The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-24

ssSS. .,.... go 20 &c 3 SS
When the spirit of fun was upon them, the
telegraphic men perpetrated another joke.
They gave out that for certain additional
fee they would insure the accuracy Of mes
sages In other words, they say to the public:
We will do business for you for 80 much but
if you want us to do it properly, you must pay
us double. This appears as Dickens says to
be "a pilin' of it up leetle too mountaine-
ous" But such is the way Of the world. 1t
was only last year that Congress enacted that
the Post Office would deliver letters for three
cents; but if people wanted them to be deliver
ed, honor bright, they must pay eight. We
must distinguish, as The old casuists would have
said, between doing thing, and doing it GER
tainly, undoubtedly, as it ought to be doue, in
short: people are free to choose for themselves.
Those who try the cheap plan, and pay three
cents For their letters or single rate for their
telegraphic messages, are forewarned what
they may expect.
As to the increase of rates, il is not likely
the press will complain Editors are not such
noyiccs in political economy as to expect that
the telegraph companies will work for one
cent less than the most they can get. The old
ideas about extortion and so forth, were ex-
ploded long ago. Prices like water, may be
safely left to find their level in every free
community. The Washington lines now be-
lieye they win make more money than hereto
fore by doubling their rates. We doubt it,
In the first place every increase Of prices Of
commodities not OF prime necessity has al
ways been found to diminish the number sold,
in proportion to the square of the increase:
just as every reduction Of prices has led to an
Increase in the business done, in the proper
ton of the square OF the reduction.
This is the experience of all modern
countries, and hence, with very rare
exceptions, the tendency of prices of this class
Of articles is invariably downwards. 1t does
not seem likely that the Washington tele-
graphic lines will form an exception to the
rule. Again, prices arc controlled by compe-
tsion. 1t is competition which compels the
publisher Of daily newspaper to sell il at q
cent and half, when the white paper costs o
cent and tenth or more. Competition, in fact,
governs the price of everything, and may be
expressed in the formula that whenever man
charges such prices for his wares as to reap an
exorbitant profit, others win instantly compete
with him in the business, and being content
with less profit will undersell him. This is
what will happen with the Southern telegraph
companies, which, as we understand, calculate
upon profit of 25 per cent per aunum on
the capital invested. We hear already of three
different telegraph patents, all Of which are
said to be superior to the Morse, Balm and
House patents. That improvements would be
made in these latter was to be expected
nothing was wanting to call them into life aud
practical activity but such an occurrence rs
the recent increase of rates on the Southern
lines. No one can doubt in fact, but that these
patents will be Immediately taken up by men
of capital, and new lines constructed TO com.
pete with the old ones.
The gentlemen of the telegraph no doubt
understand their own business better than
strangers. But we will take leave to inform
them that it is very ticklish natter in the
present day to provoke competition. Many
an excellent enterprise has been ruined by the
grasping ayarice of Us managers, who forgot
that unborn rivals were as formidable as COM
petitors already in the field. Now and then
we see instances Of nopolics--like the Brook
lyn Ferry Company-which presume upon their
fancied strength and the notorious corruption
of our legislative bodies to defy public opinion;
but even for them day Of reckoning will
come, and they will find that every cent they
have unwisely grasped to-day will cost them a
cent and a half in the end.