Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-09

sA.sNvser, ~ III IS based on our commercial
ia M, IL necessarily IL reduced with IL.
iuo question OF our press rate has been
much discussed with the nress associa-
tons, who, having many lines leased
Which they operate themselves. are quite
ielniliar with The cost Of rendering IL, as
tney are with tho cost Of the like service In
other countries and il was found aud adj
mitted that the press rate Of this country,
considering distances Is the lowest OF any
country M the world and the most liberal
IN is application.
81, On the signal-seryice report since 1872
the rate has been reduced as in case OF
otner Government service, by lengthening
the circuits TIL about 1884 the circuit for
signal-service paying three cents per word
was counted as practical working circuit.
a compound circuit. requiring the uso Of
reporters, as from New York TO Milwaukee
with drops was charged and paid for as
TWO circuits, OF at the rate Of siN cents per
word. So als0 were the circuits from New
YORK TO PASSPORT, Me, and from Ciucin-
natl 10 New Orleans, whilst the circuit
from Chicago to San Francisco was
rated az -four circuits, or twelve
cents per word. San Francisco, san
Diego, and san Francisco TO Olympia,
W. T., were each rated and paid for as
three circuits, or niuc cents per word.
Others were counted double OF triple cir
cults. Now We are only paid three cents
per word for each Of these circuits 50 that
the rate for sicnal-service reports has on a
number OF circuits been reduced TO one
half and on others 20 one third Of the
amount previously paid. II we had been
paid last year for this signal service on the
same basis as IN 1879 We would have re-
ccived nearly twice - much as We did.
Whilst the rate on Government mes
sages fixed go nearly at the cost Of the ser
e Ar.a. oy.sts Id a..
and could not be expected % have core
spending reduction with the rates TO the
public from time TO time. yet the facts
show that on large class of Government
business the reduction has been much
greater than that made % the public. Up
TO July, 1877. the Government rate was one
cent per word for 80 miles OF less and one
cent per word for each additional $50 miles
or fraction thereof WithnOt less than TWEEN
FIVE words TO be counted for fraction less
than 1000 miles therefor, the rate for
twenty-five word message was 81 ; tor 1000
miles 70 was a. and for 5000 miles
n WAS 8. for $50 miles It was Is cents, and
for 300 miles u was 30 cents, whilst for $50
miles or less IL has remained the same ex-
cept that the minimum IS twenty words
instead Of twenty-five words. Since 1884
the rates on the same message for 5000
miles would be G3 cents for 1000 miles, 50
cents for 900 miles, and all distances IN
der that u cents. The reduction, there
fore on the long distances was about S0pcr
sent. ON 1000 miles 70 per cent, on 1000
miles ~ per cent, on $50 miles 6OpeT cent,
on 800 miles aud down tORnythDg over $50
miles 80 per cent. while for 25O miles and
less 10 has remained the same. The average
reduction i'm twelve wears has probably
been i'm the neighbOrhood Of 80 per cent.
For the year ending July, 1877, our average
rate 10 the public was 43 Clio per message.
Last year IL was 81 I-l0 cents per mes
sage. tho reduction 20 the pubic
being something less than 30 per cent.
In the same period the cost 10 the
company Of handling mess ages has been
reduced from 90 $40 cents per message TO
2} 2-l0 cents, being about % per cent. SO
that the reduction on the Government ser
vice has been two and half tunes greater
than the reduced cost Of handling the mes
sages and two ffths greater than the re-
duced rate on commercial messages. The
sum Of it all Is that the Government
has given nothing that cost the Gov
eminent ANYTHING or that was OF
tain. nothing that has not been
worth more - the Government and the
public that we should have tnan 1t has
been worth 10 us, whilst III consideration
/ therefor tho Government, 10y its renewed
/ power. has been making IA saving for "A
/ number Of years at the rate OF nearly, II
not quite, 500. OOO year in the cost Of its
| telegraph service below what other GUS
| toners pay, whilst it enjoys rs II should
aprcferred service over ala other business.
have the honor 10 remain
Very respectfully yours,
NOKvIN GREEN. President.
Z. S.-Althoueh have treated The press
service as not properly comparable with
the Transmission of Government messages
[ desire 10 say IN point of fact if the Gov
eminent had paid us during the past several
years the rates stipulated 10y contract with
| the Associated Press on news dispatches
| bearing one address the aggregate revenue
for the Government service would have
been larger than 1t was at the rates the
| Government paid hoKyIN GREEN.