American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-02-07
Telegraphy.


Telegraph Company for the year ending
June Both, 1878, which was published
during the early part of the late panic,
attracted less attention than it would
have otherwise received, less than its i'm
portance demanded. Although this com
pany is a private corporation, managed
and controlled by few large stock
holders solely as a money making affair,
yet there are few matters entrusted to the
General Government of greater general
interest. There is necessarily entrusted
to it the most important correspondence,
both mercantile 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 merchandise
are regulated by the daily reports from its
commercial bureau. In connection
with the Associated Press it collects,
collates, and furnishes to the daily
papers all over the country their
Geographic dispatches, the most important
news they publish, the first and often the
only part of the paper read. 1t has be
come the educator of the people, and its
influence is daily extending, until it has
become essential to the success of many
departments of business. II has over 150,-
600 miles of wire stretching along every
railway and reaching every important
place. Its annual receipts are nearly
$100OOO00, larger amount than the
Post-office Department received ten years
ago. A corporation welding such i'm
mense power is not private company;
but one in which every citizen has direct
and personal interest.
The averate rate of messages has been
reduced in six years from ST. 10 to 81
cents and the business has been doubled.
This great reduction in rates has been
followed by a 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 it.
The report says that heretofore the COM
petition from rival lines has been the
most potent cause in operation for com
polling the company TO reduce its rates;
but that it is now relieved from all fear
from this service, as it has recently pur-
chased nearly all the opposition lines,
and at the present 1ates " it is impossible
for any competing company to realize
profits, and all are believed to be
operating at a 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 public cannot
expect further reduction in rates
Abroad the telegraph Is connected with
the post-office, and the people use it freely
as they do the mails. We do not believe,
however, that our Government should
interfere in private matters, nor that the
power OF the Executive should be en-
larged; but the duty of transmitting
Congress by the founders of our Repub-
lie, and as it has wisely undertaken this
business, and performed it to the salts
faction of the people, there is every rea-
son why it should now adopt this, the
latest, improvement for its rapid trans
mission. 1t is often said that corpora
tons 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
agencies now employed by the Post-office
Department for receiving and delivering
letters would be used for the Geographic
letter. The present clerks could per
form all the office business, thus greatly
reducing the expenses, if the Postmaster
General was authorized to contract
for the transmission of kilograms, as he
row contracts for the transmission of the
mails, at rates fixed by Congress
! A bill for the purpose of connecting
| the telegraph with the Post-Office Depart
ment authorizing the Postmaster-G Gen.
eral to contract for the transmission OF
kilograms, was reported by committees
of the Senate and House of Represents
! tives at the last Congress. This PROPOSE
ton, we presume, will come up for ac.
ton the ensuing winter and we trust
will become a law. The rates fixed by
the bill are nearly so per cent. below
present charges, while the length of the
| telegram is so per cent greater. Night
kilograms will be transmitted at 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 public
blessing, bring it within the reach of all
and enable the press to establish new
and Independent news associations. We
shall refer again to this subJect.-Ihe In