The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-25

prepared new design for two-cent stamp
Tor checks, and Commissioner Delano to-day
ordered that they be accepted. |
....-.~. WALLACE.
The Postal Telegraph, Bili-Stnternent
before the Senate Committee.
WASHINGTON, February 24.-The Senate
Committee on Postal Roads snd Post Offices.
at their meeting this morning, heard Hon.
William Orton, president of the Western
Union Telegraph Company. He spoke
against the Hubbard bill and relative to
the report which this committee recently
made in its favor. .-
The argument lasted the entire session
of the committee, and was not concluded
on its adjournment. 1t will be resumed at
4 special session on Saturday morning next.
Mr.. Orion first took up the statement in
the committees report that in America the
investment in telegraph lines is larger in
proportion to their length, their rates
higher, and the lines less used, than in
most European countries. As to the in
vcstment in telegraph lines, inasmuch as
al European lines are now owned and
controlled by Government he claimed that
it was imt tossiblc to institute accurate COM
pensations and further, that the amount
investea- a-fsYlf telegraph property, neither in
Europe nor America, had nothing to do with
the question of rates, and was not, there
fore, Q subject which demanded inyestiga-
tion.
The other two propositions he claimed to
be erroneous, and submitted statistics
proving that the rates are not higher in
the United States according TO the distance
than in any European countries, and lower
than in several. The average rate per mes
sage from Paris to the twenty-six principal
cities in France is 2-lO mills per mile.
The average rate from London tothirty-two
principal cities in England, Scotland, and
Ireland, is also about l2-l0 mills per
mile. The average rate from Berne
to the capitals of cantons in Switzer-
land is 2 mills per mile. The ave-
rage from Brussels to the nine principal
cities in Belgium is $40 mills per mile
from Berlin to the principal cities in North
Germany $40 mills per mile. In Italy,
between Florence and twenty principal
cities the average rate per message is 3 9-lC
mills per mile. From Amsterdam to the
chief cities in Holland $40 mills PEI
mile. In the United States the average
rate between New York and thirty-seveI
principal cities, on gold basis, the same
as applied to the countries above named
the rate is l LILO mills per mile.
From Washington to the capitals of al
the States the average rate on the old basis
is 3 mills per mile.
These rates are those which are charged
for day service, but Mr.. Orton called atten-
ton to the fact that since the lst of Janu.
ary, between all stations east of the Mis-
sissippi river, messages are now transmit
ted ut night for one-half OF the day rates,
80 that business not requiring instant dis
patch can now be transmitted by telegraph
at about one-half of the average rates for
like distances charged in any European
country.
Mr.. Orton next considered the statemen.
that tho telegraph is less used in America
than in most European countries, and sub
mitted the following in support Of his as'
sertion that the statement OF the committee
was erroneous: The population OF France
is about 4O,0OO,OO0, which approximate
very closely to the present population of th'
United States the last official repor
of the French Telegraph Department
is for the year 1868, and shows that thu
number OF messages transmitted inland
international, and transit, was 3,500.OCO
whereas the Western Union Telegraph Com
pauy alone transmitted in the United States
during the year more than twice this mum
her, not including press reports. He showet
further that the whole number of messages
transmitted in all the countries OF Cont
mental Europe, with q population Of nor'
than 200, 900, 900, made an aggregate 0
only l5,OOO,OO0, for which there was re
cc;ycd more than s9,00O,00O in gold
whereas the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany had transmitted larger amount o
matter for the press alone, receiving there
for about 81 100000 in currency.
He then tool, up the Hubbard bill ant
proceeded to show-First, the injnstice o
incorporating O. company by Congress ant
conferring ulon it free rights of way
through all the States for the purpose O
competing--with existing companies, .whlci
were obliged to pay in money or in service
large sum per annum for such privileges
Second, that the passage of that bill woul'
not protect the public against monopoly
since it would he easy Tor the Western
Union Company to take possession of tn
organization, and when this was done com
petition with it would be utterly impossible
He then proceeded to apply the rate
proposed in the bill to the present value
business. The receipts OF the Wester
Union Company for messages in the yea
1869 were, saw, $4,000, ,OOO and the e,
penses 81 100000. The same number
messages which yielded the above receip
would under the Hubbard bill have pr
duced less than 50, 600, 900, OF about 81 900
900 short Of the sum which this compnl
| Government would not perform this sCrvi
therefore under the Hubbard bill the tel
graph business of the country would ha'
cost the Government last year su
nearly equal to the deficit of the Post Off
Department. He then spoke of the clai
that the reduction in rates would large
increase the number of messages, and q,
mitted there was much force in it, but d
monstrated that an increase of fifty p,
cent. in the volume of business, witho,
any increase in the cost of performing tt
service, would still leave deficit Of mo-
than 81 100000. .'
He then proceeded to consider the abilit
of the present wires to carry this increase
business, and submitted the following ST.
tistics In Europe there are about 5000
miles of telegraph wire, over which thel
were transmitted in 1865 between $4,000, O(
md l6. .O00, ,000 of messages, or an ayeras
of SO messages per mile of wire. The Yves
ern Union Company has little over loo
600 miles of wire, and transmitted (sa,
5000, 900 messages, or about IS per mi
of wire. Now, is it reasonable to SUI
pose that this number can be increase
so per cent. without providing additions
wires? Can We send twice as many me'
ua~an :. 4L;n nnnnf n, ns ran he sent In E]