The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-26
Postal Telegraphy.


on post-ofices, having the several postal tele-
graph bills under consideration, has formulated
a bill, of which the following is an abstract:
The postmaster-general shall establish tele-
graph offices at all post-offices or telegraph cir
cults, and at all other post-offices within ten
miles of any such circuit where the salary Of
the postmaster is not less than $500 per an
mum. The office OF fourth assistant postmaster
general is created such officer, who shall be
competent electrician, to exercise general
power of management over the Geographic sys-
tenn hereby established. The charges for the
transmission OF kilograms, excepting service
and government kilograms, shall be prepaid by
telegram stamp or by postal telegraph cards,
and the maximum rates for kilograms of twenty
words or less shall be as follows: When the
distance OF transmission is one thousand miles
or under, twenty cents; when over one thou
sand and under two thousand miles, forty
cents for all greater distances fifty cents; for
kilograms directed to be transmitted by night
under two thousand miles, fifteen cents; for
greater distances twenty five cents. All words
| shall be counted, and for every five additional
words or less one-fiith additional rate shall be
charged the charges for transmission of special
| kilograms to newspapers and commercial news
| associations, for each one hundred words or
| less for each circuit of one thousand miles,
| shall not exceed fifty cents, il sent at night,
| and 81 during the day. but when copies Of the
| same telegram are dropped off at one or more
| offices, tn rate for each office shall not exceed
|
ing the day, and at the same rate for each word
| in excess. The postmaster-gene shall pro-
vide telegram stamps and stamped paper OF
suitable denominations, to be sold as postage
stamps are now sold. The postmaster-general
| shall cause to be issued postal telegraph cards
of the denomination of fifteen, twenty, twenty
| five, forty and fifty cents, on one side OF
| which word spaces shall be ruled for the
| writing of postal telegraph messages Such
postal telegraph cards may be Deposited in
ntn 1nff ct hos Mt Vat Hoo yhar
there is postal telegraph connection, or
in any letter-post box which il, or may
| be, fixed on letter carrier route. II the
number OF words written on postal tele-
graph card so deposited a. above, does not
| exceed the limit prescribed by this act, these
words, composing a message shall be dis
patched by the postal telegraph. The money
order system now in operation in the post-office
department shall be adapted to the postal tele-
graph and the charge for transmitting money
orders by the postal telegraph within the United
States wherever money-order offices are now or
! may be hereafter established, shall be the
rates charged upon money-orders transmitted
by mail, in addition to the regular charge for
postal kilograms. but no postal telegraph
| money-order shall exceed $100 The post
master-general is hereby authorized and d.
rected to advertise for three months in two of
| the daily papers published in each OF the cities
of Washington. Baltimore, Philadelphia, New
| York, Boston, Chicago and St. Louis, for sealed
| pIOpDshls lIOlu tclckrhpD Couptuy VI
papies for the transmission of correspondence
| by telegraph according to the provisions of this
| act, and shall contract with the lowest respon-
sible bidder to perform, in whole or in part,
the Geographic service, or services, by this act
| provided for. The postmaster general shall
furnish at each postal telegraph office such suit
able place for the office, employees, instru-
ments and batteries of such contracting COM
pany as shall be necessary for the public
business. Said company shall have the right
| to construct lines on all post routes and shall
provide lines Of telegraph to every postal office
on request OF the postmaster-general. The
postmaster-genera is hereby authorized TO ad-
vertise for sealed proposals, either to sell ex-
listing telegraph lines and franchises to the gov
eminent, or to construct four new telegraph
trunk lines for the government, so located and
arranged as to connect the northeastern, north
western, western, and southwestern and south
ern parts OF the United States with the city Of
Washington and II upon investigation any Of
such proposals, either to sell existing lines, or
to construct new lines for the government, are
deemed fair and reasonable the postmaster
general will report the same to congress, at its
next session, for acceptance or rejection. In
the event that no existing, or hereafter Or
ganized telegraph company, will contract for
the performance of the service by this act pro-
vided, for and at the rates thereinbefore speci-
fed or less, and in the event that satisfactory
proposition, either to sell existing line or lines
or contract for the construction OF new ones
| for the government, shall be submitted on or
before the 25:h day of November, 1884, then
there shall be established postal telegraph
system within the United States in the manner
and by the means following: A board consist
ing of the secretary of state. the secretary of
war and the postmaster. general. shall cause to
be located and arranged four Trunk lines of
said postal Telegram. connecting the north
eastern. the NORTHEASTERN. the western. and
the south western and the southern parts of the
United States with the city of Washington,
Said lines of postal telegraph shall be con.
structed and kent in repair under the direc-
ton and superiptendence of the secretary of
war and through the corps of engineers, The
secretary of war IL hereby Authorized and d.
rected to acquire by purchase. subject TO the
approval of the president of the United States.
The right of wav for the Construction of said
postal telegraph lines and their extension from
time TO time, and said secretary. with such an
proval, is authorized and directed to locate
such lines and 10 take and nse for that nnrnose