Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1916-03-17
PUBLIC SERVICE HEARING,
Barre Representatives. interested
In Middlebury River Question,
Matter Undecided,

the Mlddlebury River was held Wednes-
day in the Court House II developed
principally into a contest between the
petitioners and the Montpelier and
Barre Light and Power Co., which now
supplies electricity in the twin city dis
trict, Mr.. Thompson and his associates
tried to show that the present service
in Barre is insufficient and unsatisfoc-
tory, while the company maintained
that they have abundant power and
that their plants furnish current without
more interruptions from break-downs
than are inevitable in such plants. The
manufacturers and quarrymen Of Barre
appeared in favor of the petition.
There was strong array Of legal
talent, W. b. c. Stickney, Fred
7. Gleason, and h. Dana, repre-
senting the Boston bankers, Charles
II. Tenney and Co., who control the
Montpelier and Barre Light and Power
Co. Mr.. Tenney was an interested
auditor at the hearing,
Mr.. Thompson was represented by
Judge f.. M. Harvey and Fred b.
Thomas, of Montpelier, A, p, Carpenter
of Brattleboro, and Eldridge A. Ander-
son, of Boston. Engineers and experts
were present in force on both sides.
The Battel estate was represented by
James b. Donoway, Bert l.. Stafford,
and Robert w. McCuen,
At the opening Attorney S. Hollister
Jackson Of Barre appeared for granite
firms in Barre. Harold b. Hinman,
Secretary of the Barre Granite Manu-
facturers Association, n, which consists
of 165 granite manufacturers, about
81 per cent of the granite firms, testified
that about $500 men are employed by
these firms. S2,000,0O0 is invested in
the manufacturing plants and the an.
nual output Of finished products is APP
proximately $4,000, 600. Efforts are
being made to increase the business,
$50, 900 having recently been raised for
a national advertising campaign during
the next eight months, Granite for
memorial purposes will be the chief
product advertised. Magazines like the
Saturday evening Post and the Worlds
work will be used.
Mr.. Hinman presented petition by
the Granite Manufacturers Association
urging the admission of new source
of power to the Barre district.
Alexander Duncan, President of the
Granite Manufacturers Association,
testified that quarry work used to be
done by manual labor, physical cul-
ture" he called it, but that now machin-
cry is employed very largely, increasing
the demand for electrical power. Long
sh ds are now used, with travelling
cranes, instead of the old semi-circular
sheds in which derricks were employed
to move the granite. Larger polishing
machines are being introduced, and
these also require more power, as also
new improved sharpening machine
and the dust removers now installed for
protection of the health of the men.
Mr.. Duncan said that in 1923 the
manufacturers experienced great diff
Guilty in getting steady supply of
power, especially in the dry season. In
the fall of 1913 steam plants for the
production of electricity were installed,
since when there had been no difficulty
as to power.
Mr.. George Varnum, superintendent
of the Boutwell,, Milne & Varnum
quarries of Barre, took the stand at the
afternoon session and testified that his
firm had installed steam power because
they believed it cheaper than electricity
as at present furnished by the Mont
pelier and Barre Light and Power Co.,
and also more dependable.
Mr.. E. o. Kent, Treasurer of E. L.
Smith & Co., another Barre quarrying
company, employing about 200 men in
four quarries, testified that his COM
pany had had some trouble with the
present supply of electrical power in
Barre, but that the service had recent
ly improved. On cross examination he
admitted the authorship of a letter
which stated that the service had been
very satisfactory
Howard I. Sands, of the Montpelier
and Barre Light and Power Co., testi-
fled that prior to 1912 the power situa-
tion in Barre was acute, the manufac-
turers experiencing great difficulty, but
that two days after his company took
over the management improvements
were begun, new and extensive ad-
ditions being installed. The company
now has capacity of 12,S00 X. w. H.
The total connected load at present is
65 per cent of this capacity. In addition
the company owns other powers in
Marshfield and Middlesex which are
soon to be developed, which will bring
tha tota panapitU nm r., % OOO Il w II