Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-03
G0ULD'S LINES FOR SALE.
REVIVAL OF THE POSTAL TELE-
GRAPH RUMOR.

Ans OOlng Gut OF EasnlOh-Open mu-
seums' on Sunday.
NEW YORK, Jan. There is revival
OF the rumOr that the Western Union Tele-
graph Company is anxious to sell out to
the government. 1t is said that the COM
pany is the power behind the throne in
backing the bill introduced by Mr.. Cul-
lum, of Illinois, soon after Congress met
this winter, providing for the purchase of
all lines which for ayear past have earned
D per cent. interest over and above their
expenses for maintenance and operation.
Mr.. Cyrus W. Field, one of the largest
stockholders of w estern Union, annOunc-
ed himself only week before as favoring
the adoption of a measure of precisely
this character. The bill means the West
ern Union, and the Western Union only.
No other company in this country can
snow earnings of B per cent. for the past
year. All the others have been struggling
to live long enough to be bought up by
the Western Union, but it cannot afford
to buy up any more threatening opposi-
ton lines. 1t has too many worthless
and expensive lines already. Erastus
Wiman, one Of the best informed of the
Western UHion directors, lately stated
that Of the $4,000 offices of the
paid profits. The directors are
willing to sell their plant now, because
new wires and machinery which are COM
ing into use gradually cheapening, tools
and plants alike, and they could replace
their system of iron wires at less than 1t
is proposed that the government shall pay
for them with better wires, which could
he run by machinery at less cost, thus
enabling a company to underbid the gov
In
cial correspondence, about all that will
ever go by telegraph over government
wires, if made a part of the post office
system.
PROHIBITION IN NEW YORK.
Georgia is not alone to derive all the
benefit resulting from the advertising in
cident to a spirited fight on the prohibit
ton question. The coming session Of the
State Legislature is to be marked by a
lively skirmish on the issue. The issue
can hardly be put aside, because the pro-
hibition vote defeated Ira Davenport, the
Republican candidate for Governor
in the last election, and the pro-
hihitiOnists, thus encouraged are
organizing for further distructiveness.
They have established a prohibition
Lecture Bureau as a means of helping
their cause. Total abstinence orators are
to be provided IN abundance, and placed
on the lyceum platforms, in pulplts and
anywhere else that intelligent audiences
can be reached. To this end circulars
have been sent to all the churches, Young
Mems Christian Associations, fire COM
panies, Grand Army posts and other
organizations likely TO require lecturers.
A list Of speakers is given, and some Of
the names are very attractive, while the
prices are much lower than those named
by the regular lecture bureaus, and often
merely nominal. In the meantime the
temperance movement, the use-but-nOt-
abuse principle. IS gaining a powerful
backing. DIR. John Hall, pastor of the
wealthiest congregation in America, re-
Gently made a speech declaring thatwine
is good thing to drink in moderation,
that it is cOwardice to admit that you
cannot be temperate without abstinence,
and that it is by no means the duty of
anybody to refrain from reasonable drink.
ing because somebody else is a drunkard,
That is the view set forth by the Episcopal
Church Temperance Society, by DR.. CrOs-
by's Society tor the Prevention of Crime
and by Henry Ward Beecher's Plymouth
church Temperance Union. These infu-
ences are back of the really powerful
movement for high-license law to make
the fee $1,000 for distilled beverages, and
only 500 for wines and malt beer. The
ProhibitiOnists deem such measure per-
with all their might and main. Thus the
great army arrayed against intemperance
is divided against itself, and the feeling OF
the factions is exceedingly bitter towards
each other.
NO NEW YEARS CALLS
Hard blows were struck this year at the
good old custom Of New Years calling,
here in the city where it originated with
the early Dutch families. Scarcely one of
the many fashionable homes in New York
was open to-day, and most of the very pre-
tentlous women were away. Many went
to their country places, taking friends
along for few days OF winter outing, and
the most noteworthy event will be
gathering Of highly important so
ciety people at Long Branch, where
a hotel has been hired for grand New
Years ball. The premises We're Quilted
expressly for the occasion. The ball will
be elaborate IN it's decorations, music aud
supper, and the company will be a care
fully selected two hundred from the sort
of New Workers. who dislike to do any,
thing that the multitude can copy. They
calculate that hereafter New Years call
ing will be distinctly Questionable in
New York.
OPEN THE MUSEUMS ON SUNDAY.
Shall the museums be opened on sun
dayf has again become a leading ques-
ton, and il is one that should be settled
at once. 1t has gradually come TO occupy
ia the public mind a position analogous
to the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill" in
England-in other words il has risen to
the dignity Of a public grievance. The
trustees Of the free Museum of Natural
History in Central Park appeared
before the board of apportionment
last week and asked for an appropriation
of 100000 for the purpose OF enlargng
the present Museum building. At the
same time these gentlemen do not hesitate
to declare that they are opposed to OPEN
ing the Museum on Sundays, although
the Park Department and the Board of
Aldermen have asked 1t, and public SEN
timent is overwhelmingly 10 its favor.
But it is not likely that any further grant
of money will be made until the manage
ment Of the museums IN Central Park is
made more liberal. The city treasury has
already contributed 81, $50, 900 TO erect and
maintain the museums, while the value
OF the exhibits is only about 81 zoo, 600.
With the balance so largely in favor OF
the city, IL Is manifestly unjust TO talk
about the private interests OF contributors
and 20 exclude from the privileges OF these
institutions the wOrkingmen, whose sun
day is their only holiday. But it is by no
means certain that the working classes
themselves are honestly desirous and
anxious 70 avail themselves OF the
opportunity OF visiting the museums on