The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-10-03
is LIMITED
| BY CONTRACT
Territor The Rapid Tel
er ~ Company, Says
~ M. H. Hazen
-
1T HAS A CONTRACT
WITH N. E. COMPANY
Additional Evidence Is Re-
ceived by Vermont Public
Service Commission

Marvin II. Hazen Of the Rapid Tele-
phone company went on the stand yes
terday afternoon in the Vermont pub
lie service commissions hearing at the
| State House in Montpelier and told how
the proposed reduction of rates would
affect his company. He said that in
1890 he bought telegraph line from
South Royalton for $500 and changed it
to telephone system. His early re-
ceipts w,'re large but as equipment was
added the receipts grew smaller. He
believed the, re should be no reduced rates.
MANY smah companies, he stated, not
ably the gron 1ded line companies, are
likely to be driven out OF business if
they do not raj. e rates. He said his
own companv wan for sale and when
asked for how mus, he said $4,000.
The earnings last year Were So,IoO, with
rates of s22. Sl5 and S. and his oper-
ating expenses are $500 year. his
line was appraised by M. Hageman,
an expert of the New England company,
four years ago at $4,000. lie says
he rents his instruments from the New
England company. He receives seven
and one e-haf cents on all incoming and
outgoing toll messages, and an adCI-
tional charge of five cents. His terri.
tory is limited by contract with the
New England company.
Shoreham Telephone Co..
w. T. Delano appeared for the Shore
ham Telephone company. He built q
line in 1894 TO cover the distance of
four miles from the railroad to the no
tel at Shoreham as a matter Of PERSONAL
convenience. The company was organ
lied in 1895 and has gradually increased
until it has 1859 miles of line and 3IS
to 400 subscribers.
The plant has cost S24.562, but its
actual value il now less than that and,
nothing has been set aside for deprecia
tion.
A contract with the New England
company prescribes the territory in
which this company may operate, bat
they have no purchasing contract. Trans
mitters and receivers are rented from
the New England company at the usual
rate of Is cents per year.
The company has three exchanges with
five operators. Mr. Delano, the manager,
receives salary of $500 per year, and
the treasurer 5000 One dividend of five
per cent was paid the first year of
operation and no Others have been paid
but there have been two small stock
dividends. The yearly rate is SIS
year. Free telephones are furnished at
two railroad stations.
On toll messages the company receives
I4S per cent, whether incoming or out
going.
The company's income last year was
1890 and the expenses $4,s06.
Southern Vermont Co.
W. A. Perkins of the Southern YER
mont company stated that he engaged
in telephone business in Barnard in 1905
and told the usual story of small be-
ginning and gradual expansion.
The regular rate is SIS per year and
a seeond phone for The same persons
$40. Farmers furnishing l6 poles re-
ceive their service for SiZ a year while
the poles remain standing.
The company is owned by Mr.. Perkins
and his wife and sons. They have l49
miles of pole line. l6l miles of wire.
with IT'S subscribers. The lines cost
50 .723 and the income last year was
81, ,144.
Waitsfield & Fayston Co.
The Waitsfeld and Fayston company
was represented by A. f. Farr, who
gained control in 1908, paying 81 per
share. Mr.. Farr said his rate was SIS,
with SO rebate for prompt payment.
He said his patrons were satisfied with
he rate and with the service. He said
le adopted continuous service by dnt
If hard work night and day by himself
,t-,fa .hn .s4- Ho
.aid he travels frequently from Is to 20
niles a day or at night to make repairs
IN poles and lines. even in winter. He
aid he owes between $500 and 500
o the Vermont company, and he is
thankful to them for extending credit
lie said he was not connected with the
Iew England company as far as own
,rship of stock in his company is con-
ened. Neither the New England peo-
lie nor anyone else had influenced him
Is to any of his statements.
Later. when asked why he made that
declaration, he said he supposed he
would be asked the question and was
to answer it. He said he and
Matt Jones, chief counsel for the New
england company, went to school to-
either and he knew Mr.. Jones we'll and
heN mad been the pest OF 1rlenus since
Ie started in the telephone business.
The earnings of his plant last year.
aid Mr.. Farr. were S2,7ll, with expenses
# about $1,000.
To Adjourn to Wednesday.
The commission decided to-day to ad-
purn this evening until Wednesday
morning. and it will be decided then as
0 further adjournment. When the com
Mission comes back next week it will
nish the cases OF the Independent COM
anies.
NJ /. Lawrence of Springfield told
bout the business of the Springfield
,ocal Exchange, in which the capital
took had been increased from $4,000 to
5000 Recently the company had paid
dividend, but for several years il had
aid only two dividends.
c. f. Marsh of Thetford told of the
zeal exchange there which stlrted as
eighbor affair with 30 phones and the
.ires hitehed to trees. He said that
e had put in $3.50 and had drawn
mt S2037, making no allowance for