The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-16
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''That during the year 1891, the COM
plainants income increased $672,07S
over the previous year, and, as defend
ants are informed and believe, it has
increased in the same proportion from
1882 up to the present time, so that its
present net profits exceed ten million
dollars per year, which is 200 per cent
upon the actual values rprsntingee. .6N
upon the actual values representing the
$97, 10000 of 'waterad stock That, as
the defendants are informed and believe,
from the year 1867 to the present time,
the complainant has received and distri-
buted amongst the holders of it's water
ed stock over one hundred and fifty mill
lions of dollars of profit. These defend
ants aver. that in the light of these
facts and figures the complainant is, and
has. always been collecting exorbitant
and unreasonable charges from the pub
hc not only in the State of North Caro-
lima, hut in every other State Of the
Union, and that if the charges should be
reduced to ten cents Il message of ten
words, without reference to distance,
the complainant would still make fair
and reasonable profit on the actual value
OF its lines, or upon the amount of money
required TO replace them.
Defendants further allege, upon in
formation and belief, that by adopting
the lower rate prescribed by the defend
ants, the said complainant, instead of
suffering a loss, would have an increase
Of business which would accrue to them
thereby, and an increase of it's profits.
That, as the defendants are informed
and believe, in Great Britain and Ire
land the rates on telegraph messages
are uniform for all distances, and are
one cent per word; in Germany the rate
is about the same, and in Austria is
less. That in France and Belgium the
rate is under ten cents for ten words
between any two points; and yet, as
defendants allege, the telegraph system of
these various countries have been op-
Grated at a handsome profit. That in
Belgium and Switzerland, a reduction of
one-half in the rates, produced double
business in one year, with very slight
increase of facilities; that in Canada a
reduction which applied to less than ten
per cent of the business augmented it
twenty-five per cent in the first year:
that in Prussia, in 1867, reduction of
81 per cent in the rate was followed by
an increase in the very first moth af-
ter the change of seventy per cent in
messages; that in France, in 1862, a re-
duction OF 35 per cent in the rate was
followed by an increase of GA per cent
In messages; that the Swiss inland rate
was reduced 80 per cent on January LIST,
1868, and in the first three months there
was an increase of 80 per cent in the
inland messages over the corresponding
months of the previous year. That in
England, a reduction of SO per cent on
three-tenths of the messages, and so per
cent on the remainder, caused an in
crease of 100 per cent in the business in
two years.
The Railroad Commissioners are repre-
sented in this case by the Attorney
General and by Col. John w. Hinsdale,
Edwards and Register, Chas. A. Cook
and w. G. Douglass. Attorneys for
the Western Union Company are John
Dillon, Rush Taggart. Stiles and Holli-
day and Robert @. Strong.