Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-12-19
pHoNoeRAPHs FOR PosToFFlces.

Messages to BE Sent in Mexico for About
Twice the Cost of Postage.
Lawyer Edwin IL. Fox returned on
Friday from Mexico, whittier he went in
the interest of Thomas Edison to arrange
the legal features of a contract with the
government for the general introduction
of the phonograph in the postoffices of
that country. He gave yesterday some
details of his mission, which, as already
announced, was successful, and of the
enterprise of which it was preliminary.
The contract was obtained for COM
pany which John NJ. Ceballos, of so
Wall street, is now forming 1t gives
the proposed company the exclusive
right for fifteen years to place phono-
graphs in the postoffices of the republic
for the use of people who cannot read or
WRITE The charge for a single phono-
graphic message has not yet been fixed;
it may be but medic, or six and a half
cents, and it may be a real, or thirteen
cents. To this charge must be added
one of ten cents for postage, which is
the rate at which letters are carried
from one part of Mexico to another, al
though letter may be sent from Mexico
to this country for only five cents. The
higher charge seems moderate when it
is known that the sender Of message
will be entitled to talk a thousand words
into the phonograph.
When he has said his say, the cylinder
containing his message will be inclosed
| in paper box, addressed by postoffice
clerk to its destination, and, after being
stamped, will be mailed like an ordinary
letter. The recipient of the cylinder can
either have the message spoken out to
him by thephonograph in the nearest
| postoffice, or he can have it transcribed
on paper for future reference. If every
patron ofthe phonograph sends thousand
word messages and every recipient in
sists on having them transcribed, the
Edison Phonograph company of Mexico
will lose money, but it is calculated that
! the messages will average certainly not
anything like the tenth and perhaps not
even the twentieth part of the limit. The
persons who are expected to use the
| monographs now employ scriveners to
write their letters for them. The scriv-
eners will probably have to do something
else when the monographs are set up.
By the terms Of the contract the com
pany is to take care of the machines and
keep them in order. This will not in
volve itehaving an agent at each post
Office at which there is monograph,
| for it is bound to instruct one of the
postoffice clerks in the use of the ma
chine, and the time consumed in this
way and in sending and receiving mes
sages is to be allowed for. The company
is to get rental for the use of the ma
chimes, and what remains of the proceeds
after deducting small percentage for
the government. AS already intimated,
all expenses are to be borne by the COM
pany, SO that whatever the government
gets will be clear gain. Only the large
postoffices will at first be provided with
monographs, but it is expected that in
the course of time the use of the instru-
ments will become quite general.
The machines are to be made at Mr..
Edison's factory in Orange and sent to
Mexico as wanted, but there will also
have to be a local establishment in the
city of Mexico where repairs will be
made and business connected with the
enterprise transacted. AS the company
expects to sell many of the machines to
the general public, a salesroom will be
part of this establishment.
Mr.. Fox took three monographs to
Mexico with him, one as present for
President Diaz, which poured out the in
strumental and other music which Mr..
Edison had poured into it at the labora,
tory in Orange, where concerts are still
given, with monographs for auditors,
several times a week. President Diaz
was quick to learn how to use the ma.
chine, and he sent back by Mr.. Fox a
cylinder containing message In Spanish
congratulating Mr.. Edison on his great
invention and himself that Mexico was
to get the benefit of it.-New York Sum-