The Louisiana populist., 1897-02-19

knew, without reading the refutations
of learned men, that the companies
pleas from one to ten we're lies and
sophistries; that their only real OBJ
lection was the loss Of an opportunity !
for unjust profits.
In 1868, as We have said, the cham
bers Of commerce petitioned the COM
mons, charging the existing telegraph
system with extortion, error and made |
ouacy. Mr.. Scudamore's reports and
the committees investigations gave
Overwhelming evidence Of the truth
of the charge and of the advantages of
a national system. The press urged
change. The liberal leader, Mr.. Glad
stone, then as always anxious for the
public veal and for thaG alone, took
up the measure, bore down the oppo-
sition of the companies and secured
the passage of Jaw July 81. 1855 en-
abling the postmaster general to pur-
chase the whole, or any part he thought
fit, of any existing telegraph property.
And in 1869 another act was passed
giving the postoftice the exclusive
control Of the telegraph business.
On the 29th of January, 1870, all the
telegraphs in the kingdom became an
integral part Of the postoftice. The
government bought from the compa-
nies 1900 miles Of wire, with equip
ment, for $32, ,10S.214. or s416 mile.
The lines had cost the companies on
ly $11 100000, and were really worth
the time OF the transfer not more
than sS,O00,O00t This was Englands
mistake. She paid at least four times
the value of the lines, probably more.
The French government put up 6S,-
900 miles of wire, with equipment, 10Y
S65 to $66 mile When the acts OF
1S6S-69 were passed, in spite OF all the
companies could do, they determined
at least to make the transfer as diiil-
cult and costly as possible. 1t was
easy to raise the value Of stock in con-
temptation Of government purchase
Such rise would be apt to take place
to some extent even without manlpu'
lation. In some cases shares that were
selling for $125 in 1S66-67 realized the
holders $400 when the lines were sole
to the government The shares OF an
other company rose from S132 in No
vember, 1867, to S255 at the time of th'
government purchase. In anothe
company the shares rose from $50 t
s133. And yet the companies did no
always get what they asked by an
means. The Northeastern railway com
pany claimed f54O,292 In compensation
for its telegraph department, besides
large sum for interest. It was awarde
In all f16S,696. The Metropolitan Rail
way company claimed in all f45S ,0Ol
and were awarded f51,907 These tw
instances out of more than twenty sui
fee to show the extent to which tn
fraudulent greed Of the companle
would have bled the country If it ha
had its way unchecked.
. The governments first move wa
the rapid extension Of the lines Int
districts hitherto unprovided with teIe
, graph facilities, and the reduction
the tariff to the uniform rate OF on
! shilling for twenty words, social
commercial, and seventy-fve woro
press by day. 100 words by night, a
t irrespective Of distance, reductlo
estimated at one-third to one-half.
Y The result was vast and immedla'
t increase in the popular use OF the tei'
graph. Social messages and newspaps
traffic developed enormously. The tel
graph became something more than a
: aid TO speculation and began to be
= use TO the people. =
s In respect to adequacy the super
ority OF the English system is equal
Il clear. 1t would not be fair to compa
the number Of offices or messages p
n square mile, for England is more thic
ly populated than the United State
d but 1t is fair to compare the relate
l. between telegraph facilities and post
Is facilities in the two countries. Gre
Britain has 1000 postoffices and 100
r telegraph Offices. less than one-1our
ot of which are railroad Offices. The We!
s. ern Union (the Mackay offices a
It. mostly needless duplications) has :
a. 900 Offices (about three-fourths
rs which are railroad offices or situat
le at places inconvenient or inaccessit
Il to the general public, such as stock
re changes, policy shops, etc), as agall
b. 10000 postoffices. The relation
m tween telegraph and postoffice Is the
H. fore to in Great Britain and l
.ir 31h here, including the railroad ofilc
n and one to 2.6 in Great Britain as co
he pared with to 10 in the United Stat
I'LL taking the commercial offices alon
that is, to every fourteen postofhces
ew Great Britain there are seven efticl
cir telegraph offices, while in this coun
- to every fourteen postoftices there
mt not more than four efficient telegrs
hit offices, and, considering the comm
Mt. cial Offices alone, there are over five
w. fourteen postofices over the sea
cir about one to fourteen postoffices h
ard 7
,n- Cuba is a slaughter pen which she
lst be taken charge of by Uncle Sam
,on ,oout long enough to nut stop to