The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-01-01
Cheap Transportation.

LIZ" LOWS AAN HuAOA u1Sp0lNA 1uCICASC
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 limited
quantity from places less remote. Not
one passenger would go to Kansas or
California where ten now 60, if the stage
coach 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. If
there are two railroads Of the same length,
the one carrying double the quantity of
freight OF the other, its expenses will not
be ffty 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 with a few years
from forty millions to five hundred mill
ions, 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 Is 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 postOffice,
while here the number of kilograms has
increased less than one third. The aver.
age rate for kilograms in England is Is
cents; in all Europe, "a cents; in Ameri-
ca, 70 cents. The Postmaster. General
recommends the union of the telegraph
with the postoftice 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
oppose this plan on the ground that un-
der a republican form of government the
telegraph cannot be managed as well as
under monarchy. If this be true, and
the people are unable to manage their
own affairs, then give US king and aris-
tocracy at once. We do not participate
in these fca:s, and the sooner this ques-
ton is understood and decided the better.
Others oppose this plan on account of
the great outlay involved in the purchase
and extension Of the line; and plan has
UCCu plUpOSCu NY COulultIccS VI Jllc Och.
ate and House of Representatives in Con-
gress to whom the subject was referred,
by which kilograms will be received as
letters are now at all postoffices, and at
all telegraph Offices, and transmitted be-
tween the offices by. parties furnishing
and operating the lines at rates fixed by
Congress, not exceeding one cent q 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 a night tele.
gram from St. Louis to New York or New
Orleans. This plan relieves the post
Office of the necessity of purchasing and
operating lines, while it utilities all its
existing facilities, and places the tele-
graph at once within the reach of all
classes. This system is in exact analogy
with the present postal service; all CORE.
spOndence will be received and delivered
through the post-ofice, the mailed letter
transmitted by contract with railroad and
stage.coach contractors, the telegraph
letter by contract with the telegraph com.
pany. The benefits of this plan are evi
dent; it involves no Constitutional Ques-
tions, and can be easily, quickly and
without cost to the General Government
carried into practical operation Chicago
Ledger.