The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-11-19
CHEAP TELEGsAPHY.
The Baltimore aud Ohio Telegraph Sys-
tenn Rapidly Extending Competitive Lines
in All Direetions-Its Benefit to the Public.
Special TO the Sentinel.

The Baltimore aud Ohio Telegraph Sys-
tenn Rapidly Extending Competitive Lines
in All Direetions-Its Benefit to the Public.
Special 70 the Sentinel.
BALTIMORE, Nov. 1.-THE question of
cheap telegraphic Communication is one so
near the public heart that to days procsed-
ings ct the annual meeting OF B. and o.
stockholders seems of more than usual i'm
p0rtance. The B. and O. telegraph system
has been go greatly extended during the past
twelve months, and the company has
become so powerful factor in the making
OF telegraph tolls, that a statement of its po-
sition is of special interest. Competition has
been the key note Of the 3. aud O., and the
way 1t has walked into public favor has
been something astonishing on its face, but
really not 90 in fact, when taken into con-
sideration how directly its course has affect
ed the peoples purses. Eyed il compara-
lively new company, so far rs a general
business is concerned, the report shows that
in extent of wire mileage it is twice what
the A. and P. was when purchased by the
Western Union, and more than one apd
quarter times larger than the American
Union mileage when il was taken into camp
by the same company. For the A aud F.
The Western Union paid in its stock s. 800
OoS, and for the American Union SI5 000,-
0o0. On the B. and o. system S2 100000
was paid cut during the fiscal year
ending September l. and the re-
port well says that, comparing
the cost of the B. and o, system with that
OF the system of its principal competitor, it
is believed it can obtain and hold such g
volume OF business as will yield very salts
factory net results from the expenditures
by the close Of the year. Continues the re-
port, it will have mileage nearly as great
as that OF the two companies combined,
which cost the Western Union over s24O 600 :
600, and il will then nearly equal the whole
OF the Western Union mileage in 1856, after
IL had absorbed the United States aud Amer
1csn Companies, and very near as great in
extent SIS tie entiIe system OF the country
at the close of the war. when it was little, If
any, in excess Of $4,000 miles. No attempt
bas been made to force the business. owing
to the fact that wires are still being strung,
and it has been the desire of President Bates
to move slowly, in order that satisfaction
might be given the public and its wants
thoroughly provided for. The statements
made by the late President Garrett in re-
port to the Board of Directors. in
ls82, are quoted in the report that the
telegraph system should maintain
firmly and successfully its independence
es great competing organization, and
should continue to enlarge its capacity to
meet all requirements. The younger Mr..
Garrett has fully carried out these eharac-
teristic declarations, and competition is sue
cessfnlly prosecuted thus far, will in no wise
suffer for lack Of vigorous action in the fu-
tuTe. As shown in report the b. and O..
system now embraces a wire mileage OF
47,ii7, with 1856 miles of poles; this not
including the Eaileage still in course of con-
struction. Advantage has been taken of
the low prices OF material, it being stated
that the expendttzre has been upon basis
OF at least 10 per cent under the figures at
which any lines were ever built In this coun-
try. After hearing the report in its entirety
the stockholders, by the largest vote ever
polled in the history OF The Railroad Com
paDy. unanimously elected new Board Of
Directors, consisting manly OF the old
board. I. Harrison Garrett suc,r ,reeds Robert
as director. The board called q meeting
on Thursday for the election Of President
and other officials.