The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-02-26

VI 'he Ohilsu states POStal Telegraph |
Company, from which we publish |
the following extract.
The United States Postal Telegraph
Co. has been incorporated under the |
statutes of Iowa and the laws of the
United States with limited capital
of one hundred mlllien dollars the
same to be issued at fixed rate per
mile, SO fast as the line may be con-
structed. 1t proposes to divide the
United States and its teriitories by
the 10Th meridian of longitude west
OF Washington, into two districts,
and to establish a uniform tariff for
the Transmission of messages. of
twenty cents for twenty words or
less, when business may originate
and terminate in the same district,
and double this amount, when the
same may originate in one district
and pass through or terminate in an
other.
1t furthermore proposes to turn
oyer to the government one. half f
its capital stock, to act as bar against
the disposition of the property by
lease or sale; to allow a government
Director in its Board and a Registrar
appointed by the government.
In consideration for which, it asks
such legislation at the hands of Con-
gress; as will enable it to occupy
with its lines the right of way be-
longing to railroads, canals, and
wagon roads, in the United States
and its territories, and the use of its
waters for the purpose of submarine
telegraphy, as well as the free occu-
pancy of its postal cars for "lines.
man." whose duties may be to super
intend the lines, and the free use of
the government post offices for the
reception and delivery of business.
The direct advantage res ulting
from the construction of the United
States Postal Telegraph System,
would be saying of nine million
dollars to the public annually, based
upon the tariff and bulk of business
performed by the Western Union
Telegraph Company in 1879.
I'd. The property could not be sold
or disposed of without consent of
government, any more readily than
if owned by the government itself,
but could always be depended upon
as a bulwark against monopoly,
which. with good cause, the people
have too much reason to dread.
To the newspaper press, and espe.
cially of that class which cannot afferd
the facilities:offered by the Associated
Press, the benefit would be incalcul-
able. The report of the Western
Union Company before referred to,
gives the following exhibit performed
in 1879 for the Associated Press.
Number of messages transmitted
for year, 2,4S4, 1860. At the rate of
about 80 words per message, "a, $780,.
800 words, not counting a delivery of
drop copies, and muItiples, which
would give total result of Gil, ,l99,-
$50 words.
the revenue realized from this
service was 81 ,083, ,755.21, an average
per word, for messages received, of
l 2-5 cents 4; rate nearly one. half
greater than it is prDposed by United
States Postal Telegraph Company
shall charge its patrons at large.
With this price SO low and uniform,
scarcely a weekly paper in the Union
would fail to publish the latest tele-
graphic news on the day of going TO
press while dailies with a larger cir
culatien and capital could, if they
wished at less cost, receive special
dispatches from scattered c0rrespon-
dents. enabling them to give their
readers greater variety of news
than now enjoyed.
The large amount of postal cards
which daily find their way through
the mails, demonstrate not only that
cheapness in postage is sought for,
but that in many business communi-
cations twenty words or less may
suffice.
Four days and nights are required
to make the quickest mail transit
from New York City to Denver. the
gate city to the Rocky Mountains
consequently all negotiations for the
sale of mining interests between the
owners and their New York repre-
sentative, where time is so essential
to succeessfuL realization, must be
perfarmed through the medium Of
the telegraphs. Cheapness Of tariff
is certainly desideratum in dis.
patches containing one hundred
words or more.
Uniformity as to places of delivery
would also work greatly to the ad
vantage of the merchant and his com
mercial traveller, who is often absent
from the parent house three months