, 1873-07-25

The London Daily -Ne,os, in q recent issue,
etatcd TINT tho experiment of light telegraph
cables to tho Unitod States will shortly bo prac-
tically tosted arrangements being in progress
to lay cable ACROSS the Atlantic, which will not
cost ovor $4,000 900, from which tho inference is
obvious tint the rates will bo very materially
reduced from the present exorbitant tariff.
When the original Now York, Newfoundland
& London Telegraph Company was first
organized, tho Newfoundland Government,
olated ut tho fact that tho cables
would DO landed within it's dominions.
allowed the Company to make It's own torms and
granted concessions to 1t which 1t little dreamed
would return to plague the grantor. It not
only gavo tho Company aubsidy Of hundred
square 1niloB Of mineral landH, which the Com
pany Is now selecting, and which aro proving to
bo the most valuable lands In tho ialand, but
1t also granted m exclusive monopoly for
fifty yoars. during which no other company was
to hayo tho right Of landing cablos OIL the shores
Of Newfoundland. The Government, however,
inserted d clause in tho contract by which tho
monopoly might DO onded at tho expiration Of
twenty years, provided tue Government con-
aontel to purchase tho wlros apparatus, and
oil tho working machinery at cost to
bo fixed by arbitration. Since tho contract was
mado, the original Company has amalgamatod
with tho Anglo-Amerioan and the French Gable
Companies, and in April, 1874, the term Of tho
monopoly ceaseB.
In Wow OF the noar approach Of this date the
Newfoundland Goyornmont has determined to
put an end to tho monopoly. Tho fooling among
the people is 30 unanimous that 10 man who
does not favor it stands any chance Of being
elected noxt full. It is az much tho question
of tho day In Newfoundland as tho PHI
cidc Railroad ecaudala In Canada, or
tho Grange movements III this country.
In order to glvo tho Companies timely notlce,
tho Government has announced to thon that, il
they will abandon thoIr monopoly, it will waiyo
Its privilege Of pro-omptlon; but, II they ro-
fuHo, it will avail ltso1f Of its pre-omptiyo pryi-
logo. and allow all companies to como thoro,
charging tariff upon tho laul-liuas, aud plao-
ing tho original Companios upon tho samo foot
lug with all others who may succeed thon,. Such
q courso Of action would undoubtedly DO Of
great bono0t to tho aoyornmont, I'D tho royo-
nuoa would bo yery largo, aud no telegraph COM
pany III tho future would land It's cables elso-
where, as tho route uia Newfound-
land is much tho shortest and loaat
expensive. Liberal az tho policy Of tho Coy
ernment Ia, in itH efrorta to oatablAl FREQ trade
iu transatlantic telegraphY 1t is evident tint II
will not prevail except aftor aoyore struggle In
tho courts, and iu tho oloctlona also, which take
plaoo noxt fall. Tho Company olainl that tho
act Of amalgamation extlnguished tho original
privilege Of pro-omptton, and that, In equity, il
the Government o1orcisos tlia privilege, It Is
bound to purchase not alone tho matorial,
but also the "good will" which tho island
is not ablo to do. In addition to these
two points, the OomranieH also intend to exert
"a strong au influence aa pogsible III tho torth-