Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-07
FURgRE2 CONS DBRArI0Rs CONCERNING
POSTAL fELEGRAPRY.

In the desire for postal telegraph line
to be established by the Government,
there is no idea entertained of having that
line made the exclusive means for trans.
mission OF messages. Some hasty people
have jumped at shat conclusion. No
monopoly Of telegraph lines by the Govern
mens is dreamed of. Such thing would
be intolerable, even if possible. under our
form OF Government. Nor is the postal
Telegraph proposition TO be COMPOUNDED
with any scheme to purchase any exist
ing lines. That nay or may not be done,
and il purely an economic and distant cen.
sideratioo. The probabilities sre al
against such purchase, for the country
is broad enough. and the construction of
telegraph lines is easy enough, to make it
an object rather to build new than to buy
existing lines. Besides. in the continue.
ton Of the present companies in business,
the postal telegraph viii have very strong
reason for existence. The commercial
and news lines should not be bought out,
for that would work the establishment of
monopoly in fact by the Government
line, a thing not TO BIS thought of. Then,
too. as the New York Herald recently
put it, the United States cannot think
of purchasing the lines Of oompsny which
has nominal capital of $50, GOO, 600, when
its present property could be replaced for
one-third that amount ct the outside.
When England bought out the private
lines of that country, she paid, as is now
known, great deal more than it would
have cost 60 build new cnes A postal
telegraph viii compel exiting lines TO
serve the public st reasonable rates, and
this is q worthy consideration, but the
greAter one, and that which ogershadows
ali Others, is the improvement of the let.
ter service. By a postal telegraph lire
we viii simply increase the facilities of
communication for tae maases in a degree
corresponding TO the advancement Of the
country, and the demand for the applies
ton of the latest and best apoliznces to
the public ssrvics for the accommodation
o; the people at the expense Of the people.
Prior to tne entry of the Government
upon the System Of civil service reform
the most weishty objection to postal
telegrsphy was the increase OF Government
employees and political patronage it would
necessitate. But the civil service reform
movement wholly obvistes that. All the
reasons that can be advanced for the car
risge and delivery of letters by the Gov.
eminent are of equal force in favor of tee
postal telegraph, and the objections are no
greater. We have found no difficulty in
maintaining Possofices and routes that we
have not been able TO overcome by legisla-
ton, and this will prove true of the
proposed new system. The business Of
the country has outgrown the mail posi- |
bilities, and it has been driven TO the pri.
gate teIe graph lines in order to communi.
cate speedily concerning its affairs. Let
ters have at this day. ii sn commercial
circles, b.c1me but supplements to tele-
grams. This is also largely true of epistles
in social life. Telegraphy. therefore, has be.
come popular necessity, snd as such it is
entirely in kesping with the spirit of the
age to aid lis advantages to the Govern