The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-11-27
Cheaper Telegraphing.

Low rates and quick dispatch increase
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 linn
tied quantity from places less remote.
Not one passenger would go 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. Ii
there are two railroads of the same
length, the enc carrying double the
quantity of fr.ight of the other, it's ex-
penses will not be fifty per cent. greater,
for many of them bear no relation to
the amount of business-as the general
Office expenses, grading, fencing, ties,
and culverts.
In the mail service especially, by the
greater dispatch afforded by railroads
and the reduced postage, the mailed
letters have increased within a 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 are
SO higk that few can afford to use it,
although the gain in time over the 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 kas been connected
with the post-office, while here the num-
ber of kilograms has Increased less than
one-third. The average rate for tele-
grams in England is % cents in all
Europe, 81 cents in America, 73 cents.
The Postmaster General recommends
the union of the telegraph with the
post-otfice by the purchase and opera
ton of the lines of telegraph. While
all admit the greater cheapness and
more free use Of the telegraph abroad,
some oppose this plan on the ground
that under q republican form of govern.
ment the telegraph cannot be managed
as well as under monarchy. II this
be true, and the people are unable tc
manage their own efflirs, then give us
a king and aristocracy at once. We dc
not participate in these fears, and the
sooner this question is understood anC
decided the better.
Others oppose this plan on account O.
the great outlay involved in the pur
chase and extension of the line aud {
plan has been proposed by committees
of the Senate and House Of Represen
tatives in Congress to whom the subjec
was referred, by which kilograms vii
be received as letters now are at al
post-offices, and at all telegraph
offices, and transmitted betweel
the offices by parties furnishing
and operating the lines at rates fixet
by Congress, not exceeding one cent
word for kilograms transmitted 50(
miles or less by day. and 1000 miles ol
less by night; reduction of about 81
per cent. of the present rates-25 cent
for a night telegram from st. Louis Il
New York or New Orleans. This plai
relieves the post-office from the neces
sity OF purchasing and operating lines
while it utilizes all It's existing facili
ties, and places the telegraph at one,
within the reach OF all classes. Thi
system is in exact analogy with th'
present postal service; all correspond
ence will be received and delivered
through the post-office, the mailed let
ter transmitted by contract with rail
road and stageceach contractors, tn
telegraph letter by contract with tn
telegraph company. The benefits o
this plan are evident it involves III
constitutional questions, and can b
easily, quickly and without cost to tn
General Government carried into prao
tical oDeratiop.