The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-10-11
Chean Teiegranlllng.

LOW TdJtS tui HtICh olCpt'oNti IL
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 limited quantity from places
less remote. Not one passenger would
90 to Kansas or California where ten
now go, if the stagecoach were substl-
tuted for the railroad, the fare remain
ing 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 one carrying double the
quantity of freight of the other, It's ex-
penses Will not be fifty per cent. great
er, for many of them bear no relation
to the amount Of business-as the gen
eral Office expenses, grading, fencing,
ties, and culverts.
In the mail service, especially, by
the greater dispatch afforded by rail
roads and the reduced postage, the
mailed letters have increased within a
few years from forty millions to five hun
bred millions, while the deficit of rev.
enue is no greater III proportion to the
number of letters transmitted at three
cents than at the former average post
age of ID cents. This principle applies
still more strongly to the telegraph :;
the rates are so high that few can af
ford to use it, although the gain III
time over the mails Is SO great. Abroad,
at low yates, it IS generally used. In
England it's use hu, more than doub-
led within three years since the tele-
graph has been connected with the
postotfice, while here the number of
kilograms has increased less than one
third. The average rate for kilograms
in England is 25 cents; in all Europe,
"a cents in America, 70 cents. The
Postmaster General recommends the
union of the telegraph with the postof-
fee by the purchase and operation of
the lines of telegraph. While all admit
the greater cbeapness and more free
use Of the telegraph abroad, some OPP
pose this plan on the ground that under
republican form of government the
| telegraph cannot be managed as well as
under monarchy. If this be true, and
the people are unable to manage their
own affairs, then give us a king and
aristocracy at once We do not par
| ticipate in these fears, and the sooner
| this question is understood and decId :
ed the better.
Others oppose this plan on account
of the great outlay involved Ill the prr
chase and extension of the line; and a
plan has been proposed by committees
of the Senate and House of Represent
To WI ha b. ~
was referred, by which kilograms will
| be received as letters now are at all
postoffices, 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 q word for tele@
grams transmitted 500 miles or less by
day, and LOCO miles or less by night A.:
reduction of about so per cent. of the
present rates-25 cents for a night
telegram from st. Louis to New York
or New Orleans. This plan relieves the
postoffice from the necessity of pur-
chasing and operating lines, while it
utilizes all its existing facilities, and
places the telegraph at once within the
reach of all classes. This system is i'll
exact analogy with the present postal
service; all correspondence Will be re
ceived and delivered through the post
office, the mailed letter transmitted by
contract with railroad and stagecoacb
contractors, the telegraph letter by
contract with the telegraph company
The benefits of this plan are evident :;
it involves no constitutional questions,
and can be easily, quickly and without
cost to the General Government car
ried into practical operation.