Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-11-29
BELLOWS FALLS CANAL COMPANY SOLD
Control Of Connecticut River Power at Bellows Falls and Privileges
at other Points Acquired by Chace and Hartman Interests

/ realized back, it being losing invest
| ment from the start From 1866, when
| the property passed into the hands of
| the new owners and 1t was more gen.
orally used for power purposes, it has
| steadily increased in value and earning
capacity until at the present time the
| property is a bonanza, but with much
larger possibilities for the future
Since 1871 the property has been own
ed largely by William A. Russell. who
made great strides in its development,
and later by his heirs who now sell their
holdings to the new corporation. The
name under which 1t was chartered, and
known until 1881, was Company for
Rendering Connecticut River Navigable
by Bellows Falls, since then as the Bel
lows Falls Canal company.
At various times the canal has been
widened and deepened and a new cement
dam across the river was erected in
1908 at cost OF over $4,000. The dam
is 563.24 feet in length. The fall of the
river at this point is So feet. making
one OF the most important and valuable
powers in its whole length, If its pow
er is conserved by proper engineering
principles.
AS at present used, in a somewhat
wasteful manner, the company is leasing
the water privileges to the various mills
and the Fail Mountain Electric Light &
Power company at an annual rental per
mill power of So horsepower each.
The International Paper company rent
1876 mill powers, and the smaller mills
lesser amounts. The aggregate number
of mill powers rented in 1907 was 1863,
making a total of 1856 horsepower
utilized here, and the amount is the
same at the present time.
The Fall Mountain Electric Light e.
Power company which is also merged in
to the new corporation, was organized
in 1900, with a capital stock of 5000, 900
and $125,000 paid in. 1t took over the
established business of the Bellows Falls
Electric Light company. 1t has greatly
increased its business and extended its
lines until it is one of the most extern
sive dealers in electric light, heat and
power OF any company in this section of
New England. Besides the plant secur-
ing Its power from the Canal company,
they have large auxiliary steam plant
on the island, an auxiliary plant using
the entire energy of the Saxtons River
at THE Forest" 1h mile from here,
and these are now furnishing the cleo
tricity which supplies heat, light and
power to the villages of Bellows Falls,
North Walpole, Saxtons River, West
minister, Walpole, Drewsville. Astead,
South Charlestown and Charlestown. The
streets of each of these villages are
thoroughly lighted except Drewsville and
South Charestown.
Besides the developed plants named,
they own the water privilege at Sum-
ners Falls in Hartland, which covers
the power of the entire Connecticut river
at that point, and the Lawrence's mills
power in this town that controls the
energy of the Williams river. The two
latter are undeveloped as yet but the
new company will utilize them as &C.
cason demands in the future, making the
facilities for furnishing electric power
almost unlimited, and, together with the
control of the Canal company and it's
valuable franchises, making a strong
factor in the power development of New
England.
But little of the stock of the Canal
company has recently been owned here.
larger proportion of the Electric COM
pany has been owned locally and cir
cular received last week by the stock
holders. informing them of the sale of
the majority of all the stock, makes the
offer of $165 for any other shares, the
par value and cost to them in 1900 be-
ing $780, 1t is understood the stock paid
per cent dividends the first few years
and since then has paid 10 per cent