St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-01-23
independent Telephone Companies.
A Resume of the Addresses at the Brad
ford Meeting.

As previously announced the Vermont
and New Hampshire Independent Tele-
phone Association met at Bradford on
Ian. s and we are permitted to give our
readers extracts from some of the adj
dresses.
George w. Buzzell the secretary OF the
association and manager Of the Citizens
Exchange at St. Johnsbury, called espec-
ial attention to the growth of the indie
pendent movement. Charles S Norton,
secretary of the Indiana Independent
Telephone Association, finds there has
been daily average of 100000 OF cap
ital invested in independent lines in the
past eight years; 1900 subscribers Sc
cured; three companies incorporated;
200 miles of metallic toll lines construct
ed and 100 new stockholders secured
This means, said Mr.. Buzzell that for
the last eight years the Independents
have built and equipped complete each
day thereof an average exchange OF 1900
subscribers with a complement OF 200
current miles of toll lines, and for the last
two years there must have been installed
about 1000 ,hones each day in the year.
On the question Of competition Mr..
Buzzell quoted Hon. Francis Daggert of
Canada who recently said,
Coming to the question of telephone
competition in the United States, in view
of the marvellous progress made by the
independent companies in the last few
years it becomes difficult to add anything
to the visible evidence to be found in
every state in the Union"
Mr. Buzzel read the law that was
passed by the last Legislature permitting
the independent companies to place tele-
phones in railroad stations and described
the fight they had to secure the passage
of this bill.
"Our association was formed just one
year ago. We did not realize then that
we were to receive so much benefit in so
short a time. The formation of our
company has cemented together all Of
the independent companies in Vermont
and New Hampshire, both large and
small. 1t has given confidence to the
people that the independent telephone
companies have come to stay. We have
shown the people and the Legislature
that we are power and that we are
united in an effort to protect ourselves
and the people from the unjust iron rule
and greatness of the Bell Telephone Com
pany. Our association has been the
means of making some laws for our pro-
lection and there will be more made as
we need them and every independent
nom Bell telephone company, large or
small, in Vermont and New Hampshire
should belong to this association for
their own protection and the protection
of their subscribers and patrons"
Mr. Ebersole of Portland said though
a stranger here, since 1894 he had seen
the independent idea grow rapidly in the
middle states until now it is three to five
to one in its favor. The northeastern
lines have expanded to about seventeen
in number, extend about 1872 miles and
in width from ten to thirty miles. The
West is we'll intersected with indie
pendent lines.
Mr.. Kinsman of the Heath Telephone
Company said about ten years ago an
association was formed and ground
line IA miles long completed at a cost Of
$3.50. Eighteen phones were on this,
and the subscribers were mostly farmers
who greatly enjoyed visiting with the II
other subscribers.
Mr.. Johnson of Laconia said we have
about 1900 telephones, so we have quite
a company. They have increased from
$4,000 to 100000, and have always
paid six per cent on the money. 1t has
been a good investment for the last tel
years. They are today successful, ant
are making more money than the las
year.
Mr.. Perkins said his own compan,
owns the STAFFORD line and they hav
about eight miles of lines. They als'
have line out of Woodstock five miles
The meeting was most enthusiast
one and all the 100 members presen
were gratifed at the tremendous increas
of the independent movement in the New
England states.