New-York tribune., 1875-08-09
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
WESTERN UNION AND ITS RIVALS.

WESTERN UNION AND ITS RIVALS.
VIEWS OF PRECEDENT oRTON-TERMs ON WHICH
COMBINATION WITH THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC
COMPANY Is POSSIBLE.
William Orton, President of the Western
Union Telegraph Company returned last week from ms
Western trip and reporter Of THE TRIBUNE called upon
him on Saturday to obtain his views In regard 10 the r
uored attempted consolidation OF the Atlantic and Pa
chc Telegraph with hs Company and in regard to the
opposition line recently organized in California Mr. Or
Ton made substantially the following statement
In relation to the formation Of o telegraph com
pany California, all know about the matter what
have read In the dispatches to the daily press 1t looks
10 me- however, as II they making great deal OF
talk before anything done. 1t does not have the ring
Of business enterprise 10 hear talking about hav-
ing bought given number of poles and so many miles OF
wire and all the other little items Of detail, and
that no business will be done until such and
such things are accomplished; as, for In
stance that they propose completing the line TO New
York and Washington before beginning to operate It,
When men really business, they generally about
quietly, and nothing is publicly known at least until
work has been begun There is question about the
pecunary ability Of the gentlemen engaged in the enter
prse they really wish invest their money in such
way but while do not know anything positive about
the matter, must say, II 1t has been gotten
up stock jobbing scheme. the location selected
good If wanted to start rumorfactory, should
Of interest and where any definite information upon the
subject could only be obtained with difficulty There is
no need present of third line between the East si
West rs large increase the business OF to-day
could be done by the Western Union and the Atlantic
and Pacific The lines Of the laterrun to Ogden, where
they connect with those Of the Central Pacific Railroad
thus forming through competing line with the Western
Union.
As 10 the consolidation Of the Atlantic and Pacific Tele
graph Company with the Union Telegraph Com
pany there has been, think considerable conversation
between prominent stockholders OF the two Companies
upon the subject Of union OF their interests and some
plans outlines Of arrangements have been discussed
but scheme has matGed far advanced as to
enable me to speak OF the probabilities OF its sue
cess with any reasonable degree Of certainty. No prop
osOn has yet been made 10 that will be accepted by
u.s. The scheme 10 sell tho Atlantic and Pacific outright
s practically impossible, one has the right to dis
pose the stock belonging to others Any one can cell
his individual stock but he cannot vote away the stock
of another person. Whatever is done VIII
doubtless have to be upon the basis OF
division Of the net earnings OF the two Companies,
but the profits OF old company that has been doing
successful business for years past must necessarily DC
much greater than those OF a concern whose bsi
Dess and lines only being estabhshed' aud some
equitable division Of the net earnings will have to be
made possession Of the Atlantic and Pacific is Of
course desirable TO us II & can be procured upon salts
factory basis We In the telegraph business and as
our business is yearly increasing shall need more
wires In the future we buy areadymade article as
cbeaply mako It, OF course We stand ready to
make the purchase II must also be borne in mind that
We can do the whole business Of the country
at less cost on the single message than we
can do only part OF that business. Call 1t monopoly or
what you WILL there has been no other business in the
country of equal magnitude with ours or anything
nearly compare with it, that has ebled the amount OF
business done during the past seven years and at the
tnf f1a io flo ha
the original figure. As TO the automatic arrangement
which is used by the Atlantic and Pacific Company. II is
of no value wha ever " We should not it If
had 1t.
In regard the amount Of stock OF the Western Union
held by Jay Could will say that am without any in
formation whatever upon the subject For aught that
know, he may nave % or he may have 900 shares
am inclined 10 believe however, that the amount held by
Mr. Gould has been largely overestimated year ago
the regarding his holding controlling inter
IN the Company current At the time OF the last
election he voted on large amount OF stock, but am
disposed to believe did all that he represented
this time Whether not he repeating the tactics
adopted last year / am entirely unable to say.
A. b. Chandler, Secretary OF the Atlantic and Pacific
Telegraph Company, stated to the reporter that he was
possession OF news whatever about the rumored
consolidation Of his Company with the Western Union
The only thing he could say that II his Company
let alone for short time the managers would BE
able show much better condition of affairs than any
that has yet been made public The Company not only
has been paying running expenses out OF It's earnings,
but it has also paid IN the same way for a large
amount OF extraordinary work. The Eastern lines
are now in excellent condition, aud the Com
pany. is rapidly putting those in the West III in
Chandler. the income may be made to exceed the ex-
penses largely by the automatic system in use by the
Company very large amount OF business can be done
over existing wires Mr.. Chandler admitted, however,
that the automatic arrangement was probably OF more
value his Company than il would be to the Western
Union, the latter has already large number OF wires
PUT up and there cannot be therefore the same necessity
u N axvr fprs
same time that there is with the Atlantic and Pacific
Mr. Chandler not acquainted with any OF the gen
tlcmen who have recently organized a new telegraph
company in California and knew nothing about their
pans The scheme Of building third line between the
Last and West when the two that now III existence
could do much moro business than comes to them, ala
not however i'm ress him favoraby. He thought there
wss great deal OF risk attending such an investment
SHARP WORDS IN THE POLICE BOARD.