Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-02-05
Telegraphy.

ion Telegraph Company for the year
ending June 30th, 1873, which was pub
lished during the early part OF the late
panic, attracted less attention than II
would have otherwise received, less than
its importance demanded. Although this
company is private corporation, man.
aged and controlled by q few large
stockholders solely as a moneymaklng
affair, yet there are few matters entrusted
to the General Government of greater
general interest There is necessarily
entrusted to it the most important cor
respondence, both mercantile and fnan-
clal. 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 impor-
tant news they publish, the first and often
the only part of the paper read. 1t has
become inc educator of the people, and its
lnhuence is daily extending, until 1t has
become essential to the success of many
departments of business. 1t has over
10000 miles of wire stretching along
every railway and reaching every impor-
tant place. Its annual receipts are nearly
SlO,OO0,OOO, a larger amount than the Post
Office Department received ten years ago.
A corporation yielding such immense
power is not private company; but one
in which every citizen has direct and
personal interest.
The aVprapp rate Of roocSarao hoe bopn
reduced in six years from S110 to 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 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 rates ait is impOssi-
BILE for any competing company to real
| ize profits, and all are believed to be
operating at a loss, and the time is not
distant, therefore, when the company
will be without substantial compel
| itor."
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 Go the mails. We do not believe,
however, that our Government should in
| terfere in private matters, nor that
the power of the Executive should
be enlarged; but the duty of transmit
! ting correspondence was devolved upon
| Congress by the founders of our Republic,
and, as it has wisely undertaken
| this business, and performed it to the
satisfaction of the people, there is every
reason why it should now adopt this, the
latest, Improvement, for its rapid
| transmission. 1t is often said that corpO-
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 tel
| egraphic letter. The present clerks could
perform all the office business, thus great
| ly reducing the expenses, if the Postmas-
| ter-General was authorized to contract
for the transmission of kilograms, as he
| now 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 General
to contract for the transmission of tele-
grams, 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 winter and we trust
| will become 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 a still
greater reduction.
The charge of Geographic letter of
25 words sent by night 1900 miles or
less will be only % cents. Such low
rates will make the telegraph a 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
dependent.