New-York tribune., 1873-01-15
RIVAL TELEGRAPH COMPANIES.
NO TRUTH IN ALLEGED COMBINATIONS f0R TIE
REDUCTION OF RATES.

NO TRUTH IN ALLEGED COMBINATIONS FOR TIE
REDUCTION OF RATES.
The statement in n morning newspaper that
the independent teegraphc companies 10 eonsol-
date for the purpose Of making efectua opposi'
tion 10 the Western Union Telegraph Company has no
foundation In fact II Is specifically denied by the Oh
ncers Of all tho companies. The only ground for the
rumor the fact that there Ia In this city at the present
time Committee Of Inquiry from the Pacific ana Al
lantic Company whose home Office Is IN PlttsDnrgn'
Penn. The object OF the Committee is TO ascertain
whether a moro uniform system of rates cannot DC
agreed upon by the various companies and whether use
less expenses cannot be down. Nothing IN the way
OF consolidation however has been talked
IL was also alleged that the Directors OF the western
Union conferred upon their President the hon "'
orton discretionary power to change the tarh OF ras
whenever he pleased 10 compete WIN hose VI 'uo oo
sohdatedieompanies.
Mr.. orton was questioned, yesterday, by TRIBUNE
reporter relative to these statements. with reference
to the consolidation, he said he knew nothlng' NO
special powers had been granted him In view OF any
such contingency. The modification or equalization Oh
tariffs throughout the vast territory covered by the
Western Union Telegraph Company's lines is always
going on 1t rendered. necessary by the increase OF
business and the extension of competing lines Ihere
are 5000 stations the various lines OF the western
Union Telegraph Company, each Of which must OF ne
eessy, have special rate to all others Ihis rae ~
fixed at e home Office and constant effort Is making
TO equaize these rates. and to do justice to
the Company and the business community
The territory covered by the Western Unlo6 Union
divisions, the Eastern, Southern Central and Pacific
That territory lying east Of Buffalo ana Altoona ana
extending south to Washington, constitutes the Eastern
Grand Division west OF that and north OF the Potomac
and Ohio extending west TO ogden and salt Lake CITY,
s the Central Grand Division all south OF that IS te
Southern, and all west Of both the Pacific Each III
vision has Superintendent and several Deputy super
intendents The divisions subdyided into tracts, 90
miles square, each OF which has ts rate. This immense
territory was laid out In S63 and there has been CON
slant change for the already set forth
The local rates are fixed for 100 miles and calculated on
air lines. IL is proposed to carry the modification OF
rates still further and make the rates from distant
points uniform OF possible.
The officers of the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph
Company had been informed OF the presence IN TINS
city of any committee conference OF telegraph com
panies aiming at reduction OF telegraph rates, or any
other object farther than to secure, far possible
the utmost economy in business.
Mr. smith, Manager OF the Franklin Telegraph COM
panys Office stated that he knew Of action ayorng
consolidation reduction. On the contrary, he had
every reason believe that nothing of the KIND was
contemplated.
8George Harrington at the head Of the Automatic Tele
graph Company had heard nothing or the proposed CON
sOdation and 20 for as concerned certainly did
favor IT, He opposed TO all combinations OF TINS