Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-01-29
Telegraphy.

The annual report OF the Western
Union Telegraph Company for the year
ending June Both, 1873, which was pub
ished during the early part of the late
panic, attracted less attention thar 1t
would have otherwise received, less than
its importance demanded. Although
this company is a private corporation,
managed and controlled by a few large
stockholders solely as money-making
affair, yet there are few matters intrusted
to the General Government of greater
general interest. There is necessarily
intrusted to it the most important cor
respondence, both mercantile and finan-
cial. A large banking business is trans
acted by It's bureau for the transfer of
money.
Prices in all the principal marts of
the country for all articles of merchan-
disc are regulated bv the daily reports
from its commercial bureau. In con-
nection with the Associated Press, it
collects, collat S, and furnishes to the
daily papers ell over the country their
Geographic dispatches, the most impor-
tant news they publish, the first and
often the only part of the paper read.
1t has become the educator of the peO-
pie. and its influence is daily extending,
until it has become essential to the sue
cess of many departments of business.
1t has over 80, 900 miles of wire stretch
ing along every railway and reaching
every important place. Its annual re-
ceipts are nearly so, 600, 900, larger
amount than the Postoffice Department
received ten years ago. A corporation
welding such immense power is not q
private company; but one In which every
citizenhas direct and personal interest.
The average rate of messages has been
reduced In six years from S1.10 to 81
cents and the business has been doubled.
This great reduction in rates has been
followed by slight increase in the net
income of the company. The average
rate is still much higher than in any
other country, and so high as to prevent
the use of the telegraph by any except
the rich and those compelled to use 1t.
The report saws that heretofore the CON-
petition from rival lines has been the
most potent cause in operation for COM
polling the company to reduce its rates;
but that Il Is now relieved from all fear
from this source, as it has recently pur-
chased nearly all the opposition lines,
and at the present rates sit Is impossi-
bic for any competing company to real
ize profits, and all are believed to be
operating at q loss, and the time is not
distant, therefore, when the company
will be without a substantial Compel
itor"
From this frank and public statement
1t appears that a change viii now be
made in its policy, and that the public
cannot expect further reduction in rates.
Abroad the telegraph is connected
with the postofice, and the people use
it 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-
volved upon Congress by the founders
of our Republic, and, as it has wisely
undertaken this business, and per-
formed it to the satisfaction of the
people, there is every reason why it
should now adopt this, the latest, i'm
prcvement for its rapid transmission.
It is often said that corporations can
perform any business cheaper than the
Government. Admitting the general
truth of this proposition, il yet does
net apply to the telegraph, for the agen-
cies now employed by the Postoffice De-
partment fer receiving and delivering
letters would be used for the telegraphic
letter. The present clerks could per-
form all the Office business, thus greatly
reducing the expenses, if the Postmas-
ter General was authorized to contract
for the transmission of kilograms, as he
now contracts for the transmission of
the mails, at rates fixed by Congress.
A bill for the purpose of connecting
the telegraph with the Postoffice Depart
nent authorizing the Postmaster-Gen-
eral to contract for the transmission OF
kilograms, was reported by committees
of the Senate and House of Representa-
tives at the last Congress. This propo-
sition, We presume, will come up for
action the ensuing winter and we trus!
will become law. Tie rates fixed by
the bill are nearly so per cent. below
present charges, while the length of the
Telegram is 50 per cent. greater. Nigh,
kilograms VIII be transmitted at a still
greater reduction.
The charge for telegraphic letter Of
% words sent by night 1900 miles OF
less viii be only Is cents. Such low
rates viii make the telegraph a public
blessing, bring it within the reach of all
and enable the press to establish new
and independent news associations. W.
shall refer aesin to this subject.-1h'
HldeDeudeyt