Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-10-16

considers itself responsible for it's man
agement.
The company with it's subsidiaries op-
crates 45i,2ll stations. In Vermont 1t
has 1l.2gG stations of its own and 23,l3I
including those of subsidiary companies.
1t has 527 switchboards, of which SO are
in Vermont.
He went into a long detailed OK
PLANTATION Of the company's business
and methods. Early rates, he said,
were necessarily experimental. The
only time the company has made any
general raise of rates was at the time
of changing from grounded to metal
lie lines in the early '90s. Such
changes as have been made in recent
| years have been downward so that the
average revenue of the company per
station to day is lower than ever he
fore i'm it's history.
Mr.. Han made a careful explanation
of the various matters of expense that
| must be given consideration in the fix
ing of rates, and also showed how
there is n disproportionate increase OF
expense as compared with the increase
in the number Of subscribers.
NtNIl | L IINlSf1 lfN fIS NUN J
1T the morning session c. l.. Ovitt Of
Enosbure resumed the stand and was
. questioned further regarding the Citizcna'
company
lie CAV" these figures ~ construction
recount; 1908, s3O,c45; 1909 80, 9yS: 1910, S3i,-
SO: 1911, S3S,GG6; 1912, s+5. lg2. The redu1-
ion in 1910 was due 10 writing off $1,000
IF plant valuation rs = result OF All ex-
animation ana appraisal of the plant by
'ir. l;ake,;ii1 If tn New Tcngiand com.
1atr,
Mr. Oritt wns questioned at length by
M Graha regarding The purchase Of
ne lines n Greensboro and CTaftsbury
last MGy and was asked 'f no was not
a sort OF a GUg Indcr the wagon for
tnc N"w F.2giand These lines were
owneG ny MI. MaEI!re of wick and
were HcuSh; fcr about Sl2 pU, and IN the
trade MIR. ONi;t exchanged n dead" line
in Albany. The Citizens company was
doing business ~ competition with the
MGgI!rt lines IN certain Of :he territory
Covered by the lines bought last spring.
Nh Graham's questioning of the wit
ness vas directed to drawing out the
fact that this purchase was the result
of some sort Of "A conspiracy with the
New England to avoid competition and
to apportion territory. 1t appeared,
however, that the Citizens company was
using most of the lines bought in this
manner and that the consolidation was
a reasonable business move, though the
Ovitt interests acquired very little new
territory.
FREE SERVICE UNCHANGED.
Co.. ....-- ,... iii 800. / go. 49,.
in the division of territory after their
purchase certain free service was cut
off, so that some subscribers living close
together. receiving service from different
companies. could not talk with each
other without paying toll. 1t proved,
however, that the free service was the
same as before the change Of ownership
except in the HardwiCk exchange and
subscribers in that exchange have free
service with Greensboro and Craftsbury.
This Mr.. Ovitt considered an improve
ment and a convenience to the subscrib-
ers. as the natural trend of business is
toward Hardwick, the larger town.
Mr.. OVitt is also manager of the
Northern Telephone company, operating
in nine towns in the northern part of
Franklin county. The was
organized in 1896 with Il capital stock
of $4,000, which has gradually been
increased to $4,000. The present
value OF the plant is S31,231. No
dividends We're paid until 1902. when a
dividend of 10 per cent. was declared.
Six per cent has been paid since that
until 1911, when eight per cent. was
paid and in 1912. 10 per cent with
stock dividends of 81, 900 in 1907 and
1871. The proposed reduction In
rates, with 1895 subscribers. would re-
duce the income about one-third OF
to $4,444.
The rates at the Enosburg and Rich.
ford exchanges are $24 for business
phones and 81 for residences. on single
party lines and ON party lines sl5. Al
Swanton the rate is Sl.l0 per month OF
$3.50 a year for subscribers within one
mile ana $l5 for others. Service is free
between Richford and Enosburg and be.
tween Swanton and Iighgate.
The company owns a building in Enos.
burg valued at $500, built with borrownt
money, and part of the loan was repaid
by a stock dividend of 5000.