Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-10-09
Cheap Telegrsphing.

AOW' 1tste0 anu quick Ql0p8CCn IN.
crease all kinds of business that relates
to the carrying of passengers, freight,
or letters. II the rates are too hieh.
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 10
to Kansas or California where ten now
go, if the stagecoach we're 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 ex-
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 eulverts.
In the mail service especially, by tho
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 ID
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 overthe mails
is so great. Abroad, st low rates, il is
generally used. In England its use has
more than doubled within three years
since the telegraph has been connected
with the posto8ee, while here the num-
Der of kilograms has increased less than
one third. The average rate for tele.
grams in England is % cents; in all
Europe, 81 cents; IN America, 70 cents.
The Postmaster General recommends
the union of the telegraph With the
postofice by the purchase and opera
ton of the lines of telegraph. While
81 admit the greater cheapuess aud
more free use Of the telegraph abroad,
some oppose this plan on the ground
that under q republican form Of gov
eminent the telegraph, cannot be man-
aged as we'll as under monarchy. If
this be true, and the people are unable
to manage their own affairs, then give us
q king and aristocracy at once. We do
not participate III these ff8ars, and the
sooner this question is understood and
decided the better.
Others oppose this plan ON account
Of the great outlay involved in tke pur-
chase and extension of the line; and a
plan has been proposed BY committees
of tho Senate and House Of Represent.
atives in Congress-, to whom the subject
was referred, by which kilograms will
be received a. letters-.now- are at all
postofices, 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 a word for tele.
grams transmitted 500 miles or less bv
LAY, and 1000 miles or less by tight;
q reduction of about 80 per cent. Of the
present rates-25 cents for night tel
egram from st.: Louis TO- New York. or.
New, orleanG This plan relieves; Che
postoflice from the necessity of pur-
chasing and operating lines, while it
utilities all it's 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
he received and delivered through the
postoffice, the mailed letter transmitted
by contract with railroad and stage
coach contractors, tho telegraph let
tor by contract with the telegraph
company. The benefits of this plan
are evident; It involves no qonstitu-
tional qiestiofs, ahds can b6 easily,
quickly and without cost to the Gener-
al Government carried into practical
! operation.