River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-01-23
Telegraphy.

Telegraphy.
The annual report of the Western
Union Telegraph Company for the year
ending June 30th, 1878, which was pub
lished during the early part OF the late
panic, attracted less attention than it
would have otherwise received, less than
its importance demanded. Although |
this company is private corporation,
managed and controlled by few large
| stockholders solely as money-making |
affair, vet there are few matters en-.
trusted to the General Government OF
greater general interest. There is ne
cessarily entrusted to it the most I'M
portant correspondence, both mercan-
tile and financial A large banking
business Is transacted by its bureau /
for the transfer of money.
Prices in all the principal marts of
the country for all articles OF merchan- |
disc are regulated by the daily reports
from its commercial bureau. In con-
nectiop with the Associated Press, it |
collects, coliates, and furnishes TO the !
daily papers all over the country the
Geographic dispatches, the mostir sn
tant news they publish, the -npor.
often the only part of the nrst and
1t has become the educ paper read.
pie. and its influence -atof OF the peo-
until IL has beco .sis daily extending,
cess of MANY me essential to the sue
II has owe. :, departments of business.
inc a. .r150,000 miles ofwire stretch.
ev .ong every railway and reaching
cry important place. Its annual re-
csipts are nearly $40, 5000 0, a larger
! amount than the Postoffice Department
received ten years ago. A corporation
!. welding such immense power is not a
! private company, but one in which every
citizen has direct and personal in.
| crest.
r The average rate of messages has been
e reduced IN six years from 81 10 to 81
, cents, and the business has been
P doubled. This great reduction III rates
has Feen followed by slight increase
9 in the net income of accompany 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 it. The report says that h reto-
fore the competition from rival lines
has been the most potent cause in op.
. Grafton for compelling the company to
reduce its rates but that it is now re-
lieved from all fear from this service.
s as it has recently purchased nearly all
, the opposition lines, and at the present
rates at is impossible for any compel
t Jig company to realize profits, and all
are believed to be operating at loss,
and the time is not distant, therefore,
when the company will be without a
substantial competitor.
. From this frank and public statement
it appears that change will now be
made in its policy, and that the pub
lie cannot expect further reduction in
o rates.
: Abroad the telegraph is connected
: with the Postoffice, and the people use
| it freely as they do the mails We do
l not believe, however, that our govern
l ment should interfere in private mat
| ters, 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
L
I should now adopt this, the latest inn
provement for its rapid transmission.
1t is often said that corporations can
perform any business cheaper than the
Government. Admitting the general
: truth of this proposition, it yet does
! not apply to the telegraph, for the agen-
eies now employed by the Postoffice DE
/ partment for receiving and delivering
i letters would be used for the telegraph
! ic letter. The present clerks could
! perform all the office business, thus
}. greatly reducing the expenses, if the
0 Postmaster General was authorized to
T contract for the transmission of tele.
t grams, as he now contracts for the
9 transmission of the mails, at rates fixed
by Congress.
T A bill for the purpose of connecting
i the telegraph with the Postoffice De-
partment, authorizing the Postmaster.
General to contract for the transmits
: sion of kilograms, was reported by com.
mittees of the Senate and House of
! Representatives at the last Congress-
, This proposition, we presume, will
come up for action the ensuing winter.
and we trust will become a law. The
rates fixed by the bill are nearly 80 per
: cent. below present charges, while the
: length OF the telegram is so per cent.
r greater. Night kilograms will be trans
}. mitted at a still greater reduction.
The charge of telegraphic letter of
; % words sent by night 1900 miles OF
{ less will be only % cents. Such low
: rates will make the telegraph a public
blessing, bring it within the reach of
e all, and enable the press to establish
] newand independent news associations,
V We shall refer again to this subject
o The independent.
4 AMERICAN Women. 1t is a melan.