The Washington times., 1894-06-01
MEY IT DON'T Paw


The subsidized tools OF the telegraph monop-
oily never tire OF ringing the changes on the
fact that the English governmental telegraph.
operated In connection with the postal ser
vice, is conducted at Il loss. But, admitting
this to be true, they are very careful to keep
in the background the other important fact
that the users of the telegraph get the benefit
which the government is called upon to pay.
The British government assumed control OF
all the telegraph lines in Great Britain in
February. 1876. purchasing the property OF the
existing companies. An enormous price was
paid: probably three or four times the rial
value OF the lines. The reason given for this
liberahty was that It was considered only fair
that as the business OF the companies WAS
about to be destroyed they should receive
some compensation for the loss, and therefore
the estimated profits for period OF twenty
years was added to the purchase price. The
total amount paid was fl0.o00,0o0. or nearly
550, 600 000, for which bonds were issued, and
the interest on these bonds helps materially
to pile up the deficit.
II may lie argued that were the United
States government to assume control of the
telegraph lines in this country it would have
the same difficulties TO meet. and would be
Just Us likely to be stuck in the transaction rs
was the British government in 1870 This
Goes not follow by any means. Our govern
;nent is under no Obligation moral or other
wise, to purchase the existing lines. The two
bills now before Congress contemplate tho
construction OF entirely new systems. And
even if they did not the act Of 1856 provides
for the appointment of appraisers in ease
Congress should at any time decide to take
charge of the telegraph for postal, military.
or other purposes.
The real reason why the English postal
telegraph does not pay is that the people are
furnished the best teleGraphic facilities NJ the
lowest possible cost For the same reason
the postal service of this country shows an
annual deficit every year of several millions
OF dollars. The government aims to give the
people a cheap and, as nearly as possible, Il
perfect mail service. Cut of the costly star
routes and the service 10 isolated communi-
ties and our Post Oflice Department would
show, even at the present low rates OF post
age. handsome surplus instead of shortage.
The English telegraph lines in 1890 trans
mitted nearly as many kilograms. with only
175, 900 miles of wire, as the Western Union
Company in 1893. with nearly 500 900 miles of
wire. showing clearly that the superior ad-
vantages of the telegraph for speedy COM
munication was availed Of by a proportion
ately larger number OF people on the other
side.
Experts declare that a satisfactory system
OF telegraph lines can be constructed in this
country for from twenty TO twenty five mil
lions of dollars. The receipts of the Western
Union last year were nearly twenty-five mil
lions, the profits on which were almost seven
millions and half. At these figures it would
not take long for the system TO pay for itself.
A better service could be rendered under gov
ernment control at one-fourth the expense.
The business would increase enormously in
short time, and there is not particle of
doubt that an ordinary message could be sent
at 1O-cent rate and the business be SELF
sustaining.