The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-02-13
Telegraphy.


The annual report OF the Western Union
Telegraph Company for the year ending
June .iuIh. 1873. which was published dur
ing the early part Of the late panic, attrac-
ted les attention than il would have other
wise received. less than its importance de-
manded. Although this company isa pri-
vate corporation. managed and controlled
by few large stockholders solely a. "A
money-making affair. Yet there arr few
matters entrusted 10 the General Govern
mcnt OF greater general interest. There j.
necessarily entrusted 10 il the most impOr-
tant correspondence. both mercantile and
financial. \ large banking business j.
transacted by it, bureau for the transfer Of
money.
Prices in all the principal marts Of the
country for all articles Of merchandise are
regulated by the daily reports from it,
commercial bureau. In connection with
the Associated Press. II collects. collaie>.
and furnishes 10 the daily paper all over the
country their Geographic dispatches. the
most important news they publish. the
first and often the only part Of the paper
read. IL has become the educator OF the
people. and IT. influence j. daily extending.
until II has become essential Ia the success
Of many departments of business. IL has
over 10000 miles OF wire stretching along
every railway and reaching every imp0r-
tant place. it, annual receipt, are nearly
SlO.UOU0.a larger amount than the POST
Office Department received ten years agO.
4 corporation welding such immense
power j. not private company : but one
in which every citizen has direct and
personal interest.
The average rate of messages has been
reduced in six years from II 10 10 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 j. still
much higher than in any other country.
and 20 high - 10 prevent the use Of the
telegraph by any except the rich and those
compelled 10 Use il. The report SAYS that
heretofore the competition from rival lines
has been the most potent cause in opera
ton Tor compelling the company 10 reduce
it. rates bur that il j. now relieved from
al fear from this service. - il has recently
purchased nearly ali the opposition lines.
and NJ the present rates = il j. impossible
for any competing company to realize
profits. and all ara believed to De operating
al a los. and the time j. not distant. there
fore. when the company viii BE- without "A
substantial competitor
From this frank and public statement il
appears that change will now be made
in it, policy. and that the public cannot
expect further reduction in rates.
Abroad the telegraph i, connected with
the post-oilice. and the people use il freely
a. they DO the mails. We DO not believe.
however. that our Government should i'm
terfere in private matters. nor that the
power of the Executive should be ,nlarg-
I'd: but the duty of transmittin CORES
pondcnce was devolved upon Congress by
the founders OF our Republic. and. n il
has wisely undertaken this business. and
performed IL to the satisfaction OF the peO-
pie. there j. every reason why il should
now adopt this. the latest. improvement
for it, rapid transmission. II j. often said
that corporations can perform any bust
ness cheaper than the Government Adj
hitting the general truth of this PROPOSE
ton. il yet does not apply 10 the telegraph.
for the agencies now em;loyed by the
PO-i-Ofiice Department for receiving and
delivering letters would be- used for the
Geographic letter. The present clerks
could perform all the office business. thus
greatly reducing the expenses. if the
Postmaster General was authorized 10
contract for the transmission Of tcle-
grams. a he now contracts for the trans
mission Of the mails. at rates fixed by
Congress.
4 bill for the purpose Of connecting the
telegraph with the Post-ofiice Department
authorizing the Postmaster-,Seneral 10
contract for the transmission of kilograms.
was reported by committees Of the senate
and House of Representatives at the last
Congress. This proposition. we presume.
will come up for action the ensuing win
ter and we trust will become a law. The
rates fixed by the bill arr nearly 40 per
cent. below present charges. while the
length OF the Telegram j. - per cent.
greater. Night kilograms will be trans
mitted az a still greater reduction.
The charge Of a telegraphic letter of -
words sent by night LOO miles or less
will be only - cents. Such low rates will
make the telegraph a public blessing.
bring IL within the reach OF all. and
enable the press 10 establish new and
independent news associations. We
shall again refer 10 this snbiect.-The In
dependent.