The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-01-22
THE GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPH
QUESTION.
ARGUMENT OF PRESIDENT ORION
BEFORE THE POSTAL
COMMITTEE.

WASHINGTON, January 2l.- President
Orion, of the Western Union Telegraph
Company, laid before the House Postal
Committee to-day an argument on the pro-
posed union of the telegraph and postal
system. This paper presents thorough
and able review of the present condition of
the electric telegraphs in Europe and Anne
RIGA, which, independent of the general in
terest the subject gives, possesses a pc
culiar value in the statistics and general
information it contains. The statistics
show that there is larger number of tele-
graph offices in this country, in proportion
to population, than in any other in the
world. ......-
CoNTRAsTED.
While in Europe there is but one office
for every A ,65l inhabitants, there is here
one Office for every $40 inhabitants. The
total number of kilograms transmitted in
Europe per annum, according to the official
reports, is l9, 683, 000, at an expense of
sl5,2S6,O OO-the average cost being 81 Sc
cents per message.
The Western Union Telegraph transmits
10,067 900 kilograms annually at cost of
$5,73S, 000-beipg an average Of ffty-seven
cents per message. The European statistics
include inland, international, and trans
Atlantic kilograms, thus presenting a
larger number Of kilograms than are &C
tually transmitted, the same message being
sometimes counted in several countries,
while those of the Western Union Company
are counted but once, though they may
traverse thousands of miles in reaching
their destination. Making proper allow
ance for the duplication in counting in Eu-
rope, the actual number Of dispatches sent
was IA, 0l2,000, at an average cost of $l.09
each. - r.. ...... ..... ..... -s. III =,Teg- 'E rs
In no country in Europe is the Geographic
administration connected with the post
office. In France and Spain the telegraphs
are under the control of the Minister of the
Interior. In Russia, Prussia, and Italy,
they belong to the Minister of the Public
Works. In Belgium the telegraph railways
and the postoffice form general division,
under the Minister of Public Works, but are
kept distinct in Austria. The administra-
tion of the telegraph and postofice were
at one time united, but it was found
expedient to separate them. In Swift
erland the telegraph organization is
nearly the same as in Prussia. The
postofice, customs, and private establish
ments, supply the elements Of an auxiliary
staf, but all the persons employed in the
transmission Of kilograms depend on the
administration of telegraphs for their
compensation; and in the annual budget
an appropriation is made for that service
distinct from the post. An effort was made
in France in 1864 to consolidate the post
and telegraph service, but owing to the
strong opposition evinced on the part Of the
chief functionaries of both services to such
amalgamation it was relinquished. It was
not until several years after the introduc-
ton of the electric telegraph in America
that it was opeRed to the people by any
European Government. Even in France
the electric telegraph was established as
late as 1851, and its spread throughout the
empire was exceedingly slow. The BE-
maphore, defective and inefficient system
of conveying intelligence by the exhibition
of signals, was still in use, and notwith-
standing the manifest advantages of the
telegraph, the Government long refused to
employ it,. 49,. .-----,.-- q
AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPHs COM
- PARED.
The extent oflines and wire belonging to
the Western Union Telegraph Company is
more than twice that of France, three times