Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-07
Postal Telesraphy, Pro and Con.

AS the postal telegraph question Is certain to
have a good deal OF prominence, il Is worth
while to know what those Immediately inter-
ested think about II. William s. orion, presi-
dent of the Western Union Telegraph Com.
psny. who Is described as ga Mr.. Boutwell,
illuminated" has been interviewed by Mr..
George Alfred Townsend. He states that there
are about 1o5, 900 miles of magnetic wire in the
United States, of which the Western Union
Company will control, January 1, 1873, 100000
miles. The telegraphs OF the world, he says,
except in the United States, are now operated
at lose, saving only submarine cables, nearly
all Of which are private property. The West
err Union employs, of sll classes, about 900
persons. Mr.. Orion thinks there is no essential
postal character TO the telegraph wire. They
are both instrumentalites of communication;
but the telegraph cannot be made reliable for
figures, calculations, or punctuation; and the
mails are requisite every night to confirm by
letter the merchants messages OF the day.
"The difference between the cost Of 10 tons of
maIi-mstter going by Train between New York
and Washing ton, and loo tons, is scarcely aD-
FreciahIe- The train is destined to go; the Ca
EaCity OF none of our railroads IL tested with
mall matter, the cost Of going is increased little
Cr none. But, when have a wire between
The same points, and have 600 messages in a
day Ter anSniSsiOn, the full capacity of one
WlTe.-SDd an additional 100 messages are
offered. the increase amounts 10 the same as If
the railroad were Obliged 10 lay new track and
get new equipment and men; for, when one
wire gets more business than il can do. another
wire Is required. Now, none OF the raiIro.Js
are taxed To- the Utmost with mail matter: bat
the wlTes OF the Western Union Comp nv are
taxed TO the full every day, AID our extensions
are In old territory, multiplying facilities,
rather than IN new and distant territory. Tele-
SIsphy meets its largest profits in territory
where u has educate the people 10 its use for
many years Tne percentage of cost for doing
our business how, when IL amounts to 80 900 900
year Is quite as great as six years ago, wnen
The business amounted to SIS OOO, 600. IL does
not, therefore. folloT that, by GROWING down
cost OF telegrsphy would be hardly computable
HE government, a. the mOnoI oiiZer of tele-
graphS, might save something. as IL would not
have 10 pay dividenSs, and would not be liable
10 be sued or be taxed; but the assertion that 1t
can SEND any more messages, at less cost, is
ehtIeiy erroneous"
Mr.. orion admits that the English system of
Iostal teiesraphy is efficient, well performed
and much extended under the government
assumption, but he maintains that all the con-
'.Itions are different there. IL was adopted in
England because the telegraph companies were
without enterprise, and did not aim 70 make
themselves universal convenience Here.
biography has arisen among the people, kept
AHEAD OF their necessities, and built up a news
paper press which is the wonder of the era. In
conclusion, MIR. orion says:
81 admit that the government, under the law
OF lSto, may take our lines. I do not see the
we expect manly and generous treatment; for
We have exerted ourselves to do our whole duty
respor sibly, and with the fullest citizen and
mercantile enterprise"