The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-12-25

yncesslons In rates.
That the company are able to make
further reductions is shown by the
facts given in the annual reports. From
these it appears that the rates have
been reduced nearly one-third in six
years, yet the cost of doing the business
is SO much less, in consequence of its
great increase, that the net profits are
greater at the lower than at the higher
rates. Mr.. Orton has so often reiterated
the proposition that the expenses in
crease in nearly as rapid ratio as the
business, and therefore reductions in
rates cannot be made, that he has
persuaded himself of its truth, and is
unable to appreciate the force of the
facts which we have given.
Mr.. Orton truly says that the tele-
graph is only in it's infancy. The growth
of its business is much more rapid than
that of the express or post-office, and at
the same ratio of increase the number
of kilograms that will be annually sent
ten years hence is larger than the num-
ber of letters sent when the postage was
reduced to five cents. The immediate
increase in the correspondence that fol.
lowed upon the use of the five and three
cent postage stamp was enormous, rap
idly increasing from 50,000,0 900 to 500,-
100000 There viii. be the same increase
in the telegraphic correspondence if the
same relative reductions in rates were
made for the same causes would operate
to produce like effects. The people
cannot hope for such reductions from
the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany, because there is now no reason to
induce it to make them, and because
the loss of net revenues from the great
reductions in rates necessary to popu-
larize the telegraph would be greater
than the saving of expenses on each
telegram from the great increase in the
business. Such reductions can be made
under the postal telegraph system, for
that will save nearly one-quarter of the
present expenses, and would therefore
authorize reduction in rates of nearly
forty per cent, and yet leave suffi-
cient profit on the greatly increased
business.
The Postmaster General will ask Con-
gress to purchase all existing lines of
telegraph, and built the new ones re-
quired for the business. The expense
of purchasing these lines has been es-
timated by committees of Congress at
from $40, 100000 to S70,000,000. do
not think Congress will feel disposed,
in the present condition of our finances,
to authorize such expenditure, especially
as the object sought can be accom-
plisael without an expen,o to the gov
ernment.
The Post office Department will fur
nish the offices and the Postal Tele-
graph Company will transmit the mes
sages at rates fixed by Congress.
If the people desire to have a cheap
telegraph, and to have the news fur
nished to the press at low rates, they
must support the postal telegraph sys-
TEN, and urge Congress to pass q bill
authorizing the Postmaster General to
contract as he now contracts for the
carriage of the mails. If, on the Other
hand, they desire to perpetuate an
overgrown monopoly, which is every
day growing more powerful, then let
them continue the present system by
which a single private corporation con.
tro.s the telegraphic correspondence Of
a nation, and has the power to give OF
withhold news to the press, and to mold
public opinion in its own interest
Such power is too great for any pri
vate company to hold, and should be il
the hands of the people, to be used only
for their benetit.-CHicagO Inter- Ocean,