The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-12-14

| strung on the poles before the snow
went off last spring. but the line was
not finally put into service until
about the first of July, owing to the
necessity of sending linemen here
and there over the county to set I'D
poles which had fallen down and
were falling down.
At subsequent directors meetings
the manager was authorized to open
a new Office in Madison to make the
lines in that village metallic and to
make the line metallic from Madison
to Starks, as that line was in about
the same condition as the Back Road
line out of Skowhegan had been. 1t
was also voted to install new
switchboard at Madison which has
been done, the new Office there in the
Union Hall Block on Main Street
having been opened on or about the
first of August.
Sometime in September, the new
wire was strung from North Arson
to Scion and transposed with the old
trunk line, so that complete metal
lie circuit from Bingham and Scion
to Madison was finished.
The company has had its share of
moving poles for state road work
this year; and thunder storms dur
ing their season this year seemed to
be very much more troublesome than
common, owing to their severity and
almost continuous prevalence for
several weeks. During the thunder
storm season, TO get any new work
done and also TO keep troubles clear
ed was next to impossible
Seventy-siX and one-half miles of
iron wire have been bought this year
at cost of $79832.
Forty thousand and fifty-eight feet
OF copper steel. twisted paid insu-
lated wire for subscribers, loops. in
making lines metallic. has been
bought during the year, at a cost of
$472.37.
The cost of installing these new
lines has been considerable, both be-
cause of expense of linemen and by
reason of the high cost of all mater
ial entering into line construction
work; nevertheless the company has
constantly kept in hand a good work
ing cash balance in the treasurer's
hands. There is today. December
2. 1916, $3235.25 in the First Nation
al Bank of Skowhegan and in the
Skowhegan Savings Bank. to the
credit of the Treasurer of this COM
pany.
Lately. the line numbered IA in
SkoWhegan running to upper Madi-
son Avenue, with some twelve resi-
dences on it, has been made metal
nc; the line numbered 10 in Show
hegan village. running to the South
Side and UP West Front Street is in
process of being made metallic. the
line being taken out from behind
buildings where il was hastily mt
several years ago. when the company
was poor.
AT the suggestion of j. n. Smith of
Skowhegan, director Foster of Ca
naan, and the manager went into fine
Salisbury neighborhood in South Ca
naan some week ago. and the rcsuIt
is new eight party line from there
into the Canaan switchboard. The
electricians are now installing the
phones on this line.
Along with the other work of tbc
year, considerable number of other
new subscribers have been taken on
AT Norridgewock, a three mile line
over Oak Hill has been built. large
ly through the efforts of Frank
Witham of Smithfield.
III needs to be remarked that there
is still very much to do. The ex-
changes in the lower end of Somer-
set County. where power line arc
most prevalent ought to be made all
metallic. In Skowhegan, all village
lines must be made metallic TO get
the best results; the lines LEADING
INTO Cornyille and Athens. since the
power line was built that way need
early attention
During these times of high prices
the telephone company has kept its
rates the same. But on July l last
the directors voted to make the rate
higher to those who do not nav
promptly. This has been done in
accordance with law and with the
rulings of the Public Commission OF
this state. If telephone uuarterl,
d. bills are paid within 90 days from
the date of the beginning of the
, quarter years Jan /, Apr. ], July /
and Oct. l. the rate is the same as
formerly; if paid later than 60 DAYS
from the quarter year. 50 cents more
for each telephone is collected.
1t should be said for the benefit
- ''N'N 'ic u'ihul " iulS duulllOU-
al sum, that the company has nc
right by law. TO cancel this extra
charge, even if the payment is only
one day late. 1t goes without say.
ing that the company cannot improve
the condition of its service. if sub.
scribers do not pay oftcner thar
once year.
The arrangement recently made
by which subscribers may pay ser
vice bills to operators is WORKING
out well. II is often found more
convenient for subscriber, than tC
mail in payment.
The business at Skowhegan has
increased to such an extent that {
two position switchboard is needed
there. In the rush hours of the
forenoon, two operators are needed
to properly handle the business. The
switchboard at New Portland anC
the one at Flagstaff ought to bC
changed.
One of the difficult things to do, is
to keep on hand a complete stock OF
new material for linework and Of
new parts for repair OF instruments
This department has been strength
ened during the year.
The North Arson. the Scion and
the Bingham exchanges need to be
re-arranged and re-wired in the vii
opI y,ooJa Y,,o{aIlia. al 70