The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-11-20
GAS CUMP ANTES
PURCHASED BY
COMBINE
Col. F. S. Richardson Of North
Adams Sells Interests.
OTHER HOLDINGS TO FOLLOW
Massachusetts Lighting Companies
Acquire Business in No. Ad-
ans Williamstown and Stamford

North Adams, Nov. 2O.-fhe gas
and electric light companies which
have been controlled by Colonel f. S.
Richardson OF this city are TO be
transferred by him at once to the
Massachusetts Lighting companies,
holding company which controls eight
companies In the eastern part Of the
state The sale was made Tuesday
night and announcement OF it is made
today.
The sale refers to the North Adams
Gaslight company, the Adams Gaslight
Company, the Williamstown Gaslight
company and the Stamford Gaslight
company Colonel Richardson has dis
posed of all of his holdings and as he
holds a majority of the stock in each
OF the four companies, the control will
pass out of the city The other direc.
tors of the four companies will also
dispose Of their stock. The same Is
true probably of all of the other local
stockholders Of whom there are only
few The same offer for their hold
ings has been made to them as to Col
Richardson and there Is no doubt that
they will accept.
The actual transfer will probably be
made about the middle Of December.
The Massachusetts Lighting com
panies have long had a desire to own
the gas companies in this section Of
the state which have looked 10 them
like an attractive business proposit
ion. Frequent offers for the business
came in a shape which Colonel Rich
ardson felt he ought TO accept His
connection with the company has ex-
tended over a period of 81 years. Dur
ing all that he has had the control and
during recent years the growth OF the
| business has made the responsibilities
greater than one man could well bear.
The new company has the ability
and means to carry ont any projects
which they may wish to in the way Of
| extension of the business u Us not
their intention however % make
any change In tne plans, the policies
or the employees of the present COM
| panies
The Massachusetts Lighting com
panies IS a holding company for the
Arlington Gaslight company the Aver
Electric company, the Clinton Gas
! q Electric company. the LeOuinster
Gas * Electric company the Milford
Electric company. the Northampton
Electric company and the Worcester
! County Gas company All OF these
companies are smaller than the com
panies which are absorbed in this lat
] est combination
The men who control these com
panics are all Massachusetts men, all
! OF their properties are owned in this
state and they operate under the Mas
| sachusetts laws the same as the local
companies The president is Arthur
/ h. Childs OF Boston who is also pres.
ident of the Columbian Life Insurance
company. Adds VI. Whitney OF Bos
Ton Is treasurer and Alfred Clark of
Boston is general manager The main
Office of the company Is IN Boston
10 is probable that the four com
pauies in this section will bee cousol
idated into "a single company and
make one more In the list of compan
les now In combination Colonel
Richardson said today that 10 haC
been his intention 10 take this sam,
step. had ne retained control of the
companies. and that doubtless The new
owners would do this