Evening journal., 1890-03-15
4 New Postal releeraph Sch eme.


WASHINGTON, March ia new PROPOSE
tion in connection with the proposed estab-
lishment of a government postal telegraph
system was made to the house committee on
postoifices and post roads by J. NJ Seymour,
a member Of the New York Stock Exchange.
Mr. Seymour stated that he represented a
number of well known capitalists who were
willing to build lines and maintain postal
telegraph system under government super
vision in accordance with the provisions Of
the postmaster generals bill, or to operate
on a uniform twenty-five cent rate.
The means by which the gentlemen repre-
sented by himself hoped to make the under
taking a success was by what is known as
the Patten mntiplex telegraph system,
which he said has been in successful opera
ton in New York and Philadelphia for the
past six months. The syndicate proposed to
build and maintain the lines needed, TO
furnish operators, power and stationery,
and to have the right to build and be pro-
tected in constructing lines over all postal
roads They asked to be exempt from fed
eral and state taxation. In cities where
the postoffices we're cramped for want Of
room the syndicate proposed to furnish its
own offices. 1t was desired TO make a con-
tract with the government for fifteen years
government would take the lines at the end
of that time at a value to be appraised by
experts. Mr.. Seymour said that he would
rather not give the names OF his associates
/ in the scheme, but be assured the committee
that they were all we'll known throughout
the commercial world. They were willing
to give bond of 100000 as a guarantee
that they would carry out any contract with
the government The syndicate expected,
he stated. to be allowed to do a private
business outside of the government work.
| Mr.. Seymour claimed that had the Western
Union used the Patten system last year its
expense would have been s6,000,000 instead
Of sl6,OO0,OO0.
Inventor Patten Talks.
F. Jarvis Patten, Of New York, the in
ventor Of the system referred to by Mr..
Seymour, described it so the committee.
BY it the carrying capacity OF one wire was
equal to eight or even twelve wires under
the present Morse system. To maintain the
lines under the Patten system would cost
about 70 per cent. less than under the pre-.
sent systems Mr. Seymour stated that il
was proposed to lease wires to newspapers
at almost nominal rates, and to reduce
press rates about SO per cent. To establish
the system under the provisions Of the post
master generals Dill would cost, ne De
lieved, about S7,OOO,OOO A complete system
covering the entire country would cost S25,
100000.
Flower on the Harlem River Project
WASHINGTON, March Is Representative
Quinn, Flower and Tracy, Of New York
made arguments before the house com
mittee on rivers and harbors in regard K
the necessity of providing for large i'm
provements to the Hudson river and New
York harbor.
Representative Flower, aftersspeaking o.
the necessity for improving the Hudson
river ports, devoted himself 70 the Harlem
river project He contended that the Har
lem river should properly be used largely
by the canal boats and barges which coml
from the Erie canal and obstruct the navi
cation OF New York harbor. The easiel
congress made it for vessels to get in ant
out of New York harbor the greater woulS
be the benefit to the country Of large Ever
New Yorkers did not realize the importanc
OF the small streams and indentures abou
New York harbor. Some of these cree
were very important. He had seen $500
4; barrels Of l,nglish chalk unloaded ata ware
house - YD.-..a.a ~ASek sns slA4a. -