Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-03-03
POSTAL TELEGRAPHY.


me- WV Ah8 -
The telegraph lines of Great Britain have
recently been transferred to the control of
the postofice authorities, and number OF
changes and notifications have in consc-
uuence been made in the system, the re-
suits of which remain to be tested. The
interesting particulars are con-
densed from the London papers:
The transfer was made on the 18th of
January, bat the actual opening of the new
postal telegraph Offices took place on the
9Th of February. 1t is expected that under
the new arrangement the community will
gain largely at once, and very considerably
q little later, IN three particulars, namely
in cheapness, in extended facilities. and
in greater assurance of promptitude,
correctness and secrecy. The charge
for a telegram of not more than
twenty words will bs shilling
from any one place to any other place with
in the United Kingdom-the names and
addresses of the sender and receiver being
tree; and for each additional five words
three pence will be asked. kilograms
may be repeated, at the option of the
sender, by paying one-hah the ordinary
tariff. The charge for transmission covers
the cost of delivery by special foot messen-
ger within a mile of the terminal telegraph
ic station, or within the limit of the town
postal delivery OF that Office, when 1t is a
head Office and the delivery extends for
more than a mile from it
The preliminary administrative work has
been enormous, and has somewhat check
ed the development anticipated at starting.
But, after all drawbacks have been made,
the real improvement is great, as may be
inferred from the fact that the number OF
telegraphic offices in London and its near
er suburbs alone will be from 200 to go. =
The total mileage of wire within the Unit
ed Kingdom now settled or In immediate
prospect, is $4,000 miles, of which 80, DOC
are on lines of railway, 1000 miles repre-
sent ST ort extensions and q, 600 miles the
wires along common roads. The list Of
rostoffices at which messages viii
be forwarded, transmitted or reeeiv.
ed, is not yet complete, AMI will,
of course. constantly receive additions.
But one rule may be safely laid down fol
public guidance. Every postoffice and
pillar-box will be a receiving place for mes
sages. If the sender desires promptitude
be had better direct to the nearest tele
graph Office, where, besides, securing quicl
dispatch, he can, if he pleases. arrange fo1
speedy delivery; if, on the other hand, hi
Is not particular for an hour, more or less
he has only to deposit his message, stamped
and directed as telegram, in the neares
box, and he has no further trouble. Th'
number OF hours during which a posta
telegraph Office will be open will average
about twelve a day. say from s a. m. 10
o. m. 4: but thepractice will vary according
to the locality, in some large towns, a
Liverpool aud Glasgow, Offices being opei
all night, and in others extra hours being
given for press messages.
The use of stamps in payment Of tels
grams is a further valuable feature of tn
new system. Stamps, of various amounts
from one penny up to five sbillings, are I,
be on sale at all the fices Forms 70
messages, singly or In books. are also to b
on sale. The enumeration of the numbe
of words is rendered quite unnecessary. b
the simple process of dividing each line in
to five spaces, in each of which wor
must be written. A marginal note show
the charge for each line. All forwarde
messages, whether inland or continental
Indian or American, are to be entered an
sent in the order Of receipt from the pub
lie.
The postal officers are given 10 under
stand that the messages are to be regarde,
as strictly confidential communications
and that any breach of confidence will b
visited with severe punishment; they ar
I further enioined to show no favor or affec
ton in the retransmission or delivery O
messages. No stranger is to b
admitted to the instrument room Q
any postal telegraph ofic
without the written authority of one @
the secretaries of the General Post Office.
and even then he is not to be allowed to G.
near the instruments while they are q
work, or to send the messages. Whel
news kilograms have to be delivered I,
more than one proprietor Of newspape
or nevs-room in one and the same town
every exertion must be made to effect
simultaneous delivery, without favorin,
any one. SO jealousy, in fact, are tn
rights of the public guarded, that evel
messages which are 'in3ecently or oh
scenely worded. or which appear to con
tain abusive, libellous, or slanderous mat
| ter. must not be refused by counter-clerl
at his own discretion; he must take tn
opinion of his superior officer, and sbid
by that decision.
But one all-important point has still t.
be considered, and that is the sourc,
whence TIE numerous skilled staff require<
to undertake so extensive a duty will b,
supplied. A large and efficient body of Cd
orators was transferred from the companiel
to the Postoffice. and, in addition, learner
brought by hundreds from various parts o
the country have for months been at worl
with the instruments selected. The post
masters throughout the kingdom, Will
members of their families, readily acquired
the practice Of the instruments, and th,
achievements of each learner have beer
rigidly tested by experienced telegraphistl
employed for the purpose.
A hall in the general postofice is nov
used as an instruction school, and there
young men and women may be seen prac
ticing ali day. singly or in couples; dex
terity of manipulation thus attained being
followed up by exercises in transmitting
messages to one another. The telegraphit
instruments to be employed in the vari
Gus Offices throughout Great Britain viii
be the single needle, the bell, the Morse
printer, the Hughes's type printer, Wheat
stones A B G instrument last, how.
ever, being retained chiefly for private
lines, and seldom for public messages
Wheatstone's automatic and aughes's type
printing instrument will be in use in none
but offices Of the hrst-class, and those
chiefly used for general transmission will
be the single needle, the bell and the
Morse.