The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-10
MONEY SPENT FOR TELEeRAPHlNe
Figures That Give One Some idea OF
What IL Coeta 20 Ru,, an Novr,oono,

Figures That Give One Some idea of
What 1t Costs to Run u Newspaper.
The records of the Western Union
Telegraph company may be consulted
to show the extent Of the expenditures
by the individual newspapers and the
Associated Press for telegraphic tolls
alone
During the year ending June 80,
1890, the Western Union Telegraph
company delivered at all stations $685.
0SS, 43S words of regular" or Asso-
ciated Press report. This was deiv-
cred to an average of two newspapers
in each place, at an average cost of
fifteen cents per 100 words for each
place. This is rendered possible only
by the great number of places served
on a circuit, from thirty to forty being
supplied in some cases at the same
time.
During the same period the company
handled 206, OPS, 094 words of specials,
at an average cost of fifty-one cents per
hundred words. These figures do not
include reports transmitted by the As
ISOLATED Press over its leased wires, or
special correspondence sent on individ-
ual newspapers leased wires. Esti-
mating these two classes and the re-
ports of the outside press, there was
delivered to the newspapers during that
year an aggregate amount of 1,500,-
600, 900 words of telegraph news.
On the regular service little more
than % per cent. is handled by the tel
egraph company in the daytime, while
on the special service only about 5 per
cent. of the volume is handled in the
daytime. The day rate is twice the
night rate. On the Associated Press
leased wires the proportions are "a
per cent. of day report to 36 per cent.
of night report, and the difference
in cost the same as by Western Union
lines. The total press receipts by the
telegraph company for the year ending
June 80, 1890, including regular, special
and leased wires, were 81, 848, 247.29.
1t should be borne in mind that these
figures do not include tolls on Other
lines or cable tolls, or the wages Of
correspondents and operators, or mis-
cellaneous expenses, or the sums paid
for news by both individual newspaper
and the Associated Press, which would
aggregate very large sum.
One very interesting feature of news
service, of which the public has ne
knowledge, is telegraphing in cases O
storms and Interruptions. It is on sucl
occasions that the utility of vast sys
tenn Is made manifest During thu
blizzard of March, 1888, for instance
the Washington report was sent t.
Philadelphia via New Orleans, Mem
phis, st. Louis, Chicago and Pittsburg
while New York city received it from
Albany, it having reached Albany vii
New Orleans, st. Louis, Chicago, Cleve
J land and Buffalo
A more extraordinary case is that O
Boston, which received CONDENSED
report from New York via London,
being sent by one cable from New Yorl
to London, and thence back by an
other cable which lands in New Hamr
shire. Boston is frequently served wit
7 New York news via Montreal, and Al
, bany via Pittsburg and Buffalo, tn
route being via the Pennsylvania raj
road to Pittsburg, thence across vi
! Cleveland to Buffalo, and thence dow,
t the New York Central to Albany
William Henry Smith in Century.