The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-23
Telesraphy,

Union Telegraph Company for the year
ending June 30th, 1879, which was pub
lished during the early part OF the late
panic, attracted less attention than it
would otherwise have received, less than
It's Importance demanded. Although
this company isa private corporation,
managed and controlled by Q few large
stockholders solely As money'making
affair, yet there are iewmatters entrust-
ed 10 the General Government q great
or general interest. There Is necessarily
entrusted TO It the most important cor
Respondents, both mercantile and finaI'
ciaf. "A large banking business is trans.
acted by,itsbureau for the tnlnsferoi
money. fr, 10 diiHt $40 .f.,rA.
Prices in all the principal mArts Of
the country for all articles OF merchan;
disc are regulated by the daily reports
from It's commercial bureau. 1nc con.
nection with the Associated Press, it
collects, collates, and furnishes to the
daiIy papers all over the country their
telegraphio dispatches, the most impor,
tant news they, publish, the first and
often tbs. only part OF the paper read,
II has become lie educator Of the peoi
Pile, aud its influence is daily extending,
until IL has become essential to the sue
cess Of many departments OF business.
II has over 100, 900 miles Of wire stretchs
ing along every railway and reaching
every important place. Its annual re-
ceipts are nearly, $40, 900, 900, o larger
amount than the Post-oltice Department
received ten years ago. A corporation
WELDING such immense power Is not Q
private company, but one in which
every citizen has direct and personal
interest. suflllss ID. 10 liad ~ 1g
The average rate Of messages has
been reduced in six years from 81. 10 10
81 cents and the business has been
doubled. This great reduction in rates
has been followed bya slight increase
| in the net income OF the company.
The average rate is still much. higher
thanlin any other country, and so high
as to prevent the use Of the telegraph
by any except the rich and those com;
PEELED TO use 1t. The report says that
heretofore the competition from rival
lines has been the most potent cause in
operation for compelling the company
10 reduce its rates; but that II is now
relieved from all fear from this service,
hS 1t has recently purchased nearly all
the opposition lines, and at the present
rates " IL Is impossible for any com.
peting company to realize profits, and
\ oil are believed 10 be operating at q
A loss. and, the time Is not distant, there
fore, when the company will be with
out q substantial competitor"
From this frank and public statement
it appears that q change will now be
made in It's policy, and that the public
cannot expect further reduction In rates.
| Abroad the telegraph is connected
with tile postofflce, and the people use
II freely as they do the mails. We do
not believe, however, that our Govern
ment should interfere in private mat
tiers, nor that the power OF the Execu.
tive should be enlarged; but the duty
OF transmitting correspondence was de.
yolyed upon Congress by the founders
Of our Republic, aud, as It has wisely
undertaken this business, and per-
formed II TO the satisfaction Of the
people, there is every reason why 1t
should now adopt this, the latest, i'm
proyement for It's rapid transmission,
| II is often said that corporations can
perform any business cheaper than tho
Government. Admitting the general
truth Of this proposition, it yet does
not apply to the telegraph, for the agen.
cies now employed by the Postoflice De-
partment for receiving and delivering
letters would be used for the telegraphio
letter. The present clerks could per-
form all the Office business, thus greatly
reducing the expenses, IL the Postmas-
ter General was authorized 10 contract
for the transmission OF telegrams, as he
now contracts for the transmission Of
the mails, OF rates fixed by Congress.
| A bill for the purpose OF connecting
the telegraph with the Post.ofiice De.
partment authorizing the Postmaster.
General 10 contract for the transmission
of kilograms, was reported by commit
tees OF the Sennte and House OF Repre-.
sentatives at the last Congress. This
proposition, we presume, will como up
FOR action the ensuing winter and we
trust will become n law. The rates
fixed by the bill are nearly so per cent.
below present charges, while the
length OF the telegram is so per cent.
greater. Night kilograms will be trans.
mitted ut still greater reduction.
The charge ola telegraphic letter OF
25 words sent by night 1900 miles or
less will be only % cents. Such low
rates will make the telegraph public
blessing, bring it within the reach Of all,
and enable the press to establish new
and Independent news associations. We
shall refer again to this subject Tho