Daily Republican., 1883-01-12
FRIDAY. JANUARY ~, 1858.



The W estern UniOa Monopoly.
We have had the privilege OF reading
about the telegraph war In New YORK
and other places, but We have now tho
war brought to our own doors, and we
have the fact patent before us that
the Western Union Telegraph Company
controls the Telephone Exchange OF
this city. The latter, 1t seems, instead
of being An individual corporation Is
but an adjunct OF the " estern Union
Telegraph Company, and when the ting
of war comes, 1t las to show its real
colors and take sides with Its owners.
The great monopoly will bear no rival.
1t must have both the ounce OF blood
and the pound of flesh. The business
interests Of the country are nothing to
the giant monopoly that would crush
out every rival ana enthrone itself upon
. pedestal OF arinding oppression. This,
we imagine, is not the ending OF the
contest in this city. Because the peo-
ple OF Wilmington have submitted to
political injustice Is no argument that
they will tamely submit to be trampied
under foot ty Jay Gould q Co. Our
business men have the kindest feelings
tor Manager Westbrook and his tele-
phone exchange enterprise, which is in
more general use in our city than ia
any other city of the Union OF the SAME
population. So accustomed have they
become to il, that it has become bust
ness necessity, but they have not been
aware until now that these uusiehtly
forest trees called telephone poles, have
been permitted to be planted III the
principal business streets OF our city
for the benefit Of u grinding monopoly,
that brooks no competition, no rival IL
business. Alter having given the ad-
iunct of the Western Union, the great
privilege of planting enormous trees
son.e OF them over two feet in diameter
along our sidewalks, where We will not
permit huckster TO stand, We are
cOolly ted that we cannot patronize
any other telegraph company than the
Western Union. This Is AL insult to
our people, and the City Council, which
no doubt has been deceived a. the peo-
pie have, should take immediate meas
ures to protect the people from insult
and injustice. II IL had zen known
beforehand that it was Jay Gould y
monopoly the City Council was favor
ing by permitting it to mar The
beauty of the ciJy by unsigatIy
poles, aud endanger our property
In cases OF fire by pet WORK
of wires, the privilege would never have
been granted IL suCh a Eratui;Ous and
willing manner. There Is a right 2 I'd
a wrong way by which the right tt
plant poles ia our city can be- OBJ
tanned, and the right way Is tre SAINT
manner in which a railroad acquires q
right to 20 through city. Even LOw
com missions are busy on fixing TIT
prices the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
will have to pay for the privilege 0
passing through individual pr0pert.
in our city, aud the railroad company
will be made to pay the uttermost cen
OF what the privilege is worth. Every
railroad has to do the same thing. Why
then should this giant monopoly
Western Union-be permitted to gerry
mander our city with a Gordon Of wire
and rows of forest trees withOu
admitting to the same laws and regu
lations? A monopoly that buys vi
railroads and telegraph companies lik
horses, can afford to pay for the priv
lege OF going through city. II th'
privilege of setting a line OF telephone
poles through city Is worth any thin;
to the " esteru uiOn, 1t should 3'
worth sometLil4 ID the man who own
the property upon which and Detur
which the poles arc 81.
We mistake the temper f our peop
il they will submit tamr,y to sue
manifest injustice, no;Withstandin
the kindly feelings lAty may entertain
for Mr. WestbrOOk.