Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1922-03-15
Blair Company Ask for Right to Sell
Electric Current at North Troy.

4
The Blair Veneer Company recent
ly petitioned the Public Service Com
mission to grant them authority to
| manufacture electricity and to further
| develOpe their electric plant that they
might be able to sell-this same COM
modify. The commission met and con-
Quoted a most interesting hearing on
Thursday of last week. Hammond's
hall was well filed by interested citi-
zens who are anxious for better cleo
| trio service. The commission was re-
presented by Mr.. Dutton of Hardwick
who presided and Mr.. Porter of Viii
mington. Miss Winnie Billings was
official stenographer.
Mr.. Dutton called the meeting to
order at 10 o'clock and called upon
Mr.. Deavitt Of Montpelier represent
/ ing the National Bank of Newbury
in this hearing as this bank has fnan-
anced the Frontier Electric Company
! said in brief, that being in town the
! previous evening he was able to see
conditions and acknowledged that the
/ people of North Troy did not have
! the best service. He said that nine
! years ago the late Everett E. Forsythe
j asked for financial backing and the
National Bank of Newbury had re-
/ sponded and he, at this time made
] strong plea for one more chance to
prove that the National Bank of New
| bury could and would do something
to, improve the service. This would
take about four months to accomplish
! he thought. o. S. Annis represented
the Blair Veneer Co. and at this
/ point questioned Mr.. Deavitt whether
he questioned the ability of the Blait
! Uoyann,. 20 hot fine oil III II
| to undertake furnishing electric cur
rent to North Troy and the surround
| ing towns, which had applied to said
company for electric current. Mr..
| Deavitt, replied that the Blair Veneer
Co. was considered one of the strong
est concerns, in the state and could
do anything it wished to do.
| Mr.. Deavitt was called to the phone
and Mr.. Dutton allowed a short inter
mission.
| Mr.. Annis opened the hearing again
by calling for w. R. Daley and after
being duly sworn asked Mr.. Daley
| his connection with Blair Veneer Co.
Mr.. Daley said he was secretary and
pacity for five years. Previous to this
he was in Greenville, Maine, with the
| Veneer Products Co., as Manager for
several years. Mr.. Daley testified
| that the plant at Stevens Mill had
| capacity of about 500 horsepower and
there were three steam engines at
North Troy at the Blair Veneer Co.,
mill with an auxiliary of over 200
horsepower. He felt confident the
Blair Veneer Co. could handle the
electric light situation when their ma
chinery, which was bargained for,
could be installed.
G. o. Fowler was next called. He
testified that he, in partnership with
Parker & Hunt had owned the first
electric light plant operated in North
| Troy. That he bought it outright
about twenty years ago and operated
| in Sept. 1912 When questioned as
to the feasibility of developing further
| the Frontier Electric Company's plant
on Jay branch, Mr.. Fowler said it
could possibly be done but would be
| so expensive as to not be paying
proposition.
M. J. Blair was next called. He
substantiated Mr.. Dailey's testimony
but went further. and said if permits
sion were granted by the Telephone
company to string wires on their poles
the village could have service within
| week.
IL. ID. TdTknurSC WAS LIE IeAC CdlIcO
and was very emphatic in his testi-
mony and said no water had flowed
over the dam of the Frontier Electric
Co. from May of last year until the
| fall. When asked if water ran over
the dam at Stevens Mill, Mr.. Park
hurst said there was more water IN
the river and it had to go somewhere.
Mr.. Deavitt wished to have the ex-
| pert testimony of Mr.. Jones, who, has
surveyed the Big Falls and also Jay
! branch. After getting into commune
cation with him it was found he could
not be present the following day and
the hearing, was adjourned until
| Thursday, March 23rd at 10 o'clock at
Hammond's Hall.
The hearing was very interesting
and instructive, and it is hoped that
large number will be present on
March 23rd when the hearing before
] Public service commission will be
continued.