The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-08-14
GROWTH Of FARM :
ERS' TELEPHONE
It's system Covers Much
of Somerset Co.
Certificate of Organization Granted
the Somerset Farmers Cooperative
Telephone Co. In 1904

As was noted last week the Somer-
set Farmers Cooperative Telephone
Co.. has lately been installed in its
new location at 115 Water st. This
telephone system covers a big terri
tory in this section and grew origin
ally from an idea which originated
when residents of Mercer formed a
line among themselves. This melted
others in nearby towns to desire the
convenience of speaking one to anoth-
or from their own homes and the re-
suit was that on the 23rd day of
January, 1904, there was granted in
Norridgewock a certificate of organi-
zation for the Somerset Farmers Tel.
Co. The charter was taken out in
November and the first officers were
president, Clarence Rogers, Norridge-
wock; treasurer, c. L. Holbrook;
manager, F. L. Ames. When this
organization was incorporated there
were comparatively few telephones
probably less than a hundred subscri-
bers on the Company's list while at
present there are about 100 subscrib-
ers. The first business Office was in
Norridgewock and it was there that
the first exchange was operated.
The first phones which were install
ed by the company were established
in the vicinity of Norridgewock while
at the present time the subscribers
are listed over territory extending
from New Sharon to Pittsfeld and
from Fairfield, the southern extreme
of Somerset County, across the line
to Franklin County, to Stratton and
Kingfield. The line also runs as far
north as The Forks.
Since Mr.. Rogers was president of
the company there have been three
other men serving in that capacity.
namely Eben Leeman of Starks, Will
lis Emery of North Arson and Judson
Packard of Skowhegan, Mr.. Packard
having held the Office for number
of years. Mr.. Ames served as the
manager until the year 1911, when
Willis c. Hobart assumed the duties
formerly attended to by Mr.. Ames,
and moved the business office to
Skowhegan, locating the Office part
on Water St, and the switchboard at
the corner of Madison Avenue and
Russell st.
This second removal was brought
about for the following reasons ac-
cording to Manager Hobart The
rights of the Company in Skowhegan
were limited and the greater part of
the construction, probably two-thirds
of it had to be on the property of
the Maine Central Railroad, in order
to get from High Street to Russell
Street While the company had been
permitted to remain there a number
of years free of charge, something in
the future would necessarily have to
have been paid for these rights.
Judging from prices which were
asked for a small number of wires
and the right to set a pole on the
south side, the rental would have been
quite a sum for the four poles which
were already located on the railroad
property, so the directors decided at
their April meeting that it would be
wise to make a change upon the
street location as soon as possible.
Knowing that the town would not al
low the company to pole, cross-arm
and put on open wires any further
down Court street or across Railroad
Square, but would allow them to put
poles with cables thereupon, the di-
rectors voted that the manager make
the change in that form from the To-
cation along the side and across the
railroad yard. Another thing which
favored this change was that the Wa
ter street rent which was obtainable
was exactly what was wanted COM
bning as it did the operators room,
an Office for the manager, a shop, a
storeroom and an apartment for the
night operator all under one roof,
and also saving a rental of $3.50 per
month. A ten years lease has been
granted the company.s The present
operators are Miss Mabel French,
chief operator and Mrs. Roy Bickford
with Roy Bickford as night operator
and Miss Myra Rowell as relief
operator.
The company is continually trying
TO improve their service and Mana
ger Hobart informs US that he shall
endeayor shortly to increase the
hours of service, which are now on
weekdays from a. m. to $50 p. m,
and on Sundays from 9 to 10 a m.
and from to p. m, while there
Is night operator at all times for
doctors calls. Another additional
improvement the company is planning
is to change some of the local lines
INTO metallic circuits as well as some
ot the lines that extend into the coun-
uy' which are now giving the most
trouble because of high tension wires,
'nls change being possible because of
the 1850 feet of cable which the
company has installed, being In