Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1873-12-11
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 60 to Kansas
or California where ten now 60, 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 one carrying double the
quantity of freight of the other, its e1-
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 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 10
cents. This principle applies still more
strongly to the telegraph the rates are
so high 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 has 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 25 cents in all
Europe, 81 cents ; in America, 70 cents.
The Postmaster-G General recommends
the union of the telegraph with the
post-office by the purchase and opera
ton of the lines Of telegraph. While
all admit the greater eheapness 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 we'll as under monarchy. If this
be true, and the people are unable to
manage their own affairs, then give us
king and aristocracy at once. We do
not participate in these fears, and the
sooner this question is understood and
decided the better. .
Others oppose this plan on account OF
the great outlay involved in the pur-
chase and extension of the line and
plan has been proposed by committees
of the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives in Congress to whom the subject
was referred, by which kilograms will
be received as letters now are at oil
post-offices, 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
word for kilograms 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 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 once
within the reach Of all classes. This
system is in exact analogy with the
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 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 carried into prac-
tical operation.