The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-09-10
The Value of the Telegraph,

correspondent of the Mercury, offers the
following reflections as to the value of the Tel
egrnph:
But. except in the qualification Of popular
curiosity. what do we gain by this 1t will
be curious, indeed. to be able to read the re-
port of n debate in Parliament even while il
goes on but we might read the whole of il
ten days alter with even more ease nt fnr less
| expense, and t" rs much profit. Its effect up.
on the newspapers is another topic Of inquiry.
1t is expected to raise all their rates. 1t is
supposed by some that the smaller fry of the
press will suffer extinction. But fancy not !
What anluses or interests the great body Of peo.
pie, III the newspapers. is surely not the mea-
gre reports of business progress or even poli,i
! cal performance, such as We get through the
telegraph
The expense Of its reports is another matter
OF no little substance. 1t is not yet decided
what shall be the rates of Fpny for commun
cations What can they be reported for
Some think n dollar per word others say
five; others ten and others even more
Now, what is the nature of the communica
tions which shall justify the payment of even
the smallest or these charges7 Mere curiosity
even atfectaton-will not often incur the
expense. The occasional communications of
this sort will be too few to yield the telegraph
any sufficient support Government dispatches,
and speculations in produce and the funds,
must afford the chief business. How will it.
influence speculation, is the question 1t will
bring rapid order, should you desire to buy
IL thousand barrels of flour. or as many bales
Of cotton. even rs the land telegraph does
and then comes the question-supposc a break
in the connection. n few minutes later Such
breaks in such chain. are not SO easily re-
paircd rs those along the highway, when the
poles nre down, or when one spcculator hav-
ing transmitted his order, contrives to cut the
wires and thus cut off his competitors.
But bp 1aj tho o,rl,
ing: If 1t takes two days to convey Queens
Or Presidents message across the pond, this
game will he found hardly worth the candle
Then, the very highest rates of pay NAV be ns-
sumed, as inevitably necessary to the support
OF the concern and some people tn ink that
fifty. or even n hundred dollars per word. will
be no unreasonable charge. Such ratee, of
course, will he fatal 10 the idea Of its general
or even frequent nse, unless in cases of the
greatest public Importance or where the large
amounts of money arc Mt hazard. The result
OF such speculntions is, that the whole burden
"f the expense will finally be made to fall up.
on the two governments of Great Britain md
the United States. No doubt there vii! he at.
tempts OF this sort upon our Congressional ley
isiation. The stockho lhers will hardly let
either government off with what they have
done. We shall see. 1t is unqucstionnlly n
most un!ucky feature. Of this wonderful cable
Tor our country, that the ternni are both with.
IN the british dominiOns In any difficulty
with that country. or under any great national
necessity, We should hardly be suffered the free
Use of the cable for any useful purposes