River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-10-10
Cheap TeIegrapIIing.

to the carrying of passengers, freight.
or letters. III 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
go to Kansas or California where ten
now go, if the stagecoach were substi-
tuted for the railroad, the fare remain
ing the same.
Tie actual cost of transportation de-
creases as the quantity of merchandise
and number of passengers increase. III
there are two railroads of the same
length, the one carrying double the
quantity of freight of the other, its ex-
penses viii 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
few years from forty millions to five hun
dred millions, while the deficit of rev.
enue is no greater in proportion to the
number of letters transmitted at three
cents than at the former average post
age of 10 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 in
time over the mails is SO great. Abroad,
at low rates, 1t is generally used. In
England its use has more than doub-
led within three years since the telc 81
graph has been connected with the
postoifice, while here the number of
kilograms has increased less than one
third. The average rate for kilograms
in England is % cents; i'll all Europe,
"a cents in America, 70 cents. The
Postmaster General recommends the
union of the telegraph with the postof-
flee by the purchase and operation of
the lines of telegraph. While all admit
the greater cheapness and more free
use of the telegraph abroad, some Op.
pose this plan on the ground that under
a republican form of government the
telegraph cannot be managed as well 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 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 i'll the pur
chase and extension of the line; and a
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
postotlices, aud 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 a word for teles
grams transmitted 500 miles or less by
day, and 1000 miles or less by night
reduction of about 80 per cent. of the
present rates-25 cents for 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
utllizes all its existing facilities, and
places the telegraph at once within the
reach of all classes. This system is in
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 stagecoach
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.