Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1909 — A Farreaching Combine. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Farreaching Combine.

The recent absorption of the Western Union by the American Telephone and Telegraph company places Theodore N. Vail, president of the latter institution, at the head of the greatest dfitabination of Its kind in the world. Nearly every line of wire communication In this country Is now controlled by the two great companies. Mr. Vail was born in Ohio sixty-four years ago, but his childhood and youth were spent in New Jersey. At twenty-

three he was n railway mall clerk, eventually becoming manager of the railway mall service. Tiring of government employ, he allied himself in 1878 with the Bell telephone interests. His success with that growing Institution was Immediate, and he soon was made general manager. In 1888 he retired and spent some years traveling to Europe. Later he went to South America and engaged to building street railways. He retained bis Interests to the telephone company, however, and two years ago was elected Its head. Mr. fall’s chief pleasure Is found bn his farm in Vermont, where he owns 6.000 acres of land, one-third of which * under cultivation. He makes butter • »id raises horves. pout*** and pigs.

TUEOUORE N. VAIL.