Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-24
POSTAL TELEGRtPHY.

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The immense advantages accruing to the
people from tic establishment OF system Of
postal tclegraphy are well set forth IN n re-
cent report read by MIR. +. Is. Thurbcr before
which report is detailed the working OF the
system III England compared WIN the eX-
iorlionatc monopoly system winch mas grown
up in inns country Inc report is timely
ana Vai''aolc one III view OF inc lact 'ha'
fostmas'er-"ehcra' Howe VIII III MS ior'h-
coming report urge upon oo"s''ss ''c he'cs-
SHY ior INC government entering upon t''e
DOMAIN oi pos'a' 'e'c s'"Phy' Inc 'heo'! Oh
governmental coh'ro' o' 'e'es'"ph iihcS' Is
based upon the TACT 'iilt inc TRANSMISSION oil
intelligence Is governmental junction. IL
Is upon TINS assumption That tue governments
of all civilized nations have taken under their
charge and control, the postal system as be-
ing the most general and effective method OF
transmitting information 10 all parts oil the
couh'ry' but, as the iaciilties lor cNchans-
ing Intelligence increase ana Inc people,
win growing ACTIVITIES and Inc more exact
ihS ueihahus Oh h'ghcr ci'ill"a'ion' require
more cucctiVe anu rapid means OF commune
ca'ioh' II mas ncch iouno lha' inc postal sys-
tenn Is insufficient, In all matters OF great
importance II Is 100 cuihnrons ana SLOW Tor
The people VINE a letter is passing
from pace 10 pace, the very condl-
tions under which it was written may have
changed and its contents Dccn rendered
valuelcss or inopportune. Inc Telegraph,
transmitting Win me speed OIL i'Sh'hlhS inc
thoush' oil inc sehuer' Is inc only meu'uih
which the people can cepend upon in crises oil
great political, or commercial or social I'M
pof'ahcc' Inc readiness WIN Which inc
English people nave aValled themselves oil
tue advantages oil the cheap postal
no" necessary II was 1et TO De- ana
now certain Inc system Is 10 succeed III
country where intelligence ana prosperl-
W go hand IN hand. For ten years 1t mas
'NN'' 't'N'N'N' ~ 'S"r'"'' N'N' 49, ''''''~
principle which has controlled the postal SER
vice--viz, the largest measure OF accomoda-
ton and usefulness to the public which is
consistent with pocuniary self-surport. The
results given in the last official report, and
detailed by MIR. Thurbcr, are most interest
ing and encouraging In 1869 the number
OF offices was PASS IN lSeO II was 1881.
The number of messages transmitted in 1869
was $500 900 in 1881, 49, i', 1877 lii 1881,
2o,4ll VS., and in 1882, 81, $40, SUI.
During all these years the department has
not only paid operating expenses, but sur
plus has accrued amounting in all to about
e. 900, 900, or $40, 900, 900. This enormous
gain has been due entirely to the popularity
of the system and its every day use by the
lower classes. the rates being exceedingly low
and easily within the means Of all Twenty
words, besides date, address and signature,
are transmitted 10 any part of the Kingdom,
irrespective of distance, at uniform rate OF
one shilling. When the telcgraphs were OPP
Grated by private companies, very much
higher rates were CHARGED, and the element of
distance WAS taken into account. In tie
transmission of news by this system