The record-union., 1894-01-26
THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH,


In 1866, said the Postmaster General in
1890, it was proposed by the Government
to assume control of the telegraph lines
for the establishment of a postal tele-
graph system. These companies then
came forward and asked that no action be
taken until there had been time sufficient
to enable them to realize some profit on
their investments. Congress therefore
passed an Act allowing five years for that
purpose. Since then, said the Postmaster
General, the people have paid rates Gn
many cases and at many points excessively
that have earned over SlOO, 1000, 900, which
has been divided among stock kholders or
added to telegraph plants.
Under the Mcguire bill, twenty-eight
years having now elapsed. it is proposed
to construct Government postal telegraph
lines; not to buy the plants of existing
lines, nor to lease them. It is simply a
proposition to augment the efficiency of
the postoffice system by employing the
most speedy method known for the
transmission of intelligence long dis
tances. 1t is means that is free to the
world, not monopolized under patent,
nor made exclusive in the interest of the
few.
When the Government took its mails
from sailing vessels and transferred them
to steamers; when the railroad was util-
lied to the abandonment of the stage
coach; when the pneumatic tube was en-
ployed in place of the messenger, the
Government was not open to the
charge that it was opposing and breaking
down private industries. Yet it might
well be said upon the sentimental side of
the question that the owners of sailing
vessels, stage coaches and carrier sys-
TENS had cause for complaint that the
new methods were destructive of their
interests in the old. But no one would
be found to-day in all the world who
would have the temerity to make such a
plea as against the employment of the
best means for transmission of mail in
telligence which science, art and inven-
tion have devised.
1t is impossible to conceive of substan-
tial reason why the postal authorities of
the United States should continue to use
slow means of carriage when not more
expensive and far more rapid means of
transit for mail matter are free to their
hands. Whatever there is of negative
character in the case must relate wholly
to the question of economy-will it cost
greatly more than the present means?
1t may reasonably be assumed that the
establishment of a Government postal
telegraphic system will not lessen the
expenses of the postal department for
clerical hire. They will remain the same
for the same service. But it is clear that
the telegraph will lessen the volume of
mail matter to be carried, appreciably.
To that extent there will be less to pay
for pound or ton carriage. The saving in
that regard added to the income derivable
from postal telegraph delivery, will, it is
believed, fully meet and equal the outgo
for the current telegraphic service, while
there is reason to believe that the income
will exceed the outgo, because the present
post offices will become telegraphic
offices, and no additional cost for rental
or building be incurred.
The cost, therefore, to be considered is
the cost of construction, and this must be
contemplated facing period of not one.
or five or ten years, but as distributed
over very long period of time That
cost, and of maintenance also, must be
considered with the benefits to all the
people. in full view.
When the mail system was first estab-
lished by the Government, it was not
contemplated that it would be self-sup-
porting. The one overshadowing con-
sideration was the need and convenience
of the people. Yet in the light of the sue
cess of the telegrsphic system in Eng
land, there is every reason TO believe that
it will almost Immediately begin in this
country to make returns in excess of its
expenses in all the thickly settled por-
tons of the country, and will only in
sparsely populated regions be continu-
ing EXPENSE condition true of the mail
routes to-day in such sections.