NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF GAS AND OF THE Commonwealth of Massachusetts. FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1903, INCLUDING TABLES FROM THE WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS, 18 POST OFFICE SQUARE. 1904. THE NEWv 329744 ACTOR, LENOX AND 1024 APPROVED BY THE STATE BOARD OF PUBLICATION. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners respectfully submits its nineteenth annual report. There are now under the supervision of the Board one hundred and forty-five companies, and the gas or electric plants of fifteen towns and three cities. Of the companies, forty-eight are engaged in the supply of gas only, twenty-five in the supply of both gas and electric light, and seventy-two supply only electricity. Of the municipalities, four have plants for the supply of gas and electricity, the others supply electricity only. The following table gives the names of companies chartered under the general law during the year 1903, with gas or electric lighting powers, with the amount of capital and location of each, as stated in their charters: Douglas Electric Company, Upton Electric Company, The Greene Electric Light, Power and Manufactur ing Company, Manchester Electric Company, The Foxboro' Electric Company, Worcester County Gas Company, The Nantucket Gas Light Company has been known since August 10 as the Nantucket Gas and Electric Company, having changed its name in accordance with the provisions of section 9 of chapter 109 of the Revised Laws. This company, having been authorized by this Board to engage in the business of supplying electricity for light, heat and power in the town of Nantucket, has purchased all the property, rights and franchises of the Nantucket Electric Company. The Worcester County Gas Company is organized for the purpose of “making, selling and distributing gas for light or for heating, cooking, chemical and mechanical purposes, and of generating and furnishing electricity for light and power.” Mr. L. E. Coolidge began to operate an electric light plant in Woodville for the supply of commercial lights some time in February or March, 1900, and began to light the streets on May 1 of that year. Since his death, on February 13, the same business has been conducted in the name of his estate. Mr. W. O. Loveland began to supply commercial lights in Ashby on January 31 and street lights on April 8. Mr. G. H. Turner began to supply commercial and street lights in Charlemont on May 1, 1901. The Mill River Electric Light Company started its works on March 1 for the supply of street and commercial lights in the town of Williamsburg. The Billerica Electric Company transferred its plant and business on January 31 to the Lowell Electric Light Corporation, which has since that date supplied electricity for light and power in the town of Billerica. During the year the Church Green Electric Light and Power Company of Boston, the Greendale Chemical and Electric Light Company of Needham, and the Blue Hill, Dedham, Milton, Natick and Framingham electric companies have sold their plants and transferred their business to the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston. These transfers took place in the case of the Church Green on May 1, the Greendale on August 3, and the others on July 1. Since these dates the Edison company has been the only company engaged in the supply of electric lighting in the districts formerly supplied by the companies named. The Lawrence Gas Company having been authorized by this Board on July 22 to engage in the business of supplying electricity for light and power in the town of Andover, purchased all the property, rights and franchises of the Andover Electric Company. The transfer was made on August 31, and since that date the Lawrence Gas Company has been the only company supplying electricity for light and power in the town of Andover. The Weston Electric Company, having been authorized to supply electric lights in a portion of the town of Wayland by a decision of this Board on an appeal from the decision of the selectmen, began such supply for street lights on February 1 and for commercial purposes on February 14. The Blackstone Electric Light Company began on July 1 to purchase its electricity from the Woonsocket Electric Light and Power Company of Woonsocket, R. I., under a contract for a term of years. The Grafton Electric Company, which had formerly purchased of the Millbury company, began to buy its electricity from the Uxbridge & Northbridge Electric Company on January 18, and the Millbury Electric Company began to purchase from the same company on January 14. The Adams Gas Light Company, soon after its purchase of the Adams Electric Light and Power Company, began to buy a portion of its electric current from the North Adams Gas Light Company, and since some time in September, has bought all its electricity from that company. The Williamstown Gas Company, having authority under its charter to supply electric light, began this business on December 24. It purchases its current from the North Adams Gas Light Company. This company on December 31 closed the works from which it has heretofore distributed only oil gas, and since that date has supplied coal gas, which it buys from the North Adams Company. Pipes have been laid to connect the works of the Adams and North Adams companies, and arrangements have been nearly completed to enable the former company to purchase its gas from the latter. The Upton and Douglas electric companies have secured in their respective towns permission to set poles, and the building of the lines in Douglas was begun in December. The Milford, Pittsfield, Plymouth and Rawson electric companies have continued during the year to purchase current as described in the last report of the Board. The Hudson Gas Light Company began to supply gas in the town of Hudson on October 12. This company buys all its gas from the Marlborough Gas Light Company. The Sunderland Gas Company began to supply gas in the town of Sunderland on December 6. The incorporators named in chapter 417 of the Acts of 1903 (see Appendix C) have organized, as therein authorized, the Boston Consolidated Gas Company, and in accordance with the terms of its charter have applied to this Board for the approval of an issue of stock to enable it to purchase the properties, rights and franchises of the Boston Gas Light Company, the Brookline Gas Light Company, the Bay State Gas Company, |