Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-06-16
From the Journal of Commerce.
Earnings of Telegraph Companies.

statement IN the money article of the
journal of Commerce of the 3Ist ult..
setting forth the monthly earnings of tele
graph companies, is calculated 10 convey
erroneous impressions with regard to them,
and makes it proper that the facts should be
so stated as to convey the truth.
In the trst place it should be known that
the lines of the western Union and American
Telegraph Companies, and such lines as are
leased and controlled by them, are the CON
solldatlon of the oldest lines of telegram in
this country, and are understood to be
represented by joint capital offrom 25.
100000 to 30,000,000 Of dollars Until a
very recent date they have had complete
monopoly of the use of electricity in the
conveyance of intelligence, not only for the
public and the press, but since the war
began, for the government.
On the other hand, the United States
Telegraph Company was organized only last
August, with nominal capital of 5000. 900
OF dollars, a little more than one halt of
which, or about $500, 900, has been placed
for the purpose of paying for the lines pur-
chased by 1t and of building additional lines
already completed, and those now in the
course OF construction. 1t is true that il
has lines working to many of the same
points with the other two companies. . and
when its lines are finished, with less than
half the amonnt ofcapital stock, upon which
to pay dividends, its lines will reach all the
principal points that are reached by the
other two companies, including the principal
points In the mining districts of Colorado
and Nevada, and the principal cities and
towns in California a contract for the CON
structlon OF first class, two wire line. hay
ing Just been completed with parties fully
able to carry it into effect in the shortest
possible time, running from Chicago and st.
Louis to the Pacific, at San Francisco.
Up TO the present time, however, several
OF tue principal cities and towns of the
west have not been reached by the lines of
the inited States Telegraph Company.
pnnclpaily In consequence of the factions
opposition of the old companies in their
effort to maintain their monopoly-sueh As
Cincinnati and st. Louis But notwith-
standing, its monthly earnings have era
dually and permanently increased. as might
have been ascertained from a little further
examination of the u. S assessor ; hooks.
from which it appears that It's earnings for
January 1865, were. .$33. .662
IIfqDrqary, ~ 90 1919
March, do....................... O.fl7S
April, l,do........................S56Gs5 do. Gs5
The total earnings of the assessors books
OF the Western Union and American Tele-
graph Company, for six months, is 81, ,79l,
40, which is a little over 81 per cent cn
$50, 900, 600.
:, Ihe total earnings Of the United States !
Telegraph Company, taking the average of |
Its earnings for the last four months, as per
the assessor books, viii be for the current
six months 1915, ,04S, which is about s per-
cent on SO, 500, 600, the amount of its stock |
placed, and which will complete its lines To !
Cincinnati and ST Louis, and several other
important points in the West to be done n
a brief period