The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1868-03-21
TRLEGRAPHY.

- oPooAS VI OSAnS ulhoe VI suCn pIdC
tical and economical utility to the masses,
that has been so far removed from uni
versal use by monopolies and eombina-
tions, as the telegraph. 1t is inexpensive
in construction, maintenance and work
ing. IL is adapted to the business meth
DDS of the day, peculiarly SO in an inn
mense country like ours requiring sew
eral days or weeks for the transmission |
and and return of intelligence by mail, !
and for communication with remote |
countries. 1t is the greatest invention
the world ever saw; and yet after a
period of twenty-three years since its
introduction into use, we have not COM
pretended, or if comprehending, have
that might be continually derived from
it. In this day electricity is in more
complete harmony with the spirit of the
people, where it can be used, than either
/ horseflesh or steam. The latter are
forces and accord with matter; the for
mer is the servant of thought and repre-
sents mind Each have their uses, and
each should perform them The tele-
graph is now used only in exceptional
cases. The merchant who sends one
telegram per day perhaps sends fifty let
ters. Why? For the sake OF economy.
1t will assuredly be admitted that in
Simultaneous communication between
purchaser and seller is preferable to the
tardy detention of the mails and the
/ possibility of miscsr srriage. Would it not
be preferable in nine cases out of ten to
use the telegraph in business communi-
cationsl Would it not be preferable to
step into an office and interchange few
instantaneous words with q friend in
stead of by the Robin Hoods house
method of scrawling over foolscap, to be
enveloped, deposited, sorted, transported,
distributed and shuffled over, and after
much delay receive an answer by the
same means2 We think it is what will
soon be required of electricity. The him
drance to the more universal use of the
telegraph is its excessive cost. We fail
to see why it cannot be placed within
the reach of every one and still remain
immensely profitable. The recent trials
! of speed and the constructing and main
: tanning cost of telegraph lines give
data and opportunity for calculations.
, We will premise that the line between
Helena and Virginia cost $4,000 to con-
struct and that the expenses and interest
\ on the investment is $1,000 per month
The rates are $3.50 for ten words. There
was recently sent from Milwaukee to St
Paul, distance of 459 miles, $500 words
9 in one hour on single line. If this rate
:, could be made here and there was suffi-
cient patronage to require it, the lin'
would il two days of ten hours each pay
for its construction and total expenses
for three months. If,however. there wer,
but 1000 words sent per hour, a yer!
i practicable task, at ten cents per WORD
re working six hours per day, it would foo
N up $1S7, 800 for working year. Tru
!, this is arguing upon capacity rather thai
" actual operations, and making no allow
of ance for addresses /; but if business woul
1e increase in double proportion to the de
- - crease in rates, and expenses be bu
Sc fractionaIly increased, would 1t not u
d. better for the companies while adding
nv nv materially to the convenience of the pee
- pie. That the business would increas
err as rates would be reduced is not sui
lis ject of speculation, but aR inevitab
I'm result. The postoffice department carri,
eu letters now at one eighth the rate it d
he years ago, and while it was then a losir
cir operation to the government it is no
1st selt-sustaining. Place telegraphic col
s ns munication within the reach of I'll
,ur masses and it viii in a short time b
ng come the great medium of correspol
y's dence instead of an exceptional derni
!. ,.G :, resort. In instancinG the line betwet
nm this place and Helena we are laborii
in under a double disadvantage-7-sms
be communities and a short line. Privs
u ohs dispatches of ten words sent TO an ea
tbe ern city cost ninety cents word t
-fa money is already invested, the line bu
and must be kept in repair. Does a
one doubt that if reduced to fve Ger
- per word tie business would incres
= twenty fold9 The great corpOratio
"a have monopolized and controlled {
me. telegraph of the United States, but VIII
We ampssing fortunes from it have, we thi
nus nus deirimentally to their own iinteres
the placed il among the possible means
fter communication. rather than what
the should and yet Will be--the indispen
tne bic, economical and universal medir
idS Although the governments cannot c
rv- ddct enterprises of vhis character as "
and or as cheaply as can individuals or c.