The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
The Associated Press.

The association Is merely a business
conartnersbip. It Is not Incorporated.
II depends upon no special legislation.
lint merely llpon its own capital and
exertion Seven New York daily news
papers form its membership The policy
of q journal may chsnge while it still re-
mains within the association. The cost
of obtaining the news Is divided between
all the members, News is furnished to
other papers as elmstomers Local as
sociations were established in Boston,
Hartford and New Haven, and these
form the New England association, which
contracts for New York news The
Western Press assocla ton holds a similar
position The New York Office Is the
clearing house 81 the country. a flexible
metiled OF ad5asgts lg press rs followed,
the strong heipfhg the Seak. 1T has
nothing to do with special dispatches.
Eighteen or twenty-eight thoJhand words
are telegraphed daily. There isa system
of combination reports IN use. By
single wire New York Is put INTO llstan-
tancous connection with New Haven,
Hartford and Worcester, and the reports
are manifolded at all points III the circuit,
pony reports being sent 10 the smaller
towns. Receivers must read by sound.
All towns III circuit get Their own
locals sent back to them, which Is
drawback, but the plan lessons the cost.
All New York State 'locals are sent
here to be distributed. Drop-coples OF
San Francisco dispatches are taken at
4 Chicago and Cheyenne.
The seven newspapers which control
I the association hold monthly meetings
I The details are in the hands OF the
/ superintendent and executive committee.
/ Associated Press news generally escapes
/ betrayal Sometimes n leak IS sprung,
/ but 1t Is quickly traced by decoy tele-
| grams. Errors often occur IN trausmls-
sion. Strange words are coined for the
[ sake of brevlty, such as suicidal and
''contlagrated. These pathological hor-
rors are resolved into their original ele
ments. A dispatch from the West was
/ read, Troops all scalped." 1t should
( have been, Troops all escaped A
railroad conductors message read, eve
( killed dead mule OF course, a deaf
/ mute was meant The agents of the
/ Associated Press must be geographers,
must know public character. and have
/ an acquaintance with parliamentary
practice. They must be intellectual
machines-endtled only 10 industry and
/ conscience-they must not make com
ments. Some papers pay only SO
week for the privileges Of the association,
! but the weekly deficit is divided among
! the seven New York dailics, and the
share Of each averages $500 a week.
/ Among the objections to the association,
/ il Is alleged that 1t Is n monopoly, and
/ that it lives by favor of the Western
/ Union Telegraph Company. But there
/ is no combination between the telegraph
( company and the association, which is
! simply a wholesale customer. The power
( OF the Associated Press wouldb be increased
/ by the Postal Telegraph system. Anil
/ lion men may photograph the sun, if
they viii get up early in the morning
ITutiI tias. LIZ lsasalSess-st fsloBE Of capart-
nersIliJ, II cannot ms gfere. It has a vast
/ educational influence, and is one of the
mightiest force In American civilization.
The papers go to press at 2 2. IN.
Good night is echoed along the line
and the magnetic pulse is silent till the
morrow Lecture 6y James W. Simon