The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-09
SATURDAY EVENING. DEC. o, 1871
THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH.

No measure now before Congress war;
rants more earnest and careful attention
than postal telegraph system. The Post
iuaster-General warmly recommends it,
and large number of our most experi-
enced business men, as we'll as the people
TT large, support the measure.
The experiments in Europe are of the
most satisfactory character. It has been
clearly demonstrated there, that rate of
transmitting messages as low as one cent
per word, for distances not over 500 miles,
and two cents word for 1000 miles, can
be made to pay the operators, under gov
eminent supervision. The profits of in
creased business grow so much faster than
the expenses in telegraphy, that great con-
cessons in price have already been made to
popularize this mode of communication.
The tendency is more and more to do
business by telegraph, as time becomes
more important element in trade.
There seems to be some difference of
opinion as to the precise mode, in which
the telegraph shall be related to the postal
service.
The plan which was at first proposed,
to.wit: that the government should own and
operate the telegraphs, is open to grave
objections.
1t would hardly fail to become source
> of corruption, and would be found far less
economical than where private enterprise
operates the lines.
The proper plan as it seems to us is, to
follow out the mode of the present postal
service. The Post-office Department now
contracts with private parties to carry the
mails for specific sum, letting the job to
the lowest responsible bidder. Let it APP
ply the same principle to the transmission
of letters by telegraph. Responsible par
ties are willing to contract at the cheap
rates above mentioned. The Department
has carriers and Offices already, and could
deliver messages vastly cheaper than pri-
sate parties can do at present.
We understand that some decided action
will be taken on this matter at the present
session. Every man and woman in the
land is interested in it. The poor widow,
whose only son lies sick in a distant city,
which her poverty will not permit her to
visit, would bless the telegraph that would
bring her a cheering message every day for
few cents.
The man of business whose profits de-
pend upon quick sales would use the tele-
graph ten times where he now uses it once.
A little thought will convince any one how
vastly trade would be quickened, and what
new element of good would be infused
;nto our social and industrial life, when a
telegram can be sent thousand miles for
the price Of letter postage twenty years
ago. Upon theplan Of letting the contracts
for transmission by telegraph, as we now
let the mail service, this grand measure
insy be inaugurated without costing the ma
lion single dollar. The government buys
nothing and employs no additional help,
except to deliver messages, and these em-
ployes are paid by the parties receiving the
message. We can see no possible objec-
tion to this plan, and we cannot under
stand why any member Of either House in
Congress can refuse to provide for his con-
stituents and the general public the incalcula-
bic advantages of a postal telegraph SER
vice.
1t is, of course, to be expected that such
a monopoly as the JYesterm Union would
oppose the Postal Telegraph, or favor a
mode Of realizing it, which should involve
the purchase of its lines at price fifty per
cent above the present cost Of construction.
While all the people are on one side, and
only the few owners of the Telegraph stock
are on the other, it is sadly true, that com
bined capital will resist and embarass the
the expression of the popular will, in this
rs in other matters. 1t cannot, however,
prevent the ultimate accomplishment of
this benefcent measure, demanded alike
by the business and social interests of the
nation.
-
THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE.
Al