Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-22
DAILY EVENING STAR.
Written for the Evening Star.
Telegraph Operators.

gress Of our country and age, has in the short
space of time since its first erection between
this city and Baltimore, spread over the whole
of this vast country, connecting the north,
south, east and west, by electric lines to the
entire humiliation of time and space. Ere
long we may expect to have the wires stretch
ing across the vast prairies which separate us
from our friends on the Pacific, connecting
that shore with the Atlantic, and allowing us
the same facility Of communication which We
now enjoy with our sister cities around US.
Established in every city, and almost every
town and village of note throughout the United
States, and doing business of millions of
dollars annually, it necessarily gives employ
ucnt TO large number of persons, of whose
general character duties, and pay, short
sketch may not be uninteresting.
The Corpsd operateNrS is almost exclusive
" composed of young men, it being a remark
able fact that persons advanced in life seldom
attain that facility of thought required in
making, at the proper times and intervals the
Geographic manipulatioDs, which is so essen
t;al in order to become skilful operator. The
character and importance of the business
transacted by telegraph renders it necessary
that the operator should have at least a
tolerably good English education, and, we are
glad to say, so far as our observation goes, that
this is in most instances the case, fortunately
for the public who have eschewcd the slower
method Of communication by mail, and adopt
ed the more speedy one of the telegraph, to
transact much Of their confidential business.
There is, perhaps, few persons outside of
telegraph Office who are aware of the severe
Iabors and trials which these operators I'M
dergO.
The regular office hours are about fourteen,
from to 10 O'Clock, p. n. But they are fire.
quently compelled TO keep their Offices open
two and three hours after this time. and not
unfrequcntly even all night, in order to trans
NIT steamer ~ other important news items for
publication in the morning papers. But this
is among the least OF their trials. 1t is well
known By every one at all acquainted with
the nature of the electric fluid. that, like the
fair Goddess Of Fortune. it is extremely tickle;
the quantity of atmospheric electricity gen
Grated by excessive hot weather, or thunder
storms, constantly striking the wires and con-
fusin. the regular current with which they
are charged; the falling Of and weakening of
this current by steady rains, the entire de-
struction Of it frequently, in the winter, by
snow storms, which cause short ground cir
cults, conducting greater part of the current
to the ground. ms cad of carrying it to its
destination at some distant point, are among
the trials and vexations with which the ope-
rator struggles i'll endeavorins to transmit his
messages. often telling an hour to commune
cate two or three words, or waiting a propi-
tiouS moment for those irregularities to cease
in order get OF his dispatches, feeling anx-
iously and watching every variation in his
magnet, as the physician would the pulse of a
sick patient.
1t may be supposed that the operator is
handsomely compensated for the arduOus du-
ties which the business inficts on him. 1t is
not sO-there is no class of men more meanly
compensated than telegraph operators. No
liberal minded man will say, that four or
seven uOiidlS tiOE tlnS Is TIC Nv
is proper compensation for fourteen hours
of labor, such as we have endeayored to de-
scribe above. Besides many of these young
men are married, ami have families There is
10 opportunity of increasing their income,
for their time belongs wholly and unaualifediy
to the service of the telegraph. Neither does
1t offer the same chances to prefcrment as most
other pursuits OF life do
BY industry and capability, the lawyer and
physician may gain wealth and distinction;
the printer may become n publisher and ed
tor; the apprentice Il master mechanic; the
merchants clerk merchant; but the greatest
industry-the longest and most devoted fileli
ty TO the best Interests of their employers
cannot insure promotion in grade or emolu-
ments to telegraph operators, for there is alb
solutely no field for advancement; and, there
fore, they should at least have a decent COIN
pensation, sufficient for them to enjoy the COM
forts Of life, and yet to lay by something for
a rainy day"
Many OF the lines pay dividend Of three
per cent quarterly. and for the most part on
stock, which cost the holders fifty dollars q
Stare, thus bringing them an int, est of TWEEN
iyf.ur per cent. yearly ON their investments;
besides often leaving surplus of ten or if
teen thousand dollars in the treasury after ali
payments of dividends. This abundance of
the precious stuff which is continually
pouring INFO the treasury, and out again into
the pockets OF the directors and stockholders.
scs!ing them home from their quarterly meet
inE7 with light hearts and heavy purses is the
I.,..-.ui fleet Of the severe labors of the opera
tx. is TO be hoped that proposition to IN
cr. tse ;he salaries of the operators through