The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-02-24
The Postal Telegraph Systsa.

be favorable consideration OF
the plan for uniting the
elegraph system Of the United
tates with the postal system. In
egard to this scheme the Presi-
ent Remarked: Il
1T is believed that by such .
ourse the cost Of, telegraphtng
;ould be much reduced. and the
ervice as we'll il not betterrender-
ID. 1t would secure the further
of extending the tsle-
graph through portions Of the
where private enterprise
will not construct it, The Post
G General, in his report. |
earnestly commends the idea to
and proposes the enact
ment of laws that shall provide
as we'll for tho absolute purchase
of the lines and appurtenanees OF
al telegraph companies now 10
operation as for the exclusive right |
and authority OF the Government,
after the several purchases shall
be CONCLUDED, to conduct the busi-
ness OF transmitting telegraphic
.sf1 as.1
{ A hill has been offered in the
Senate to carry out the general
idea thus proposed, containing the
following provisions: l. 1t estsb.
fishes postal telegraph offices at
at all post-ofices on telegraph
lines, and at all other post-ofnces
where the gross receipts Of postage
are $500 year, il within ten miles
of the telegraph lines. 2. It 6xes
uniform rates of charges, reduc-
ing them below the present rates.
3. 1t assigns the supervision OF
the telegraph lines to the Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General. 3.
1t authorizes the Postmaster-Gen-
eral to cotract for the transmission
of kilograms at the rates specified
with parties who will agree to fur
nish and operate the Necessary lines
Of telegraph. 5. It Incorporates q
Postal Telegraph Company for the
performance Of the service. au-
thorizing the company to buy
exising lines, and obliging It to
purchase all such lines. if required
by the owners thereof, at an ap-
praised value; and also authorizing
it to open lines wherever the wants
Of business may require, while re.
serving to Congress the right to
purchase these lines at any tim
at an appraised value, and also the
right to alter or amend the act. s.
1t provides against tampeFing with
kilograms. and makes them priv
iledged communications, as private
letters.
such is the substance Of the bill
now before the Senate, approved
by all the members Of the com
mittee from which it emsaates
Without undertaking to dssidc
whether this bill is the one bes
adapted to the end. We have NJ
doubt Of tho general fact that th'
end itself is highly desirable, ant
that ere long pubisc.satimeat will
if it does not now. heartily con
cur with the Presidents view OF
this subject. Telegraphing i
simply q quick mode Of transmit
ting information; and hence it be-
longs to the postal system. w
see no reason why the Govern
ment should not use this method
either by owning the TELEGRAPH
lines or by contracting with thei
owners, just as it uses the slowe
mode of the railway, the steam
boat, or the stage coach. Their
can be ne doubt as to it's constitu
tioual right to 10 80, even ex
clusively under its general post
Office power.
The idea, moreover, is by n
means an untried experiment. i
practicability and advantages hav
for series Of years been thorough
ly tested in most Of the continents
counties of Europe. Swedel
Norway, Russia, Bavaria, Jtal.
Turkey. Greece, Spain. Switzel
land, Belgium, the Netherland
Prussia, and France made the tel
graph part Of their postal systeu
Recently Great Britain has put Il
idea to q practical test, and demo-
strated the advantages Of goverl
mental control, ~ compared VII
the management OF corporstio,
aud companies Of stockholdcr
i The result Of the trial in Gre
Britain shows q very great increa
Of the business, large rcductit
of the cost. and an actual profit
the government of four and thre
tenths per cent. for the first yes
! These facts furnish Q perfect d
, monstration ss to the feasibili
and des:rablcness Of postal tel
graphs. Nor is there any reas
to suppose that similar resul
, would not follow il the experime
. were tried in this country. Vi
mately we shall sdopt the syste
and postponment, as the Postma
ter General very correctly argu'
. will not remove obstacles, b
rather increase the cost and di
culties OF making the commenc
!. ment. The fact that our popul
tion is less dense than that
Europe is surely no objecti'
: since it is rapidly increasing. q
: the system can easily be made
i, adjust itself 20 this fact. The (
!, tent Of our territory 10 IN arg
= ment for it, since the more wid,
9 the people are scattered the MI
{ they need the telegraph system
4 the cheapest possible rates.