This term is sometimes applied to corporations which are not strictly public, in the sense of being organized for governmental purposes, but whose operations contribute to the comfort, convenience, or welfare of the general public, such as telegraph and telephone companies, gas, water, and electric light companies, and irrigation companies. More commonly and more correctly styled “publicservice corporations.” See Wiemer v. Louisville Water Co. (C. C.) 130 Fed. 251; Cumberland Tel. Co. v. Evansville (C. C.) 127 Fed. 1S7; McKiin v. Odom, 3 Bland (Md.) 419; Campbell v. Watson, 62 N. J. Eq. 396, 50 Atl. 120.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
