Wichita eagle., 1888-01-20
BIG DAY WITH THE NATIONAL
BOARD OF TRADE.
Mr.. Thurber Spoke in Favor, and
Erastus Wyman Against
The Bill.
Great Britain's Service Cited by Both Gen.
tlemen as Sample of What Can
and Can't be Done.
The Nicaragua Canal Scheme Also Discussed
The Afternoon Taken Up With a
Discussion Of Surplus
Reduction.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 19.-Before the
national board of trade Capt. Ii. {. lay.
lor, United States navy, read by courtesy
of the board an interesting paper on the
progress of the work on the Nicaragua
canal and the important commercial re-
suits to follow its construction. Captain
TAYLOR said that the requirements of COM
merce make it certain that there will be
transit for ships between the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans. The only questions are
when. where and how. The Nicaragua
route. with the lake as a summit level,
has been surveyed several times under the
auspices of the United States government,
and has been preferred by our engineers
and surveyors as the easiest, cheapest and
surest route for the solution OF the ques-
ton of isthnuS transit. A company OF
American citizens hold Il liberal concession
from Nicaragua. American engineers are
now on the ground. resurveying the route
and making the final location Of the line
of the canal There are no complicated
nolitical questions involved, as the transit
is already under the protection of the
United States by virtue of the Clayton
3ulwer treaty, and the treaty of 1867 be
tween the United States and Nicaragua.
There is no question of subsidy or guar
antee by our government. The cOmpanyS
charter recently introduced in the senate
by Mr.. Edmunds, provides for nothing
but an incorporation.
j, w Miller, Of New York, manager of
the Stcnington steamboat line, followed
Captain Taylor. He said the internal com
merce of our western states, seeking exit
through the Mississippi, is ready for the
markets of South America. The minerals,
grain and lumber of our Pacific states and
territories await new and cheaper canals
to the eastern markets. What may be the
DEVELOPMENT of trade Of Central America
the future must show, but today tonnage
exists to Weld to an isthmian canal II per
cent on capital of s100,090,0O0. Mr.. Mil
Ter argued the superiority of the Nicaragua
route. and declared that England and
Germany stand ready to avail OF the oppOr-
tunitv should it offer to control this route.
No action was taken upon the subject.
Postal Telegraph was the first subject
taken up Oh the regular program. MIR.
Thurber. of New York, spoke in favor of
the post department assuming charge of
the teleCraphy communication. He read
letter from Kerick i. Murray, secretary of
the London chamber of commerce. reply
ing to certain questions previously sub
mitted by Mr.. Thurber. Among the inn
pOrtant questlons anu dhS"eis dre Ihe lo!-
lowing:
Ouestion-Has the result of the Dur
chase and operation of the telegraph of
the government in Great Britain, been
successful or otherwise?
Answer-Successful as far as service is
concerned: but not financially to the post
Office. The government working of the
the telegraph has indeed been SO salts
factory that public opinion is now in favor
of their taking over and working the
cables to Europe, the monopoly of which
is now expiring.
O-Was the quckness and certainty of
the service improved or diminished?
A-The general belief is that the quick
ness certainty and secrecy OF the service
have improved under the postotfice.
Q-Has the increase in the number of
employees in the postotfice department been
productive Of political evils:
A-None worthy of being noted Slight
complaints have occasionally arisen in re
gard to promotion in different departments
of the postotiices, but considering the mag
nitude of the service, numbering "a 800
persons regularly employed and about
Il. 900 persons irregularly employed, it is
exceptionally free from political evils
There have been one or two agitationS for
increase of salary, one of which was sue
cessful.
Q.-Have improvements and invention in
telegraphic communication, IN cOnSe
uuence of the telegraphS being owned by
the government. ceased or diminished as
compared with those previous to the pur-
chase by the government?
A.-Not altogether ceased. as the post
office departments have in their employ
ment electricians and engineers who in
troduce improvements annually, or adopt
outside inventions when thought desirable
The inducement is probably not so great
Ito invent" as when the telegraphs were
in private hands.
Has the recent reduction in the price of
kilograms to six pence for twelve words
throughout Great Britain been of benefit to
the public, and how much has it decreas-
ed the revenue of the telegraphs and in
creased the number of kilograms.
1t has. undoubtedly, been great bene-
fit to the public, although the utility of
the change has been somewhat detracted
from the fact of the address being counted
in the words sent The number of mes
sages exclusive of railway. press, official
and foreign kilograms, which are not
affected by the reduced rate, and number
some ten millions, dispatched in 1861.
was 40, 49,, l75, compared with 3o,0S,, 500 in
1856. The revenue in 1857 was Il, 354.-
$40 against e. 81, COG in 1856. The num-
Der of messages thus shows an increase of
33 per cent, whilst the revenue only in
creased by q per cent. This was the first
Coinplete year u1itler the reduced rate.
Would the public be willing to have the
telegraphs go back into the hands of pri-
waite companies?
The overwhelming. in fact. almost
unanimous feeling would lie in opposition
TO the return to private management.
Mr.. Thurber added that the friends of a
postal telegraph in this country. contend
that the transmission of intelligence is a
government function. that electricity is the
most important means OF doing so, that
Geographic service has been extended to a
large number of places which would not
have enjoyed its benefits if the telegraphs
had remained in private hands: that the
service has been greatly improved is more
efficient in this country and a great deal
cheaper, that when the telegraphs were
taken hold of by the government the uni
form charge of Il shilling for twenty words
to any distance, resulted in an enormous
increase in the use of the telegraph. that
large additions to the plant have been
made and paid for out of
telegraphs have not each wear paid the
interest on the bonds issued for their pur-
chase. if they had been credited with these
betterments. and with the free service to
the government departments they would
have been able to show n credit sufficient
to pay the interest on the bonds and if |
they We're credited with the increased ser |
vice given the public beyond what the pri |
va6e companies were giving at the time
the telegraphs We're taken over. it would
show an enormous balance on the credit !
side, that private companies would never /
have tried the experiment of a reduction |
in rates first To shilling for twenty words /
ana subsequently To sin pence for twelve |
words
Erastus Wyman, of New York, spoke i'm !
opposition oo government control lie |
said that in the British postoiiice report of |
1887 the table of receipts and expenses for
the year 1880 to 1857. inclusive. show a |