
ocean. The younger Stephen Vail was 8
partner Of Morse as is shown by The con.
tract between them, made in 1897.