New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-09-08
WEEK ENDING


The total number of messages per annum
has been raised in two years from 7, 100000
under the companies to IL, 100000 under the
| government which is about the number
annually sent in this country, although the
population is only three-fourths of that of
the United States. The weekly returns
show that the number Of messages in the
| United Kingdom during the coming year
will exceed 10000 600.
| These figures give some idea of the in
| crease which might be expected under a
postal telegraph in the United States, where
| the average intelligence is so much greater
| and where the time gained by the telegraph
over the mail would lead to a much more
extended use of the former. The simple
reduction of tariff in England would not
alone account for the above astonishing re-
suit much of which must be ascribed to
| greater confidence of the people in a gov
eminent than in private telegraph, to
more effective administration and to the re-
moval of the offices from railway stations
etc, to the centre Of business, where the
pOstotfices are located. To show how effect
i've has been the government administra-
ton, it need only be stated that in the city
of London, where the shilling tariff of the
government is actually double that of the
companies for messages delivered by hand
within a mile of the branch offices, the local
traffic increased twenty five per cent in the
first year, and sixty-six per cent in the sec
Ond year OF government control.
The advantages of universal stamp
tariff are also strikingly illustrated in the
increase of business. mot long ago." saws
the report of the British administration, "a
man of business in London handed in d
message to be transmitted to each Of more
than 100 persons who resided in London
and different parts of SAe country. Under
the existing system he could for himself
SFVr9yN 70 ~,
tain whether it would be worth his while to
incur the outlay. Prior to the transfer, he
would have had to pay much more for the
transmission of the message. He might
perhaps, have been willing to paw more
largely, but he could not have found out
tor himself what it would cost him, nor
could counter clerk have ascertained the
cost without giving to the work several
hours of hard labor"
The number of offices in the United King
dom has been increased from 2032 to 5OgS:
yet, notwithstanding this, the proportion
of messages to each Office has actually gone
up from forty-three in 1870 to forty-nlne in
1872.
The extension of the system has also had
the beneficial effect of familiarizing the
public with the use of the telegraph and
bringing it within the reach OF all classes.
People who formerly received kilograms
with feelings of alarm, and sent them only
in urgent cases, now, according to the re
port, ''do not hesitate to congratulate their
friends by telegraph on birth days and
wedding days, and on many other occasions
Of life which seem to call for friendly no
tee"
Notwithstanding the large expenditures
which these extensions have made neces-
sary, the system is earning a handsome
revenue, and is now firmly established on a
sound financial basis.
1t is becoming more apparent that wher-
ever the transmission of dispatch can
compare in point of convenience and cheap
ness with that of letter, the great advan
tagge which the former has in point Of speed
WI almost always decide the question in
favor of the telegraph
The English rate Tor kilograms is twelve