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Early equipment was very flimsy ; ;

the smallest gusts of wind toppled poles, making communications impossible.

But companies continued to spring up.

By 1883 the `` Battenkill Telegraph Company '' was in existence and Alvin Pettibone was its president.

Operating in 1887 was the `` Valley Telegraph Line '', officers of which were E. C. Orvis, president ; ;

H. K. Fowler, vice-president and secretary ; ;

J. N. Hard, treasurer ; ;

F. H. Walker, superintendent ; ;

H. S. Walker, assistant superintendent.

Two companies now had headquarters with Clark J. Wait, who by then had his own drugstore at Factory Point -- the `` Northern Union Telegraph Company '' and the `` Western Union ''.

Operators were Arthur Koop and Norman Taylor.

Still existing on a `` Northern Union '' telegraph form is a typical peremptory message from Peru grocer J. J. Hapgood to Burton and Graves' store in Manchester -- `` Get and send by stage four pounds best Porterhouse or serloin stake, for Mrs. Hapgood send six sweet oranges ''.