The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-03-04
POSTAL TELEGRAPHY.
The New English System.

The New English System.
The telegraph lines of Great Britain have
recently been transferred to the control OF
the postofice authorities, and 8 number OF
changes and notifications have in onse-
ouence been made in the system, the re-
suits of which remain to be tested. The
following interesting particulars are con-
from the London papers:
The transfer was made on the 29th OF
Jsnuary. but 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 promptltude,
correctness and secrecy. The charge
for a telegram of not more than
twenty words will be . shilling
from any one place to any other place with
in the United Kingdom-the names and
addresses of the sender and receiver being
free: and for each additional five words
three pence will be asked. kilograms
NAV be repeated, at the option of the
sender, by paying one-halt 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, OF within the limit of the town
postal delivery of that Office, when it is a
head Office and the delivery extends for
more than a mile from 1t.
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
t~elegraphic offices in London and its near
er suburbs alone will be from 200 to 2sO.
The total mileage of wire within the
ed Kingdom now settled or In immediate
prospect, is sc, 200 miles, of which $4,000
are on lines of railway, 5000 miles repre-
sent short extensions and p, 600 miles the
wires along common roads. The list OF
rostofices at which messages Will
be forwarded, transmitted or receiv-
ed, is not yet complete, and will,
of course. constantly receive additions.
But one rule may be safely laid down for
public guidance. Every postofhee and
pillar-box will be a receiving place formes-
sages. If the sender desires promptltude,
be had better direct to the nearest tele-
graph Office, where, besides, securing quick
dispatch, he can, if he pleases, arrange for
I EDeG0N QGl1NCIN. H. OA l4C OlACL AhuOs liz
Is not particular for an hour, more or less.
he has only to deposit his message, stamped
and directed as a telegram, i n the nearest
box, and he has no further trouble. The
number OF hours during which a postal
telegraph Office will be open will average
about twelve a day, say from s a. m. to s
%. M; but the practice will vary according
to the locality, in some large towns, as
Liverpool and Glasgow, Offices being open
all night, and in others extra hours being
given for press messages.
The use of stamps in payment of tele-
grams is a further valuable feature of the
new system. Stamps, of various amounts,
from one penny up to five shillings, are to
be on sale at all the o ffces. Forms fol-
messages, singly or in books. are also to be
on sale. The enumeration of the number
of words is rendered quite unnecessary, by
the simple process of dividing eachline In
to five spaces, in each of which a WORD
must be written. A marginal note show
the charge for each line. All forwarded
messages, whether inland or continental
Indian or American, are to be entered and
sent in the order Of receipt from the pub
lie.
The postal officers are given 10 under
stand that the messages are to be regarded
as strictly confidential communications
| and that any breach of confidence will b'
visited with severe punishment; they arr
further enjoined to show no favor or affec
ton in the retransmission or delivery o
messages. No stranger is to bt
admitted to. the instrument room o.
any postal telegraph Office
without the written authority of one o.
the secretaries of the General Post-Ofice,'
and even then he is not to be allowed to e
near the instruments while they are a
work, or to send the messages. Whe1
news telegrams have to be delivered tC
more than one proprietor of a newspaper
or news-room in n and the same town,
every exertion must be made to effect 8
simultaneous delivery, without f~avoring
any one. So jealousy, in fact, are the
rights of the public guarded, that ever
messages which are '-indecently or OBJ.
scenely werded, or which appear to con.
tain abusive, ibellous, or slanderous mat
ter, mustnot be refused bya counter-clerl
at his own discretion; he must take the
opinion of his superior officer, and abide
by that decision.
But one all-important point has still tc
be considered, and that is the source
whence the numerous skilled staff required
to undertake so extensive a duty will be
supplied. A large and efficient body of op-
orators was transferred from the companies
to the Postofice, and, in addition, learners
brought by hundreds from various parts Of
the country have for months been at work
with the instruments selected. The post
masters throughout the kingdom, with
members of their families, readily acquired
the practice of the instruments, and the
achievements of each learner have been
rigidly tested by experienced telegraphists
employed for the purpose.
A hall in the general postofiee is now
used as an instruction school, and there
young men and women may be seen prsc-
ticing all day. singly or In couples; deX.
terity of manipulation thus attained being
followed up by exercises in transmitting
messages to one another. The telegraphiC
instruments to be employed in the vari.
GUS offices throughout Great Britain will
be the single needle, the bell, the Morse
printer, the Hughes's type-printer, Wheat
stones automatic instrument and Wheat
stones A B G instrument-the last, how.
ever, being retained chiefly for private
lines, and seldom for public messages.
Wheatstone's automatic and Hughes's type
| printing instrument viii be in use in none
but offices of the frst-class, and those
chiefly used for general transmission viii
be the single needle, the bell and the
Morse.
NJ G-.z--1 Drrr- poU Olazipn