The New York herald., 1870-04-30
THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH
The Misrepresentation Of the Western
Union Monopoly-COmparison Of Ia
riffs In Enrepe and America.
LONDON, April 10, 1870.

LONDON, April 10, 1870.
Persons familiar with the history OF the telegraph
business in Europe and America were surprised TO
nnd In the London journals a few weeks ago brief
cable announcement TO the effect that Mr.. William
olton, tile President of the Western Union united
States) Telegraph Company, had asserted before
committee OF Congress that the tariff ON telegrapnc
me sages was higher IN Europe, un Ter the govern
mon system, than IN the United States, under pri-
vae management The statement attributed to Mr..
0rton was SO absurdy erroneous that the re-
port was dscreditel unti the American maii
brought over confirmation OF It's correct-
ne s. The attempt to misead Congress py 80
gross Misrepresentation could only nave peen
prompted by q determination TO resist ny every
means, legitimate or ilegtmate, Inc enorS 70 dc-
stroy q dangerous monopoly and TO extend 10 she
people OF tue United states the benents OF govern
ment rosta telegraph. or cour,e It Is impossible to
attribute Mr. Orrons singular statement to ignorance
or the subj ct to which IL Ieerred; and hence when
Congress lea ms tlat it has cundat on VIII itever
IN fact-tat It is indeed, the most exravagant per-
version OF truh-it Will better understand the des-
perale 81 ait to which the advocates OF MONOPOLY
are drivC to find arguments with which 70 bos er
up the case or private interests against the public
gool.
The uniform object OF al governments in the
cement Of the Telegraph has been 10 reduce the
of to egraphing to the public u the loves SELF
supporting rate and to bring the fac it fer sing
the res as near as PCS ible to every mans door.
In e'ery European S ale tie government tees sraph
Is low sefsappoltinr, and In many It las ara ly
become direct source II revenue and yet there is
net a single instance on record whee the Jrin has
not peen materially reduced under the government
system. A few comparisons will show that, SO ar
from the statement OF Mr.. Orton beng true tho
tariffs al over Europe are from one-iifth to one
te tn OF the ia IFS cnarpel In America. have by
me only the char, es Of the Western Union from New
York u ew from nelt plA es, many OF which are
rea ned by ,pposion lines and are hence be ow the
asera7e arm o. thas company. Tue tarin quote
frOm was issued last November.
In France tne un form 1harge for message or
twenty worls, which, however includes the address,
Calil To Nice distance Of $50 miles, therefore, costs
t~eaiy cent A message by tle Wcstsrn Union
II IN New YORK t. CIl nnati, about the same dis
tance, costs, 1or ten words only, 81 so.
message from Haue TO Marsces, $40 miles,
eontaining & MY Wv w9rds; & costs ,wony sco eats while
tanning only ten words costs ninety cents.
In Belgium the tariff from ostend to yervers, l56
MI 8, on message or twenty words, is ten cen =,
American money. The tarin ON the Western Union
hne from New York to Albany $50 miles, i, for Ten
words only, nityhye cents, and for twenty words
nlnety-iye cents, or nearly tel times as much.
In Swilze land message Of twenty words from
Lake Constan Q 10 La same 200 miles, costs ten
cen 8. A mes sage OF ten words from New York TO
Washington COSTS seyenty.nv cents. and of twenty
words 81 25, ortwelye anl half times as much.
In Prussia message from the limits of the Prussian
territory between Belgium and France to the borders
OF the Baltic, containing twenty words, costs thirty
seven an d "A half cents American. message from
New York I'd Chicago, On tie Western Union 81
for ten words AM SO 80 fJr twenty words.
From Calas or Dunkirk I'd Madrid. ], 700 miles,
twenty word me sage COS Is eighty cents From New
YORK To Key West, less than 500 miles Il wrIIe with
out any act guide as 10 stan aes MESA OF Ten
worls over the West rn Tn n in {, sts 81 o. ana q
message of twenty worls costs sl2s20. rus S more
than hund ei AM Il ty times much az IN iiLrope
but 10 Key Wess the western Union has No opposi-
ton.
In Great Britain a message from London TO Inver-
ness under the government sy stem, costs twenty
four cents American money Tie distance is 600
miles ana the tN enty words Is exclusive OF address.
message of twenty words semi over The Western
Union from New York TO Cleveland costs two dollars.
A message of twenty words from Paris TO MOSCOW,
Q ooo mill q cost 10 In MESSAGE from New Vow
to Galveston Texas, costs, Tor ten words, four dol
lar, and for twenty words, SC 20.
These instances are sufficient 10 expose the un-
truhulness Mr. 0rton's statement before the Con-
gressiona Committee, and 10 open the eyes OF Con
gress TO the extorton 10 which the people oi the
United States are subj ected through the unfortunate
existence of private Geographic monopoly.
The representatives ut Washington may rest
assured tnat they are gro SLY deceived by the Wes
terra Union agents both in relation 10 the cost OF
telegraphiDg IN Europe AMI 10 The working OF the
government stem The tariffs are already so low
as to rem Ter The telegraph more popular AMI val
uaD means o communication than the post oice,
and the use Of the wire steadily and largely In
creising all OYER Europe. AS q specimen OF the
ans resor ell 70 for he pu pose OF peudcIng the
American mind aganst the Inu ujl-needed reform |
may state hat private letters have been sent by the
Western Union pe0p.e TO gent emen connected with
TO New YORK all the Information they ge to
di5crellt the government system in Great Britain,
aud lii one cee, a. least remuneration has been Of
fered for such services can produce evidence
o. the fact should II D needed
slbjoIn lew European tariffs In tabular form,
and he Union charges 10 Few prominent po MIS- on
me- sages OF twenty WORDS, b. way OF contrast.
The larf from Marseilles for twenty word mes
IS, with distances to SIX leading cities as iol
lows