Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-01-01
Cheap Transportation.

Low rates and quick dispatch increase
All kinds of business that relates to the
carrying of passengers, freight or letters
If the rates are too high, neither corn nor
grain can he sent from the extreme West
TO the seaboard, and only a limited guam
titv from places less remote. Not one
passenger would go to Kansas or Calitor
MIA where ten now 60, if the stagecoach
were substituted for the railroad, the fare
remaining the same.
The actual cost of transportation de-
creases as the quantity OF merchandise
and number of passengers increase. IL
there are two railroads of the same length,
the one carving double the quantity of
freight OF tsc other, its expenses will not
be fifty per cent, greater, for many OF them
bear no relation to the amount OF buSl-
ness-as the general office expenses, grad
ing, fencing, ties, and culverts.
In the mail service especially, by the
greater dispatch afforded by railroads
and the reduced postage, the mailed let
tiers have increased within few years
from forty millions to five hundred mill
ions, while the deficit of revenue is no
gre aar in proportion to the number of
letters transmitted at three cents than
at the former average postage OF ID cents.
This principle applies still more strongly
to the telegraph; the rates are so high
that few men can afford to use ii, although
the gain in time over the mails is 50
great Abroad, at low rates, ii is gener
ally used. In England its use has more
than doubled within three years since the
telegraph has been connected with the
postoflice, while here the number OF tel
egrams has increased less than onethird.
The average rate for kilograms in England
is % cents; in all Europe, "a cents; in
America, 70 cents. The PostmaSterGen-
eral recommends the union of the tele-
graph with the post-of1Ce by the purchase
and operation of the lines of telegraph.
While all admit the greater cheapness
and more free use of the telegraph abroad,
some oppose this plan on the ground that
under a republican form of government
the telegraph cannot be managed as well
as under monarchy. If this be true, and
the people are unable to manage their
own affairs, then give us king and arts
tocracy at once. We do not participate
in these fears, and the sooner this qucs-
ton is understood and decided the
better.
Others oppose this plan on account of
the great outlay involved in the purchase
and extension of the line; and a plan has
been proposed by committees OF the Sen
ate and House of Representatives in Con
gress 10 whom the subject was referred,
by which kilograms will be received as
letters now are at all post-otiiccs, and
at all telegraph offices, and transmitted
between the Offices by parties furnishing
and operating the lines at rates fixed by
Congress, not exceeding one cent word
for kilograms transmitted 500 miles or less
by day, and 900 miles or less by night
reduction of about fifty per cent. Of the
present rates-twenty-t cents for a
night telegram from St Louis to New
York or New Orleans This plan relieves
the postof1ice from the necessity of pur-
chasing and operating lines, while tutil-
ICES all its existing faculties, and places
the telegraph at once within the reach of
all classes. This system is in exact anal
ogy with the present postal service; all
correspondence will be received and de
liyered through the post-otiicc the mailed
letter transmitted by contract with rail
road and stage-coach contractors, the tel
egraph letter by contract with the tele-
graph company. The benefits Of this
plan are evident; it involves no constitu-
tonal questions, and can be easily, quick
ly, and without cost to the General Gov
eminent, carried into practical opera
tion.-ChiCago Ledger.