New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-10
POSTAL TELEGRAPHY.
THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO REPRESENTED
MR.. GARRErT's ASSURANCES THAT TIE CONTAIN
WILL NOT SELL OUT-READY TO NL"oiiN'E
WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

WASHINGTON. Feb, %. ii. Bates, President
Of the Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Company h"oS,
Garrett. presid at pro tenn. of the Baiiii'oie an"
Railroad ComPanyI j. X. COwan, Solicitor anu d. Us
Pangcrn. Assistant General Passenger Agent Oh 'ho
Baltimore road appeared before thu Senate Coruee Oh
past Offices AMI Post Roads, to-day, to describe lh'
present condition and the prospective extenaions OF the
Baltimore ard Ohio Telegraph Company, and to detend
the interests Of that company In connection WIN le
postal telegraph measures which the committee mas uhder
considerations Gardiner G.. hubbard, }. G. IclI oI Ne"
York srnatotButlar Of South Carolina and several other
gentlemen Interested n the subject but nos conhe'en
ei.her with the committee tie Baltimore and ONO
Telegraph Company present ard took part III tue
proceedings The discussion was conversational III CHAT
acter incidentally covered nearly the whole Held OF
postal and cooperative tceemphy, historical legal ana
economical The general results may be SUMMARIZE as
follows:
Mr. Bates described the present system Of Baltimore
and Ohio lines That company now had telegraph lines
extending dong the Baltimore and Ohio RaroadDetween
Washington, Baltimore, Ncw-York, Cincinnati ana
Chicago 1t had within few weeks purchased
lines from Buffalo to Chicago. It's ines
all now and 1t was thoroughly equipped
over these trunk lines n had fifteen wires between New
York and Chicago which was ouehalf the number Of the
Western Union wires and its wires on other routes were
about In the same proportion. It building Lines over
highways between NewYoS and Boston to be completed
by June l. 1t also building from Chicago to 81.
Louis by way Of indianapolis, and from Pttsburg TO
Cleveland so rs to give connections In OF inter
mption II had just completed arrangements for cOnnec
ton with New-Orleans and Texas. 1t was the
intention Of the company 10 provide the most
ample facilities between tho points named An arrange
mem had aO concluded for the immediate building
- lines Chicago the Northwest. Within the pres
en the lines would cover the territory Yielding
thrcequatcrs III the telegraph business OF the country
PROPOSED REDUCTION IN TAXEs
Senator I'LL asked fit found necessary to pay for
fights Of way.
Mr. Bates could not answer with regard to the Bat-
more and Ohio Company. His experience with other
companies enabled him to that in the earlier times
rights of way were not expensive. Now II had come
10 he n serious matter. II almost impossible to
get through cities and over railroad routes without
great concessions ana expense Inc Baltimore ana ONO
lad not vet undertaken any reduction OF rates. although
its night rates only oneha its day rates whe ON
the Western Union lines they were t"otnhus vi 'r%
fOurths. Tie purpose was first TO erect % sum
Sisnt nq'er business Wit" He BELIEVED d'' that
A moderate rate would be more remunerave than
present high II was in contemplation TO reduce
10 twenty-five cents for ten words east OF the Mississippi
with cent FOR each additional word In answer 10
question he said that the Nickel Plate" ilc had now
four wires and the material being forwarded 10
erect twelve more. The company had about 5000
mnr within the present year 1t was impossible to say
what the average cost per mile had BEEN The lines Of
si'es H 0m1 ono This did NOT however include any
icerraphc pa ents The wire mileage OF the American
Union was between $4,000 and 10000 miles The Bat
timoT, and ONO Company was arranging ten wires
more wires That line all told, including
municipal rights would cost from $25OOOO 100000
for the irst six wires The remaining wires would cost
about 800 a mile each Tho line from Chicago TO st.
Paul and Minneapolis, by way OF In Crosse. would be
lilt Immediately with wires and with the
poles for eight more The line with -FOUR wires would cost
so per cent less than tine Boston line, or about 1000
mile ,..,... al, 10 ,,,, ,,o.,, oon,oo.o, With
several companies In trying 10 obtain the right OF way
along lines Of railroad under the act OF 1866 In no case
Of tbe railroad company Were there provision for
demning the necessary property the extension OF tee
graph lines would be much easier The difficulty OF build
ing along the Inc Of railroad just outside OF rs rlghl OF
way chiefly arose from the contracts that rilroad com
pl.les had entered mo aO 10 7 ~ Wet,
Union contracts of this character.
Mr.. GARRETT READY To NEGOTIATE WITH TIE
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Mr. Garrett said the Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph
Company had already expended very large sums in the
acmston of lines and in the purchase OF materials for
extension The present time adv anaseous for such
purchases and large amoants Of money had been paid
out within two weeks. II became, consequently mat
OF the sentiments and purposes OF me comniiter,
What could the company 90 TO c'hEluce tc
Gietorv Of the Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad. That com
T1v had years ago Established its own express system,
winch was in operation TO-DAY 10 tic S5,is"cS' ~ nc ~
lrycd OF s patrons ana cert iny to that or the com
/ fo"''rarv on from its lines of road and was
SnairItai2iug despite early predictions 10 the
T had Row determined to throw the western Union Te
graph OF from its line of roads Suppos' III case th9
I
fcln OF telegraph lines, that the Edh0re ana ONO Com
pany would a-I.r 10 Nm 60, over S 4, s ~, ~
would say that the Baltimore and ONO COM
r.nv WIS prenarcd today 10 enter into q
onirac with the Post Office Department 10 transact the
ilsic.s OF the public upon some plan which would oe
orv to tine rIlhic aud profitable 10 the company.
| me COMPANY believed thai with an expenditure of
"a GOO 200 il would bc able TO cover an area OF territory
NH fine Western Union derived scycnty-hyc per
cni of il, revenue He suggested that the matter be
ol'' roI wilson asked what assurance could he givcn in
M ti,o committee was unable 20 reach conclusion on
me- matter that at very distant day the B3-
mpi, .u with tho Western Union Company.
Mr. Garrett said ~ could only point 10 the history oi
/ tho Baltimore and ONO RaihOId company III TIE pl-l;
| I'm tutn he asked how the telegraph company could
satisfy the committee on Inc polh re ai-o sl"cucu
that the rates would be maintained at iaIm satisfactory
senator Hin said he had great respect for the ati-
NOR. aud OHIO Company ana us infringement pli ehe
.; If IFS managers the same as those Of the
managers ~ other corpof ahe iup I "Trn
go. N enul be inade certain that more C0ulu nc %ahtd
G soiaton the consolidation would inevitably take
ny w. tVo,nb,Daiion paid better than competition.
Air Garrett said that the Baltimore anu phi9 pS"l' i'ap
cor tbot nv serving the public well, by building It's
lna I1I 80 r earnings might he made for it,
tlnr. thsn i'm any other way. II believed the day Tor
ronrolatiou had passed The Baltimore ana ONO cont
ugr,, was compelled maintain system Of telegraph
lines ior the transaction of Us railroad business
,esn Mas IN tie fact that It had large plant already
and hy suppeneutng the system increase potG would
| 'ao-,9 N,ur tle comDany encountered this demand
fbaf he Government should enter into the business The
company mad made contracts ana eHpsnaea ~ money
ni1 lr eaTisiied that the company was in earnest.
| NOT DISPOSED TO SELL or 10 THE WESTERN
| UNION.
Senator Hin said there would come a time when tho
western Union Company would offer the Baltimore and
ob c,onany four five times much for It's lines as
NO., had cost What guarantee could be given that the
co-nrauy would rot SELF
Mn Garrett said the company had no objection 10 giving
AN, e,larautee that could bc devised.
senator wilson asked IT, IN the progress OF the inquiry,
~ rn0fuiftcr should bc able with the ana OF exports 10
Jatr,nr what would fair average rates considering
t interests of tic company and the public, the company
| voud accept such rates. 81. ~, II, T., 4.
Mir Garrett said the company inclination would DE 10
accept any reasonable rates nte oy any practical COM
tpouaooTS thought that TAe ainOunt of cash