The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-02-26
Telegraphy.

The annual report of the Western
Union Telegraph Company for the year
ending June Both, 1873, 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 is private corporation,
and controlled by few large
solely as money-making
affair, yet there are few matters entrust-
ed to the General Government of great
er general interest. There is necessarily
entrusted to it the most important cor
both mercantile and finan-
cial. A large banking business is trans
acted by its bureau for tie transfer of
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-
nection with the Associated Press, it
collects, collates, and furnishes to the
daily papers all over the country their
telegraphic 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 $50, 900 miles of wire stretch
ing along every railway and reaching
every important place. It's annual re-
ceipts are nearly $40, 100000, larger
amount than the Post Office Department
received ten years ago. A corporation
welding such immense power is not q
private company, but one in which
every citizen has direct aud personal
interest.
The average rate of messages has
been reduced in six years from 81. 10 to
81 cents and the business has been
doubled. The great reduction in rates
has been followed by q slight increase
in the net income of the company.
The average rate is still much higher
than in any other county, and so high
as to prevent the use of the telegraph
by any except the rich and those COM
PEELED to use it. The report says that
heretofore the competition from rival
lines has been the most potent cause in
operation for compelling the company
to reduce its rates but that it is now
relieved from all fear from this service,
as it has recently purchased nearly all
the opposition lines, and at the present
rates it is impossible for any COM
peting company to realize profits, and
all are believed to be operating at a
loss, and the time is not distant, there
fore, when the company will be with.
out a substantial competitor"
From this frank and public statement
it appears that change will now be
made in its policy, and that the public
cannot expect further reductions in
rates.
Abroad the telegraph is connected
with the post-office, and the people use
it freely as they do the mails. We dc
not believe, however, that our Govern
ment should interfere in private mat
ters, nor that the power of the Execu
tive should be enlarged but the dut,
of transmitting correspondence was de
volved upon Congress by the founder,
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 il
should now adopt this, the latest, i'm
provement for its rapid transmission
1t is often said that corporations cal
perform any business cheaper than tn,
Government. Admitting the genera
truth of this proposition, it yet doe.
not apply to the telegraph, for the agen
cies now employed by the Post-offict
Department for receiving and deliver
ing letters would be used for the tele
graphic lottor. Tho prooont olorl'
could perform all the office business
thus greatly reducing the expenses, i
the POstma ster.( ienaral was authorized
to contract for the transmission of tele
grams, as he now contracts for tn
transmission of the mails, at rates fxet
by Congress.
A bill for the purpose of connecting
the telegraph wita the Post-office De
partment authorizing the Postmaster
General to contract for the transmissicl
of kilograms, was reported by commit
tees of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives at the last Congress. Thi
proposition, we presume, will come u
for action the ensuing winter and W
trust will become law. The rate
fixed by the bill are nearly so per cent
below present charges, while tn
length of the telegram is so per cent
greater. Night kilograms will be trans
mitted at still greater reduction.
The charge of telegraphic letter G
% words sent by night 1900 miles O
less will be only 25 cents. Such lo'
rates will make the telegraph a publ
blessing, bring it within the reach of al
and enable the press to establish ne'
and Independent news associations. W
shall refer again to this subject.
Independent.