The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-12
THE SUBMARINE CABLE SYSTEM.
Remarks by John Fender at a Meeting at
London.

Remarks by John Fender at a Meeting at
London.
LONDON, Feb. 1O.-At meeting of the
board of directors of the Direct United States
Cable Company, Mr.. John Fender, NJ P,
made the following remarks;
when had the pleasure of addressing
you, six months ago, there were many ru-
mors of further competition of new cables.
We had Just concluded an agreement with
the American Cable Company and working
arrangements with the Western Union Com
pany, in America. We had given the one
shilling tariff fair trial, and the result was
so unsatisfactory that the various companies
interested were Obliged to revert to the two
shilling tariff We are now more convinced
than ever that a shilling tariff does not suf-
ficiently influence the telegraphing public to
make them increase the number of their.
messages to such an extent as would give us
ing as we can earn at two. IN short,
a one-shilling tariff would not yield
enough to enable us to pay much more
than our bare working expenses, We then
found ourselves in the face of a new and
threatening competition which had been
talked of in America, connected with two
powerful elements, one being headed by the
chairman of the Baltimore d. Ohio railway,
the other by Mr.. Bennett, of the New York
Herald-two men occupying important posi-
tions. They complained that, owing to the
fresh cable arrangements which had been
made, they were placed entirely in the power
of the Western Union company, aud that it
would be impossible for them to carry
on an independent land line system
with success unless they had the privi-
Ieges of sending their messages on the
same terms as those enjoyed by the
Western Union company, or had cables of
their own. | found 1t very difficult to meet
and with q Wow n hptrar n n
derstand the whole position, and also with a
view to have our arrangement modified if
possible, SO as to have an independent system
OF Atlantic telegraphy, l proceeded to New
York, determined TO inquire into the whole
question.
Having satisfied myself of the efficiency of
the Western Union system and endeavored
as far as | possibly could to avert complica-
ton, called upon Mr.. Garrett l went into
the question of the competitor which he was
about to es tablish with Mr.. Bennett. / ex-
planned to him the policy which | thought
might, if carried out suit his purpose quite
as well as putting down cables OF their own
in short, better. The result of that CON
versation was that he would be satisfied if
that policy was carried out, and that at all
events he would be disposed to give it
a fair trial. ] afterwards had a similar con-
versation with Mr.. Bennett, and the result
was pretty much the same So the Garrett
Bennett opposition, | believe, for the time is
at an end However l do not say that on
any distinct authority from those gentlemen,
but they have now made arrangements for
giving the system as they said then that they
would give it, fair trial. l considered that
he had reason on hi eside, and am glad to
inform you that we have now succeeded in
establishing the policy of an Independent
office in New York, by which the direct COM
pany and the French company work entirely
independently O the Western Union COM
pany. l think that the establishment of an
independent office in New York ought to
satisfy not only the American telegraphing
public, but also those who have been instru-
mental in bringing out competing land lines
II ANoctnr,, Ininn