The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-20
Most Important Subjects Discussed
and Acted Upon by the Board.
Government Control of the Tele'
graph Opposed and Favored.
The Recent Annual Message oi
President Cleveland Indorsed.
The Board Recommends a Speedy Re
duction OF the Existing Surplus,
Which Sips the Life Blood OF
Trade and Industry.

WASHINGTON, Jan. l9.-Before the ma
tionol board Of trade Capt II. @. Taylor,
U. S. NJ, read, by courtesy OF the board,
an interesting paper on the progress Of the
work on the Nicaragua canal and the inn
portant results to follow its construction.
Capt. Taylor said that the requirements
Of commerce make it certain that there
will be transit for ships between the At
lantic and Pacific oceans. The only ques-
tons are when, where and how.
The Nicaragua route, with the lake rs
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 question of isthmus transit
A company Of American citizens hold n
liberal concession from Nicaragua. Amer
lean engineers are now resurveying the
route and making the final location OF the
line Of the canal. There are no comph-
Gated political questions involved, as the
transit IL already under the protection Of
the United States by virtue OF the Clayton
Bulwer treaty and the treaty o; 1867 be-
tween the United States and Nicaragua.
There is no question OF subsidy of guar
antee by our government. The company's
charter, recently introduced in the Senate
by Mr.. Edmunds, provides for nothing
but an incorporation.
]. w. Miller, OF New York. manager Of
the Stonington steamboat line, followed
Capt. Taylor. lie 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
| 10 the eastern markets. What may be the
| development OF the trade OF Central
America the future must show, but today
a tonnage exists TO yield TO an isthmian
| canal IL per cent. on u capital OF SlO0, 600.
900. Mr.. Miller argued the superiority oi
| the Nicaragua route, and declared that
England and Germany stand ready q
avail OF the opportunity, should Il offer, tc
control this route. No action was taken
upon the subject.
POSTAL TELEGRAPH"
! was the first subject taken up on the rcgu
lar program. Mr.. 4. Il. Thurber, Of New
York, spoke in favor Of the postoilicc de
partmcnt assuming charge of telegraph,
communication lie read n letter fon
| Kenric B. Murray, secretary Of the Lon
don Chamber Of Commerce, replying 3,
certain questions previously submitted b,
Mr.. Thurbcr. Among the more importan
questions and answers are the following:
Qucslion--llas the result OF the pur
chase and operation Of the telegpphs o
the government in Great Britain beer
successful or otherwisc2
Answer-Succcssiul so far rs service I
concerned, but not financially 10 the post
office. Tho government working Of tn
tclcgraphs has indeed been NO salisiact0r!
that public opinion IN now In favor Of thci
taking over and working the cables q
Europe, the monopoly which is now cxpir
ing
Ques. Was the quickncs and ccrtaini,
OF the service improved or diminishedY
Ans.-Gencral belief Is that the quick
ness, certainty and secrecy have improyc'
under the postoilice.
Ques. .-llas theincrease In the numbe
Of employees In the postoilicc been produc
tive Of political cyils1
Ans.-None worthy of being noted
Slight complaints have occasionally arisci
In regard 10 promotion In different depart
ments OF the postoilice, but considering
the magnitude OF the service, numbering
5l,SO0 persons regularly employed AM
about 1900 irrcgularly employed, IL IL "a
ccptionally free from political evils.
There have been one or two agitations 10
increase Of salaries, one OF which WIS sue
cossful.
Ques. Have improvements aud inycn
tions In tclcgruphic communication. Il
consequence oi the telegraphs being owne
by the government, ceased or diminishc
~ compared with those previous 10 tli
purchase 10y the government
Ans.-Not altogether ceased. as IN
postoilice department have In their emplo
eminent electricians and engineers VIII
introduce improvements annually, Q
adopt outside inventions when though
desirable. The induccment IN probabl
, not No great "lo invent" ~ when the tcl,
craps were in private hands.
Ques.-IIs the recent reduction In IN
price Of telegams 20 pence for twcly
words throughout Great Britain been /,
benefit 10 the public, and how much hl
Il decreased the revenue Of the telegraph
: anu llfftlnfu lllt UNulntf ~ ltlcFfNiihl
Ans. 1t has undoubtedly been OF grci
, benefit 10 the public, although the uiilit
Of the change has been somewhat detmcte
from by the fact Of the address bcin
counted In the words sent. The numb,
,, Of messages Of railway, pres
I, official and foreign kilograms, which NJ
not affected by the reduced rate, fo'
2 up some 10000, O,OO0--dispaiched IN 1885,
WIS 30, 1919, compared with 30,0S7, n
! In lSs5-s6. The revenue In lSS8-s7 WI
/, El,35i, $40, against el, ,277,0 ,008 In 1853
! The number Of messages thus shows q
increase Of 80 per cent, whilst the rev
nue. only increased by per cent. tn
was the first complete year under tho n
duced rate.
Ques.-would the public be willing
Q have the tclepaphs 90 back into the hand
: Of private companicR
, Ans.-Thc overwhelming, In fact almo
: unanimous feeling would be In oppoeiiio
= 10 the return 10 private management.
o Mr.. Thurber added that the friends Of
= postal telegraph In this country conten
That the transmission Of intelligence Is
y government function; that electricity Is II
u most important means Of doing 10; th
telegraphic service has been extended 20
y large number Of places which would M
have enjoyed iis benefits u the telcgrapl
y had remained In private hands; that n
service has been greatly improved, "A mo