The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-12-13
Postal Telegraph.


WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-Representa-
tive Anderson of Kansas, revised the
postal telegraph bill introduced by him
last session and will soon introduce 1t
IN the house. By its provisions the,
postmaster general is authorized to con-
struct, maintain and operate three main
lines OF telegraph, the northern line &c
extend from Bangor, Me-, TO st. Paul,
the central line from New ork to To
peka, and the southern from Baltimore
to San Antonio. The northern main
line is to be 1,720 miles and branches,
1861 miles, total, 1891; central line
1,434, branches 97S, total 2,413; south
ern line 1896, branches AIS, total
1914; grand total, 9,l10 miles. AT a
maximum estimate of $500 per mile It
would cost So, ga, 900. It is proposed
that all telegraph lines which, since
1860, have bsen or shall be constructed
by the secretary of war for the use of the
army shall be. when no longer needed
for military purposes, transferred to the
postmaster general for the use OF the
the postal telegraph and be part there
OF,
Also where junction can be made with
the wires of any railroad or telegraph
company which receives grant of pub
lie land or bonds or credit OF the United
States, the postmaster general may at
his discretion cause construction OF the
postal telegraph Herewith, and all post
al telegraph messages be transmitted
over said wires at government rates and
in the manner prescribed by law. The
bill gives q list of all such grants and
requires the transmission of all messages
over lines where the conditions contain-
ed IN the acts of said telegraph line may
be used for government business. The
postmaster general is authorized to con-
meet the wires of the postal telegraph
with those of any telegraph company
which has accepted or may accept the
PROVISIONS of the act of July "a, 1866,
entitled, can act to aid the construction
of telegraph lines and secure govern
ment use of the same for
postal, military and other purposes"
The bill provides for the issuance by the
secretary of the treasury of 5000, OO0 of 3
per cent bonds of 81 600 each, redeema-
BILE at option after ten years, be offered
for sale in open market In New York,
the proceeds of the sale to be applied 10
the construction and equipment of the
postal telegraph by the postmaster gen.
eral, who shall hold sufficient reserve
of said bonds as surplus over the cost
of construction as may be necessary to
u1cCS saO iHtcIOSl tOE i've yCnIS. AhpSc
provision is made for the redemption of
the bonds, the capital thereof TO be reim-
bursed by profits, and all fiscal details
are properly arranged in conformity with
the rules of the treasury depart
ment Local offices are TO be IN
der the control of the post
master and stations established only in
the government postofflce. Provisions
are made for compromising the post
masters in proportion to the number of
telegraph stamps used, STAMPS to be pro-
cured and sold the same as postage
stamps. The postmaster general shall
have the full power to regulate the
rates, and is authorized to establish tele-
graph or telephone lines between the
main and sub postoff1ces of the same or
adjacent cities, or between any stations,
and those patrons who will pay the cost
of such lines or furnish their own vari-
Gus lines or branches are provided for
in the bill It will strike every capital
city east of the Rocky mountains and
every city wherein the office delivery
letter system is established.