New-York tribune., 1873-01-18
..ss.isl.oss u


The statistics OF all other and rival Telegraph Com
NAMES i'm the United States were for year ISL est
mated as follows: n785 miles OF nne A,St0 miles OF
Since this date however there has been increase in
ali Of these lines but to what extent cannot oe definitely
4gegae-For the of January. ls7s the telegraphic
system Of the United states may DC thus approximately
Aggregate nominal capital s6OOOOoOO; length Of lines,
5000 miles, length of wire, loO,NO miles; number OF
During the year ending June 3O 1884, there sent
over the wires OF the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany exclusive OF messages sent Oy ana Tor railroad
companies, between stations on the line or the roads,
g35 full paid messages; Co. 203 partially paid and free
messages; and l5l2,S6l press messages " making total
Of l2.444,449
RECENT INCREASE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE TELE-
GRAPHIC SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES
The recent increase and development Of the telegraph
service the United States performed by the West
ern Union Telegraph Company, shown by the following
statistics:
In 1885, subsequent to the consolidation Of the majority
Of the preexstlng Companies the Western Union Com
pany owned and operated 1885 miles OF wire IN 1867
the aggreeate was IS 2sl IN 1868 "a 59i IN 1892 lOs
in 1870 ll29l in 1871 l2ll5 in ls2 51l9 thus show
ing an increase In six years of nearly 70 per cent
the transaction OF business wee Tor the nsca year
ing June 80 1867 t656s925 1863 SO0i5O; 1862 GSl6sS
1870 81, 49, ls7l u, 7,637 AS; 1872 SS457,O95.
The net receipts for the same period. after paying
operating expenses, but including no expenditure for
sns oSeraon Ts @ of lines for 1851
1868, s2,6,1O; 1869, s27isSol; 1870 S22soS; lS'l,
S2.0J2,b6l; 1872, t2,l9O252.
The increase OF teegraphc business the lines OF the
Western Union Company since 1867 is also worthy Of
or standard for estimating the cotemporaneous COM
mercal and industrial activity OF the country. Thus,
was go per cent from per cent 1859 to
IsO 5 per cent 1870 to lsi io2 per cen 1871 to 1872
l6 $40 per cent 49,
such being In brief the actual condition OF the tee-
graphic system OF the country two propositions each
looking radical change IN the character or lts ser
vice. being pressed upon the attention OF Con-
gress and the public, and their acceptance eagerly
sought FOR by their respective advocates.
THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSITION
The first OF these originally brought forward By the
Hon C. c. washburn Of Wisconsin, IN 1862 presented TO
Congress- the form Of bill, in 1870 and subsequently
indorsed by the and the President
OF the United States his annual Message, December.
1911 proposes that the Federal Government shall take
and the entire telegraph system OF tins
country incorporate IL with make II adjunct OF the
existing postal system and place the whole business OF
transmitting and delivering messages aud OF construct
ing and operating lines excusyey under the control OF
the PosOce Department Tue right TO enter into such
possession apart from the right OF eminent domain"
unquesIionaDy vests in the United States In virtue Of
se seeepeS d Dy the Western Union and other ssSapS
Companies, which provides that all Teegrephic Com
panes hch snail be thereafter inc0r
poraed under state laws have the privilege of con-
structng aud maintaining lines over the public domain,
1sygabe streams or waters with the rignt 70 take nom
the public lands all necessary building materials and %
preempt and such portions OF the unoccupied public
lands exceeding 40 every Is miles OF line.
subject TO the following conditions lst Priority In
respect TO the use OF the lines by the Government and
.P.uum on gold from tO, ,ung from cable business eomn,
money Transfers. etc
companies competing with the Western Union foox
are M important:
lrst The Psss and Atlantic" which had Ia operation 1871
lb5 miles of line; $3.50 miles Of extending
Paul and 81 Louis BY Chicago and TO SesoeH BY
Memphis
oAd, The Atlantic and P.ese operating in Is in connection
With the Telegraph Of the Union Ples Railroad ass miles
s,f20 miles of wire
IArd: The Southern and Atlantic" extending from ws.agroa
along be hne Of the coast 10 Montgomery, Alabama.
f0srtA Ibe Frsnkln extending wsha9ton 10 Boston
miles Of hnei l,1oO miles Of wire.
fWA! lhe Great Western" with besdquarers Chicago
Slth The Ph.delphs Reading and Pottsys ssd ep
Grated BY the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
The number Of given obtained w
dsding the whole number Of wvds r the press m sat
nansf being aei BE- the average Of words embraced
srhsASv commercial and social mosasca