Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-12-11
Western Union Telegraph Company.

The annual election of a board Of
directors for this company came of in
New York one day recently. Few
people comprehend the workings Of
tho Western Union Company. The
Herald says: "Wheu the election Of
directors was completed and the re-
suit announced the Secretary present
ed report for the past year. 1t was
very elaborate and embraced all the
details and all the workings of the
company. 1t comprised resume of
the operations of the company for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1872. 1t
opened with a presentation of the
state of affairs at the time OF the last
report at the beginning of July, 1869.
TUE coMPANY's AEPAIRs.
AT that time 56,032 miles of line
wero being operated, which made an
aggregate of 12l, ISL 900 miles of wire
under the control of the company.
Under its supervision and direct man
agement were 4,606 telegraph offices,
all Of which possessed an exclusive
operator. In June, 1879, tho timo up
to which the present report closes,
62,032 miles of line and 1877, 10000 of
wire wero under the control Of the
company, employing 5,237 Offices, in
all Of which there was an operator.
This showed an increase during the
year OF 5000 miles Of line and l6,039
miles of wire, besides which 637 offices
were created in various parts Of the
country, in addition to those which
had heretofore existed. On June 30,
1872, S,347 persons were in the en-
ploy of the Western Union Telegraph
Company. The messages sent over
the lines Of the company during the
year numbered in all Il, ,442 ,449, which
IL had been found was an increase on
the previous year of l,70S,4 ,422 mes
sages sent over the wires of the CON-
pany. During the year the gross re-
ccipts of tho company amounted to
S,457 ,095 II, counterbalanced 10 part
by expenses which added up to S5,-
666,s65 16. This exhibited a net profit
of S2,790, ,232.6l, an increase during
the year of ssl9, GAG 92 in gross re-
ceipts, 1862, 2,075.97 in expenses and
1851, ,57O95 in net profits. The re.
port here expatiated on the encour-
aging increase in the affairs OF the
company, and then returned TO figures.
THE PROFITS.
For the past six years the net profit
iaccrung TO the company has been
SIT, 1859 SO above all expenses. OF
this sum s4,S56,S79.34 has been dis
,ributed in dividends, and 81 ,S9s, ,40l.-
9S has been distributed in paying in
terest on the Western Union Com
psny's bonds, and l0,36l ,4l29l has
been expended in construction and
maintenance of new lines and in the
purchase of telegraph patents, &c.
Then followed the exhibition Of sew
eral minor matters, and also of the
new duplex telegraph. IL seems that
dbis new invention, which has been
placed in almost general use upon the
Western Union Telegraph wires, has
the advantage Of being able to send
messages both ways and at the same
ttHc uPo" .i'o '----~ wire. thus saving
both time and expense This advan-
tagc is self.apparent compared with
the old plan of sending messages sy
one wire, which could only transmit
them in one direction.
The report concluded with n gen
eral reference TO the favorable aspect
of affairs regarding the company's
BUSINESS. 1t was ordered TO be print
cd and to be distributed when ready.