The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-07

has not been entirely superseded by steel OF
wood.
THE RIVAL TELEGRAPH COMPANIES.
The struggle between the two great tele-
graph companies In this country, the Amer.
,can Union and the Western Union, Ia pro-
crossing actively IN tho North and West, with
results 30 far decidedly In favor OF the former.
The bold strokes whereby Mr.. Gould has OBJ
talned possession Of the lines over the Penn.
sylvanla Central, Baltimore and Ohio aud
Union Pacific roads have carried eonsterna-
tion III the ranks of the Western Union, which
has been for years quietly reposing IL the be-
lief that II owned exclusive franchises along
the great railroad lines, and the enormous
cost that would be entalled upon any new
company desiring TO enter into composition
with 1t, would practically debar capital from
any such Investment This idea has been
rudely aud suddenly dlspelled by the rapid
manner In which the new company
has managed through contracts In some III
stances. and under tho orders Of courts In
others, to come Into possession of some Of the
most valuable lines Of wire ii tho country.
II seems that the plea OF exclusive privileges
over railroad routes 80 far as telegraph illness
are concerned. ls one that cannot be success
fully maintained and the recent judicial de-
clson on that point are universally against
such claim. Tho exclusive rights extend
only to the railroad aud cannot be construed
30 az To prevent the construction of uompe-
ting lines Of telegraph. 4=
This construction seems to us eminently
Wise and just. aud will result In incalculable
benefit 10 the country at large. The telegraph
monopoly had grown to such enormous
mensions as to be serious menace to
the press and the public. while the rates
which were demanded and from which
there was absolutely no escape amounted to II
positive oppression. Heretofore competing
lines of telegraph have no sooner grown
into threatening proportions than they
have been bought out and absorbed
into the Western Union. aud
II looked a. though there was no escape from
the monster corporation whose tariff OF
charges had long been cause OF complaint
but the American Union, ia the hands Of
men Of brains and unlimited means, has de-
veloped a strength and determination which
not only promises the best results. but which
may be said to have already achieved sue-
cess. While claiming no exclusive priv
ile9e for ITSELF Il lnaists that no other
corporation shall be permitted to enjoy them
to the detriment Of tho whole people. They
AJAX only equal rights. and they appeal to the
various State governments to see to IL that,
In their attempt to give the people cheap tel
egraph service, they are not hampeSed and
embarrassed by unjust and discriminating
laws. Virginia and other Southern States
have passed liberal and sensible laws In re-
gard TO telegraph and telephone COM
panies chartered by that State, and
similar net to that adopted
in Virginia has been presented to
our Legislature now In session. The net
provides that "any telephone or telegraph
company, chartered by this or any other
State. or by nm act OF Congress Of the United
States may construct and maintain such tel
ephone or telegraph along any Of the State or
county roads or public works, and over the
waters of the State. and along aud parallel to
any oil the railroads in this State; provided.
the ordinary use Of such roads. works, rail-
roads and waters be not thereby obstructed,
etc. And shall be entitled to the
right OF way over the lands, privileges and
easements OF other persons and corporations,
and the right to erect poles, piers and abut-
ments necessary for constructing, working
and maintaining their lines upon making just
compensation therefor" Unless New Or
leans desires to be shut out from the advan-
tages that will accrue from cheap telegraph
service advantages the Importance and
value Of which are only fully appre-
cated by those who have given
the subject much thought, but
which all may form some idea of-she
will bring her influence 10 bear upon the Leg
islature to secure the speedy passage OF the
bill now before that body. The city has
already, and very wisely, granted the privi-
leges asked for by the American Union, and
the Legislature should not hesitate long In
taking such action as will facilitate the COM
pany In Its work of extending Its wires
throughout the South. The public at large
and the press Ia particular are Interested In
seeing this competing line put In operation as
soon as possible.