The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-11 00:00:00

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

We have now had eleven months' experience of the
working of the news supply under the system of postal
telegraphy, which came into operation in February last.
Before that time, newspapers and news-rooms received
their telegraphic information exclusively from the In-
telligence Department of the Telegraph Companies,
who united their interests for this purpose. News-
papers were furnished with a fixed service of news
at a charge of two hundred pounds per annum, and
news-rooms were supplied at varying rates. No one but
the manager of the Intelligence Department had any con-
trol over the supply. This system had its advantages in
the universality of the arrangements, and the dead level
to which it brought all provincial newspaper enterprise.
When it was proposed that the Government should assume
the control of the telegraphs, it was seen that they could
not originate a supply of news. It was, therefore,
provided in the Act of Parliament under which
the transfer of the telegraphs was effected, that
the Government should transmit intelligence for newspapers
and news-rooms, at about the same charge as that made
by the telegraph companies, after deducting the cost of
collecting the news, which the Government did not under-
take to do. This arrangement.had the effect of throwing
open to general competition the supply of news through-
out the country, and this change from absolute monopoly
to unlimited competition has been carried into effect. As
might have been expected, a good deal of difficulty, and
some disorganisation, was experienced at the commence-
ment of the work. This was the unavoidable result of a
change of such magnitude, effected in complicated work
which could not be suspended for an hour without
inconvenience. The authorities at the Post Office found
it no easy matter to deal with the varied interests which
were clamorous for their attention ; and it was only by
the unremitting attention of Mr. Scudamore and those
who were appointed to superintend the Intelligence De-
partment that the new system was reduced to order. Pa.
some months past the Department has been working with
regularity, and we are now enabled to form a fair com-
parison between the results of the new system as compared
with the old. The Intelligence Department of the tele-
graph companies obtained an annual income of £27,000
for their supplies of news. Of this sum, £17,000 repre-
sented the cost of transmission, and £lO,OOO the cost of
collection. At the present time the Post Office income for
transmission alone is at the rate of £35,000 per annum,
and the amount expended on the collection of this news
cannot be less than 115,000, shewing an ex-
penditure of nearly double the former amount.
The results, however, are considerably more than
doubled. More than three times the amount of
matter is now, telegraphed for the use of news-
papers, and four times the number of newspapers and
news-rooms receive telegraphic news, as compared with
the old system. The Telegraph Companies supply 306
newspapers and news-rooms ; the Post Office supply more
than 1,300. Of these the larger proportion receive their
news from the Central Press, which supplies upwards of
700. The Press Association, which is an organisation of
newspaper proprietors, is the largest customer to the Post
Office, as it supplies longer reports than those furnished
by the Central Press. There are a number of minor news
agencies, and a host of newspaper correspondents, who
pour in matter to the Post Office for their respective papers.
The result is, that both the London and country news-
papers contain far more telegraphic news than formerly,
and, as before stated, more than four times the number
of newspapers and newsrooms are supplied with news.
These facts must be regarded as conclusive in respect t
the superiority of the new system. A business which is
.a failure does not extend. The doubled revenue and
quadrupled supply leave no room to doubt that the Intelli-
gence Department of the Post Office is a great success.
This success has not been obtained without the most
indefatigable efforts on the part of those who have had the
management of the Department. Mr. Scudamore and
Mr. Chetwynd have both given their attention to this
work. It is owing to them that the Act of Parliament
under which news is transmitted has received a liberal
interpretation, and that in carrying it into effect, the
convenience of those who wished to avail themselves
of its provisions has been studiously consulted. Mr.
Patey, the active superiutindent of the Department, has
given the most unremitting attention to every detail,
so that in various.entries, which number several thousands,
mistakes but rarely occur. It is difficult to say to what
degree the work of the department will extend. Up to
the present time the progress has been all that the most
ardent advocate of Free Trade could desire. Under the
existing regulations the news agencies are enabled
to furnish the most elaborate supply of general and
commercial news which the largest newspaper or news-
room may require, or to supply brief telegrams of all the
important events, at a cost which places the information
within the reach of workmen's clubs and village news-
rooms. The rapid development of the demand for news
has been stimulated by the important events of the last
six months, as no intelligent person, and certainly no
man of business, can afford to be behind-hand in obtain.
ing information which affects the welfare of conti-
nents and changes commercial values.—From the Printers'
_Register.

" The Watch on the Rhine." It is about time for
this watch to be wound up.
NEW YORK PRlNCES.—Alexauder T. Stewart
last year paid in income tax more than either one of
twenty-seven States and territories, mid more than Arizona,
Colorado, Dakota, Florida, Washington, New Mexico,
Utah, Idaho, and Montana combined. Mr. W. B. Astor
paid more than the whole State of Vermont.—Philadelphia
Press.

POSTAL CARDS.—Corresponding Cards are visibly
extending. Besides Germany and Austria-Hungary,
where they originated, they have already been introduced
into Denmark, France, Great Britian, Holland, Portugal,
Roumania, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, and the United
States. They are about to be adopted in Belgium and
Italy.—Carlsvithe Gazette.

A3IBRICAN GRIEVANCES.—The Philadelphia Cor-
respondent of the Times says the fishery question is thought
to be in a fair way of settlement, negotiations on that
subject having been opened at Washington. Sir Edward
Thornton and Secretary Fish have already had some cor-
respondence. A contemporary believes an intimation
has been conveyed to the American Government that, if
they desire it, the English Cabinet, will be prepared to
send a special envoy to Washington to negotiate the
terms of a settlement between the two countries.

ARREST OF THE SUPPOSED HEBBURN QUAY
MURDERER. —A man has been apprehended in New Ross
Workhouse on suspicion of being Martin Delaney, who
murdered his wife at Hebburn Quay, Newcastle, on the
Bth of November last. He is about fivo feet nine inches
in height, about thirty-five years of age, of sallow com-
plexion, with dark brown hair and whiskers, and his face
is slightly pock-marked. He stated that he was recently
working in the iron trade, and had been residing in Eng-
land for the ,pagt fifteen or sixteen years. He was taken
before.the magistrates and remanded for eight slice
pending inquiries which will be made of the county police
at Jarrow.