doned if a reasonable experience under it demonstrates that gas will be thereby sold at a loss.

In view of the foregoing considerations, the Board

Voted, To consent to a net price of not less than $1.50 a thousand cubic feet for gas to be delivered and sold by the town of Middleborough, as requested in the petition of the municipal light board and manager of municipal lighting of said town dated Feb. 4, 1914, and filed with this Board on Feb. 6, 1914. (May 1, 1914.)

PETITION OF THE FITCHBURG GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT

COMPANY.

This was an application by the Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company, under the provisions of chapter 197 of the Acts of 1910, for authority to carry on the business of generating and furnishing electricity for light and power in the town of Townsend.

This company was incorporated by chapter 208 of the Acts of 1852 for the purpose of manufacturing and selling gas in the town of Fitchburg in the county of Worcester. In 1889 it was duly authorized to engage in the business of generating and furnishing electricity for light and power in Fitchburg, and in 1895 the original name of the company, which was the Fitchburg Gas Company, was changed to its present name. It is now engaged in the supply of both gas and electricity in the city of Fitchburg. It has recently been authorized to engage in the supply of electricity in the town of Ashby.

The town of Townsend adjoins Ashby on the east, and it has been supplied for some years by a plant owned by Mr. U. S. Adams. It appeared at the hearing that Mr. Adams had recently sold to the Fitchburg company the distribution system of his plant, subject to favorable action by the Board upon this application, and also subject to the grant to the Fitchburg company of satisfactory locations for the erection and maintenance of its lines in the public ways of said town. It also appeared at the hearing that applications for the necessary pole locations were to be filed with the selectmen of Townsend, and that there was reason to expect favorable action thereon.

The following was therefore adopted:

On the petition of the Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company, a corporation established under the laws of this Commonwealth for the purpose of manufacturing and selling gas in the town (now the city) of Fitchburg, and duly authorized to engage in the business of generating and furnishing electricity for light and power in said Fitchburg, for authority to carry on the business of generating and furnishing electricity for light and power in the town of Townsend, as provided in chapter 197 of the Acts of the year 1910:

Voted, That the Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners, after notice and a public hearing and upon due consideration. thereof, hereby authorizes said Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company to carry on the business of generating and furnishing electricity for light and power in the town of Townsend in this Commonwealth, with all the rights, powers and privileges, and subject to all the duties and liabilities, set forth in all general laws now or hereafter in force applicable to said business and to said corporation. (July 3, 1914.)

PETITION OF THE MARION GAS COMPANY.

This was an application by the Marion Gas Company, under the provisions of chapter 197 of the Acts of 1910, for authority to carry on the business for which it was incorporated in the towns of Carver and Rochester.

This company was organized in 1902, under the general laws of this Commonwealth, for the purpose of "making, selling and distributing gas and electricity, or either of them, for light and for heating, cooking, chemical and mechanical purposes, and for the purpose of generating and furnishing steam or hot water for heating, cooking and mechanical power in the town of Marion in the county of Plymouth." Soon after its organization it acquired a gas plant and began to make and sell gas, but it did not acquire an electric plant until 1910. In 1909, under a special act, it was authorized "to carry on the business of furnishing gas and electricity for heat, light and power in the town of Wareham." In 1912 it was authorized by the Board, under the act above cited, to extend its lines for the purpose of supplying electricity in Bourne north of the Cape Cod Canal. It is now actively engaged in supplying gas in Marion and electricity in Marion, Wareham and the portion of Bourne above described. The purpose of the present application is to enable it to extend its lines into Carver and Rochester for the purpose of supplying electricity therein.

The control of this company was recently acquired by the interests controlling the Plymouth Electric Company. The present management proposes to build a transmission line from the company's station in Wareham through Rochester and Carver to the Plymouth line, to enable it to buy electricity from the Plymouth company and supply it in the towns named. The company has been granted by the selectmen of both towns the necessary locations for its transmission line, and has entered into an agreement with the town of Carver relative to the supply of electricity.

The following was therefore adopted:—

On the petition of the Marion Gas Company, a corporation established under the laws of this Commonwealth, for authority to carry on the business for which it was incorporated in the towns of Carver and Rochester, as provided in chapter 197 of the Acts of 1910:

Voted, That the Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners, after notice and a public hearing and upon due consideration thereof, hereby authorizes the said Marion Gas Company to carry on the business of furnishing electricity for heat, light and power in the towns of Carver and Rochester, with all the rights, powers and privileges, and subject to all the duties and liabilities, set forth in all general laws now or hereafter in force applicable thereto. (July 3, 1914.)

PETITION OF THE NEW BEDFORD GAS AND EDISON LIGHT COMPANY.

This was an application by the New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Company, under the provisions of chapter 197 of the Acts of 1910, for authority to carry on the business of selling gas in the town of Acushnet.

This company was incorporated by chapter 144 of the Acts of 1850 for the purpose of "making and selling gas in New Bedford." By the provisions of chapter 295 of the Acts of 1889 it was duly authorized to furnish both gas and electricity in the town of Fairhaven. By chapter 152 of the Acts of 1890 the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of New Bedford was authorized to sell its property and franchises to the New Bedford Gas Light Company, and by chapter 46 of the Acts of 1891 the name of the latter company was changed to the New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Company. It is now engaged in the supply of gas and electricity in the city of New Bedford

and the town of Fairhaven, and in the supply of electricity in the town of Mattapoisett. It has recently been authorized by this Board to extend its mains into the town of Dartmouth.

Acushnet is contiguous to New Bedford, and the immediate purpose of this application is to enable the company to supply the inhabitants of a small section of the town lying close to the city line. There is no other company or person engaged in the business of making or selling gas in the town. The selectmen have recently granted to the company permission to lay and maintain its mains for the distribution and sale of gas.

The following was therefore adopted:

On the petition of the New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Company, a corporation duly established under the laws of this Commonwealth, and authorized to make and sell gas in the city of New Bedford and the towns of Fairhaven and Dartmouth, for authority to carry on the business for which it was incorporated within the limits of the town of Acushnet, as provided in chapter 197 of the Acts of 1910:

Voted, That the Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners, after notice and a public hearing and upon due consideration thereof, hereby authorizes the New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Company to carry on the business of selling gas in the town of Acushnet, with all the rights, powers and privileges, and subject to all the duties and liabilities, set forth in all general laws now or hereafter in force applicable to said corporation. (July 3, 1914.)

PETITION OF LUDLOW COMPANIES.

This was a joint application by the Ludlow Electric Light Company and the Ludlow Manufacturing Company for the determinations by this Board, required by chapter 529 of the Acts of 1908, relative to the purchase by the former of the franchise and property of the latter company.

After due notice a public hearing thereon was held as required by law. Accompanying the application were certified transcripts from the records of both corporations, from which it appears that the terms of the proposed purchase and sale have been approved, at meetings called for the purpose, by a vote of at least two-thirds in interest of the stockholders or incorporators of each of the contracting companies, within four months prior to the filing of the petition.

The Ludlow Electric Light Company is a corporation organ

ized under the general laws of the Commonwealth on March 21, 1914, with an authorized capital of $21,000, for the purpose of "manufacturing, buying, selling, dealing in, supplying and distributing electricity for light, heat and power, and for acquiring by purchase or otherwise and for erecting, maintaining and operating works, poles, wires and other apparatus for the manufacture, supply and distribution of electricity for light, heat and power." Prior to its organization one of its incorporators had made in its behalf a contract for the purchase of the electric light and power systems of the Ludlow Manufacturing Company for the sum of $21,000. Since its organization it has erected lines in the town of Ludlow for the distribution and sale of electricity. The incorporators are interested in the Amherst Power Company, and it is proposed that the electric light company shall distribute in Ludlow electricity purchased of the power company, which has guaranteed the contract mentioned.

The Ludlow Manufacturing Company is a corporation organized originally to carry on the business of manufacturing and selling flax and other fibers, paper and carpets. By chapter 200 of the Acts of 1889 it was duly authorized to acquire the necessary plants and supply itself and the inhabitants of the town of Ludlow with water and with electricity for lighting, power, mechanical and other purposes. In 1902 the Ludlow Manufacturing Associates, a voluntary association, was organized to take over certain properties and activities theretofore conducted by the manufacturing company, but deemed to be beyond its corporate powers. The association acquired, and still owns, all of the capital stock of the manufacturing company. It also acquired certain property of the corporation, including the water and electric plants. But, having been advised that the corporation, rather than the association, should carry on the business of supplying water and electricity in Ludlow, the trustees conveyed the water and electric distribution systems to the corporation in 1911, and entered into a contract to furnish it with electricity. At about the same time the capital stock of the corporation was reduced to $50,000, and its business has since been confined solely to the supply of water and electricity in Ludlow.