The New York herald., 1869-01-24
The Telegraphic Harpiss and Their Hang

ers On.
Heretofore the telegraphic monopolists have
had their system well propped up by throwing
out an occasional sop to their supporters.
Some of our city journals, which maintain
precarious existence through the Western
Union Telegraph Company, are naturally very
prompt to come to it's defence when they hear
the goose which lays their golden egg give it's
last quack. Yesterday we had another plain
tive plea presented by one of our contempora-
ries The day previous Miss Nancy's organ
blew a blast in its best style to maintain the
monopoly. The latter sheet appears lately to
be entirely under telegraphic influences This,
however, is owing to the fact that the ablest
and most influential of its associates, he who
most largely directs its fortunes and shapes its
politics and policy, is extensively interested in
directing the fortunes of the Western Union
Company.
We feel pang of sorrow at the misery
which thgsatsps The Rohemians when the tele-
graphic badgers are driven to their holes. As
the Western Union dictates to the city press OF
New York, so does it dictate to all the country
papers of the interior. But the dictation in
the latter case is almost unbearable In COM
parison to that of New York. Threatened as
they have been to have all news cut off from
them unless they accede to the harsh terms
submitted, they have not dared to protest
against this domineering power. Fortunately
the NEW YORK HERALD is in q posi-
tion to lead the cause of breaking
down the monopoly and preparing the
way to a cheaper and more equitable ar
rangement for obtaining news for all parties
concerned. We know of instances where it may
be said the news monopolists hold such lash
over the daily journals that they can dictate
to them what shall and what shall not be pub
lished-what news the public shall have and
what they shall not have. Now, we do not
propose to bow to the dictates of small ring
which actually proposes to govern the amount
and transmission Of thought in the United
States. This is something which, above all
others, appertains to the people as q mass and
can alone be entrusted to them for safety. Nor
yet are we disposed to see the nation hum
bugged in the purchase Of the existing tele-
graphic lines. What these lines are worth is
exactly what it will cost to build them, and NO
more. We notice that an attempt Is made by
the monopolists to show that their lines are
worth about FIVE hundred dollars per mile.
Any one who can make a simple addition Of
figures will take contract to put up similar
telegraphic system for two hundred dollars
per mile. In a report we have before us the
Western Union Company endeavors to show
the cost of European lines in comparison to
our own. They, however, compare the Euro
pean mile of line with the Western Union mile
of wire, forgetting that the European lines
have frequently from four to six wires upon
them, while the Western Union does not
average two. The comparison is, therefore,
very unfair and tells against any company
which thus misreprents the true conditions Of
the question.
This telegraphic monopoly must disappear;
the interests of the entire country demand It,
But it must disappear without having II end
in gigantic Congressional job through which
the monopolists wish to bleed the Treasury by
selling to the nation set Of inferior, badly
constructed and badly worked lines