Osage Valley banner. (Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo.) 1879-1881, 1881-05-26
goysrnnont Tslography.


10 the April number Of tho North kmofi-
can Raoiew We Ind an able paper on the tolc-
gFaph m onopoly, written by Hon. Wm. NJ.
5priugnr, Of Springfield, Illinois. II should
have a more extensive circulation and reHd
ing than it will SECURE through Tho pages o.
tho Review, and we therefore CLEAN i0T our
columns some Of tho salient points and sug-
eestions OF the article. IL lie a matter that IS
coming TO the front very soon for general
dncusslon, and wo desire that our readers
shall be posted 90 the subj 'ct.
The t5iegraphs Of the world. Mr.. Springer
assuros ~, To the bf.ot space Of thirty years
have grown 10 nearly half % million miles oil
limo, and moro than o million miles OF wire,
TGg number OF messages ANNUALLY SENT arc
almost beyond computation. China MS yet
has no inland syst0m Of tolpgrAphing; oil
Other covctnmonts Of the earth have eNton'
Give lines whose facilities are being c,ntin-
uallv enlarged. OF the telsgFaphic nations,
the United States hiss the greatest length OF
lineB and wires, and send the greatest NUM-
Dor OF messages. There are IN THIS country
10 tho present time nearly 10000 miles OF
, iipes, or over 309 0C0 milos Of wire. 10 most
countries the {. lagrsph is . part OF the postal
syster1. In cur own ll0d it is under The
control Of private corporations, which, with
q tow ~unimpOttaut exceptions, have been
merged IN Que great corporation or monop-
oily, known as tho Western Union Telegraph
NOWINAIt AUS ANiNblsflF ANhhA iN1 tAE lhlhb'
career With o capital az hall a million dollars,
Since that time Il las absorbed more than
sixty different telegraph eompannlea epd &c
oil $4,000 COO. Tho ORIGINAL or real stor,
does not exceed Sa5. 000. 600, leaving dividends
OF nc least eight per cont ppou th,9 enormo,ia
initiation Of sos. COO coo Of stock g. be wrung
from tho business OF the country. This tax
thus levied upon and exscted from the indus.
titles and enterprises OF tho country, % c0nsc-
queuce Of This ~ictitl1uO stock, is equal to a
permanont dohl Of S~l50.0)0,001 Of three
~Per-ccntum government funds.
The question Is, how long will tho people
submit 10 This exactlong That, says MIR.
Springer, Will depend uVUn the power and
deposition OF the government 50 Furnish C
remedy. This corporation originated utdsr
the laws Of New York, ana unless the State
IS greater than the general government, there
will Re fgund, 10 them, . wsY 10 escape from
tho clutches Of this aionopoly. -Four methods
of relief are suggested.
First, tho regulation by tho States ard by
the general government Of the rate TO DO
charged Tor the transmission Of meszages,
Tho courts have decided that tho States and
nation have tha constitutional rover 10 do
this; still the enforcement OF augh regulations
would DO attended with so msny difficulties
as 70 make this means of relief exceedingly
doubtful, Il not impoSslhle.
Second, IL 10 proposed that Cougress
authorize the construction 90 telegraph lin6s
ht government expense TO be operated 10 con
nectiou with the pos.oAlco Department. This
plan would bring tho government l!ges into
competition with .ho corporation lines and
| would have the eject 10 reduce rates to the
lowest living figures, and perhaps TO event
ually kill out the corporation llnes, it ig q
Q~aes.iou whether il would be wiso 10 thus
drive private enterprise from tho telegraph
CELL,
Third, It Is proposed in a bill introduced by
Senator kifkWood 10 havo The government
torn q tur. Of cO-rsgtnerFhip With some
private corporation by which limos computing
with those now exciting should he establish
-. arls~ ri~- --~l.sFA4 ibo esieNisAurnt nj
uniform rate ol twenty cents for t%6ntF
words 10 all parts Of Inc union sud the uso
Of fourth class post-oflees, and tho employ
ment Of post-flsG .ers in ;te tr8usmizsion aud
delivery OF messages. This plan hrs many
advantages, but has not not with entire favor
yoi.
Fourth, i!ls proposed hat The government
purchase the cEisting lines aud conduct the
telegraph business on tho SAINT general pciu.
Cipics on which tbs postal systgm is now con.
ductCt. Tho government bag tbc legal right
10 make such purchase st n iaig appraiscmcnt
Of Tue value OF Tho iues, By virtue Of c0ndi-
tons accompanying certain rights SID priv
iieEes granted them. This piHu would be
the iaIrest 20 Ell parties and tie most likely
20 be euccossful IN tho opiaipn OF bir. Sprin,
ger, foT Il has already been shown 10 En2ipnd
ani other c%Uuaties, that mfssRgos could be
sent 90 any part OF tho United States q.
twenty cents Tor twenty wUrds aud still be a
sClt-sustsininE Institution, Mr.. 8. looks FOR
the goyornment ~ move 10 the matter in the
near iuiuFe.