Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-10-09
Cheap Telegraphing.


crease all kinds of business that relates
to the carrying of passengers, freight,
or letters. If the rates are too high,
neither corn nor grain can be sent from
the extreme West to the seaboard, and
only o limited quantity from places less
remote. Not one passenger would 90
to Kansas or California where ten now
go, if the stagecoach were substituted
for the railroad, the fare remaining the
same.
The actual cost of transportation de.
creases as the quantity of merchandise
and number of passengers increase. If
there are two railroads of the same
length, the one carrying double the
quantity of freight of the other, it's ex-
penses will not be fifty yer cent. greater,
for many of them bear no relation to
the amount of business-as the general
office expenses, grading, fencing, ties,
and eulverts.
In the mail service especially, by the
greater dispatch afforded by railroads
and the reduced postage, the mailed
letters have increased within few years
from forty millions to five hundred mil
lions, while the deficit of revenue is no
greater in proportion to the number of
letters transmitted at three cents than
at the former average postage of Is
cents. This principle applies still more
strongly to the telegraph; the rates arc
so high that few can afford to use it,
although the gain in time overthe mails
is SO great. Abroad, at low rates, it is
generally used. In England its use has
more than doubled within three years
since the telegraph has been connected
with the postoffice, while here the num-
Der of kilograms has increased less than
one third. The average rate for tele.
grams in England is Is cents; in all
Europe, "a cents IN America, 70 cents.
The Postmaster General recommends
the union of the telegraph with the
postoffice by the purchase and opera
ton of the lines of telegraph. While
oil admit the greater cheapness and
more free use of the telegraph abroad,
some oppose this plan on the ground
that under republican form of gov.
eminent the telegraph cannot be man
aged as we'll as under a monarchy. If
this be true, and the people are unable
to manage their own affairs, then give us
a king and aristocracy ut once, We do
not participate in these fears, and the
sooner this question is understood and
decided the better.
Others oppose this plan on account
! of the great outlay involved in the pur-
chase and extension of The line; and u
plan has been proposed by committees
of the Senate and House Of Represent
atives in Congress-, to whom the subject
was referred, by which kilograms will
be received as letters now are at all
postofficcs, and at all telegraph offices.
and transmitted between the offices by
parties furnishing and operating the
lines at rates fixed by Congress, not
exceeding one cent word for tcle-
grams transmitted 500 miles or less by
LAY, and 600 miles or less bv night ::
q reduction of about 50 per cent. of the
present rates-25 cents for night tel
egram from St. Louis to New York or
New Orleans. This plan relieves the
postoftice from the necessity of pur-
chasing and operating lines, while it
utilities all it's existing facilities, and
places the telegraph ut once within the
reach of ill classes. This system is in
exact analogy with the present postal
service; all correspondence will
he received and delivered through the
postoilice, the mailed letter transmitted
10y contract with railroad and stage
coach contractors, tho telegraph let
ter by contract with tho telegraph
company. Tho benefits of this plan
are evident; it involves no constitu-
tionnl questions, and can be- easily,
quickly and without cost to the Gener.
al Government carried into practical
operation.