Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-12-25
THE TELEPHONE SITUATION
No. 2

ing into effect on February l., on the
New England Telephone company's
lines in Orleans county the interest
in and talk of an Independent COM
pany is revived.
In the final analysis no one will ar
que that community wants two tel
ephone systems, but it is quite gener-
ally conceded that Orleans county has
to date benefited by having an indie
pendent company in existence. Be
fore 1911 in fact an independent COM
pany did practically all the business
in Orleans county.
Officers of the New England COM
pany which controlled the Passump-
sic company at the time it purchased
the Independent lines in this county.
admitted that probably the influence
of an independent anykeptrates
down, and the fact remains to this
day that Orleans county enjoys a
greater extent of free territory in it's
telephone service than other places in
New England. Officers of the New
England company today admit that
the influence of the Independent
lines has been determining factor in
giving this large free territory.
Testimony then and now bears out
the contention that while in theory
two systems are not wanted and are
not needed, in fact the second COM
pany is paying proposition from
the standpoint of the public at large.
Believing that the opportune time
for an increased revenue from this
territory had arrived and that the
Independent company was dead, the
New England company determined
upon schedule of toll charges which
appear exhorbitant when, compared
with the free territory now enjoyed.
But the announcement of the toll
schedules has acted like magic upon
the corpse of the independent COM
pany and the public appears. ready
to apply vigorous measures to re-
suscitate the independent system.
The Independent Telephone Ex-
change, by name, is in the hands of
a receiver and has been ordered by
the court to be sold, but the company
has the foundations of system in
the south part Of this county which
would answer every local need, if
given wise and careful management.
From Barton, lines run to Glover,
West Glover, South Albany, Green's
boro, Sheffield and Lyndonville on the
south, and to Orleans, Irasburg, AL
bany, Bloomington and Charleston
on the north. For very large pro-
portion of the service demanded by
telephone subscribers in much of this
territory, these lines are sufficient.
The charter, lines, right of way, ex-
changes and all the foundation work
of a useful independent system is
there.
In the past few years lack Of unity
Of management and the inclination
to reach for new territory rather than
to care for the territory already en-
tered, has put the company in bad fl
nancial condition and the lines in
rather poor order. But those who
ought to know say resolute hand
applied to the management and the
work of some practical man on the
lines would transform the system in
a short time. Where $50 telephones
are now in use, several hundred more
could be operated without the in
stallation of a mile Of new line.
Here then is company with lines
reaching all the centers Of the south
part of the county. 1t needs some
ready money and able management
These two things would make it a
vital, useful system. Already a
meeting is called in Barton fol-
Thursday afternoon to determine
what shall be done with this situa-
ton.
Recent drives for war purposes
show what can be done when com
munity pulls together. Will the com
munities of this part of the county
come together in this matter of ar
Independent telephone company anG
make for themselves company
which shall serve themselves, or will
they let the matter pass?
The New England company is ne
gotiating for the purchase Of this
Independent company and the receiv-
er has orders to SELL Will the peo-
pie let it go?
A few hundred men who would put
in a small amount each and see that
a capable man or capable men were
given charge of this company could
stand to lose nothing in the end. The