Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-13

OK had one of his hoofs entangled in
the wire so that the wire literally
sawed off his hoof. Again. n single
team got mixed up in a wire that was
being strung, the horse ran away, and
the vehicle was pulverized.
up to that time we had been an un-
incorporated company, and each mem
Der of it was liable for the entire IL
abilities of the concern, whereas in an
incorporated company no one is re-
sponsiblle for a greater amount than
the value of tho stock he holds.
CHARTER BY SPECIAL ACT
ct personally settled for the damage
to the OK. and then, through the Lcgis-
laturc of Vermont by the aid Of Rep
resentative Darling of Chelsea and
Senator C. S. Emery, secured a charter
by special act. Incorporating n $4,000
company. Since then our stock has
been increased to 10000, representing
about 1000 miles of lin& and nearly
1000 stockholders.
Prom this company have come 9th.
ers in all directions, that have extend
ed on the same plan. Through all this
maze of telephone lines. CONNECTING
hundreds of isolated farmers and farm
ers families with each other in this
part Of Vermont runs practically free
service--frcc except for the small as
sessment yearly paid. about So or 81
Up and down the connecticut valley
the renting people, too, have extended
and, stretching out connected will
each other and with the cooperative
system.
"Our COMPANY as we'll as most of the
others, has been running trunk lines for
more speedy business between switches
We pcrmeatc four counties, passing
through Barre and Montpelier cities.
"The cost to a person belonging to
this system. and getting. as l believe
the greatest practically free service in
the United states, is not very great
When man becomes a member, or
stockholder he signs tho company's by
laws and agreements and pays in S.
furnishes rs cedar. hcmlock or lamar
ack poles that cost from % cents to
81 each. and then gives a days worl;
IN tutting up his half mile OF the line
After this he pays SIG for telephone
ana 81 for setting It in his house, and
thereafter pays rs assessment of So or
81 a year. He is not giving tho $40 away
in rental but pays it in for his share
of the lins, Of which nc becomes one
Of the owners and 5000 miles of service.
NO MONEY MAKING IDEA.
at has proved the greatest benefit to
the farmers and all country dwellers OF
this part OF Vermont that has ever como
10 them, being thoroughly cooperative
with no idea of concentrating in it,"
Besides the system of which Mr.
Snoaro speaks. the people of the village
of Randolph and surrounding country
also have a cooperative company, which
is known as tho orange county telc
phone company. The success of this line
started a few years ago. is largely due
TO the energetic and active work Of 6
r. Andrews of Mortified. the president
whose house in Mort field serves as
central exchange. 1t was constructed or
the same plan as the line of the Corintt
company. and has hundreds of farmer.
as stockholders who get the cooperative
service.
This line is connected with about $50
phones in eastern Vermont, and is still
growing. having a large number O.
members in villages and cities as wei
as I the farms.