The New York herald., 1870-01-13
CABLE And LAND TELEGRApnS.'
Cyrus w. Field and President Orton, OF the
Western Union Company, in Europe
Efforts to Consolidate the French
and Anglo-American Compa-
nles--Government Telegraph
System in England.

10 London aiter nylng visit TO the United States,
ana has taken up his quarters at the Buckingham
Palace HOTEL lie 10 accompanied by William orton,
the President OF the Western Union telegraph COM
pany and speculation is rife as to what the appear
ance OF two such brilliant meteoric lights in the
teiegraphc armament may portend. General rumor
asserts that the affairs OF the American Attain
tic cable are not altogether satisfactory; which
means, OF course that under the competition aris.
Ing from the completion or the French
cable and with the present reduced tariff
the receipts the original company are not SO large
as they used 10 be, and the shareholders are not
realizing the tempting profits they were in the habit
OF pocketing III tho good OLD days OF Atlantic cable
monopoly. Rumor further says that the Western
Union does not bite good mouthfm cut OF the tarin
for messages the French cable as it does out OF
the Ango-Amercan business; and putting these two
facts together the CONCLUSION ia reached that
ergetlc EFFORT Is be made either force the French
company into consolidated alliance to obtain con-
troll o. their line, or to drive away from the Ameri
can shore, and that the autocra OF ocean cables ana
the prime minister OF telegraphc monopoly are
here TO aid IN the contamination OF one or the otner
OF these Objects IL VIII not probably be asserted
that the present thirty shlllings tariff between
Europe and America, with the additional business It
draws to the cables, ls insufficient to pay the work
ms expenses OF two companies and legitimate IN
but when enormous fortunes have been monoplized
out OF monopolIes It seems hard to be compelled to
put up with the commonplace profits OF an ordinary
successful business, and there is very little doubt
that by whatever means 1t may be brought about,
the result OF the present movement II successful,
VIII be revision of the tarlir and the increase OF
the cost or the cable dispatches between Europe and
America To the pubic and to the press
Now, the people or all civilized countries demand,
NEST uncompromisngly the cheapest and freest
possible teegraphc facilities, and nothing can be
culpaby in hostility to the progress aud sentt-
ment OF the age than an attempt to restrict the
of tins important mode OF communication either by
the imposition OF unreasonable tariffs, or by oppo
sition TO new enterprises The recent invitation OF
Secretary Fish TO the maritime Powers TO participate
10 treaty with the object OF securing reciprocity III
CONCESSIONS Tor ocean telegraph Cables, the pro-
toCtlon u such works during war ana tue immunity
OF dispatches from government espionage, nits tue
popular Idea ana meets with general approval.
Sncn treaty commendS Itself upon Its lace 10 every
sensible mind for mo reasonable being Will
dCAy that Tree Geographic communication be-
tween different nations is the most enective agent
Iii Spreading civilization, preserving peace ana pro-
moGng the prosperity ana happiness oil mankind.
AL the same time II Is proper To Dring TO the know
ledge OF the HERALD readers the lact that whisper
III telegraphic circles mere attributes The advance
menI oI secretary fishs proposition 81 thls partict
lar time 10 the snrewd mirgues Of the Anglo Ameri-
can aud Western Union lobbyists VINO nope TO use
II as lever by means OF which they raise
American end OF the French cable ana cast 1t on
from the shores OF the United States in the
event or the failure OF their enorts to
bring ine French company into combination
with Their own interests. Tue Emperor Napoleon,
II is wei known, has granted to the present French
company tile exclusive right to land transatlantic
cable on the French coast lor certain number OF
years ana as this concession induced capitalists to
invest Their money IN the enterprise IL IL easy 10
sec how 1t can be cancelled.
The rumor goes that the monopolists foresaw this
difficulty la the way OF the Emperor Napoleon and
brought their forces 10 bear upon secretary Fish
not one Of the most wideawake gentlemen In the
wold-to draw from hlm thls wise and liberal pro-
position at THIS time. They knew that the present
inability OF France to become q party 10 such u
desirable treaty could be used effectively to
create a prejudice against the French cable;
ana they design, 1t Is SAID, II necessary,
10 make it The basis OF strong lobby appeal to Con-
gress TO drive the French company from the shores
OF the United states. But would 1t be wise or Con-
EresS 10 do so? ii IL be permitted both to ask and
answer question the reply must be- Certainly not
1t is not probable that within the twenty years
IA new cable would be llid by new company be-
tween France and America, as capital would rather
present company should the business warrant the
increase, and the Emperor would no doubt be will
ing enough 10 agree TO the two most Important OF
Dir. Fsh's propositions, to wit the protection OF
ocean cables curing war and the immunity
Crowded al 1ns roni o1per marime
SHOULD unite IN such treaty. A single company
owning cable communication with France would DO
evil because the existence OF other ocean tele-
graphs to Europe would secure competition and
compel sunclency OF accommodation. While, there.
FORE the proposition emandting from the American
secretary Is every respect comnendabe and
WISE, and should command II this progressive age
the assent OF every civilized State is be hoped
partial check II may receive, to deprive tho United
states Of any existing telegraphio aclity or TO play
into the hands OF monopoly. 10 Ii urged III some
quarters that 1t Is most desirable TO secure "ree
trade' In ocean cable raIes.
IL Is notable tnat those who pronounce most posi-
lively against the feasibility OF lignt cables are
VariaDy Interested III neayy construction aud exist
lag companies and Ii Is argued that wherever there
was monopoly OF concession the heavy cable COM
pane5 that nave SUNK so much capital IN The ocean
would prevent the proper testing or the light caoies.
There IS no good foundation Tor these anprehen-
slons. If The success OF hghG cables should be
positively established dozen avaiiabe places Tor
landing In europe would be found, and any
amount or capital necessary for The enter
prises would be forthcoming. 1t would no
OF the age ana with popular sentiment on both sides
OF the Atlantic, II every country would throw open
It's shores TO every teegraphc enterprise that could
be successfully carried out Al the same time the
failure 10 secure this desirable concession at this
time should not mduce America to obstruct or
destroy any existing cable faciiitles.
IL may oe that rumor errs in attrbutng to the two
great teegraphic tourists now IN Europe the mis-
above stated. 1t Is possible that the business OF
President Orton may after all be nothing more than
TO endeavor TO raise money out OF English or French
capitalists to rebuild large portion OF the
TO require such investment. IL Is hard to say
how such an application would succeed among the
Inoneyed Gradgrinds or Europe who have q terribly
practical way OF looking at grand results, ana who
seldom stomach o company wu0se shares nave run
down from zoo per cent premium TO sixty-eignt per
cent discount, matter what the cause. Or 1t Is
possible that President Ortoh may have crossed the
Atlantic Ia order 10 be In England at the moment all
the Geographic lines in the country are handed over
10 the government With the object or learning by
personal observation tile great advantage to the
people OF a government system over private mo-
nopoly. The change is to take place on the last day
OI January, and on the lsJ oI February the lines
viii all be In the POSSESSION OF the government
The rate viii then be Uniform, all over Tho
United Klngdoyl, and the chargeffor message
OF twenty words, including ne address, viii be
shilling. These messages will 30 IN the order In
which they are received but where precedence
desired small extra charge VIII be made. The
number OF 0iice5 Will be greatly increased ana
eqalzed all the cities ard country towns, and
by tnls means great speed and prompGness viii be
secured In the transmisSlon and delivery OF mes
sages. The system OF prepayment. by stamps VIII be
great pubic convenience, and under the low rates
the telegraph VIII come inso almost as general use
as the Penny Post and VIII no longer alord an un-
due advantage capital over business enterprise
and capacity. Operators under government control,
VIII no longer be able 20 delay messages or pedde
commercial news. There VIII be no riIfs' In con-
struction supplies, or working expenses, TO tue
0etrment OF Shareholders watering or STOCK Will he
a thing unknown. in TACT, IL VIII De sort or tele-
ora NH III KINGDOM.