The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-22
Would Not Be Averse, 1t Is Reported,
to Dispose of Their Plants to
the Governments.
DR.. P. M. RIXEY PROMOTED
PLACED IN CHARGE OF THE SUR
gerry BUREAU OF THE NAVY.
Nomination of Francis f. Baker to BE
a Judge of the Seventh Circuit
Confirmed by the Senate.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-In various
forms reports and rumors continue to come
to Washington that the two great land
telegraph companies are preparing to offer
TO sell their systems to the United States.
So much is heard of this talk that the ex-
perienced observer is inclined to think there
is something in them. The popular antipa-
thy to government ownership does not en-
tirely obscure the fact that the time is
rapidly approaching when the telegraph
companies or the Postoffice Department will
have to concede good deal. AS the law
now stands the government maintains a
monopoly of mail communication. Wire
communication is left to private corpora
tions. 1t is considered fact that were ii
not for the government monopoly of mail
service there would be great improvement
in telegraphic service. In short, by modern
devices it would be possible to send long
letters by wire at a comparatively low cost
between cities. The telegraph companies
hesitate to do this because they would soon
come into competition with the government
If hundredword letters were transported
by wire between large cities for small sums
business men would soon desert the mails
for this means of communication. If the
Postoffice Department met this competition
it would be compelled to install a wire sery-
ice.
Within the last few years the telegraph
companies have greatly lost in their volume
of business by the use of leased wires by
the large commercial organizations. For
instance, the Standard Oil Company and
the United States Seel Company have teIe-
graphic systems of their own. The main
offices in New York are in touch with the
most important branches through a system
of leased wires. These wires are taken
from the railroad companies and not the
telegraphic companies. The business is
rapidly increasing, and leased wires are
in the reach of comparatively minor indus
trial institutions. The railroads themselves
are aiding their shippers by increased and
economical wire service The telegraph
companies object, but ii is of little avail
The telephone service is also cutting into
the straight telegraph business. The con-
ditions are changing SO rapidly that the
telegraph companies likely face the neces-
sity OF either selling out to the government
or entirely reOrganiZing their systems
both as TO scope and method. The first diff
fculty they will encounter in dealing with
the government If proposition TO sell is
made is that the same material plants in
duplicate could be installed for about one
NTH of what the government would be
asked 10 pay for the working system.
Indianians granted patents to-day were
Charles Berst, New Albany, punching reg
lister; Charles y. Bills, St. Joseph, derrick;
George L. Blake and G. NJ. Bell. Green
castle. boiler: Frank E Bright Laepel hay
rake; Jeffrey T. Ferries, Anderson folding
box; John w. Manering. Bowling Green,
saw guide.
Senator Fairbanks called up the Ander-
son and Muncie public building bills and
they were passed by the Senate to-day. Mr.
Fairbanks will send them to the House.
backed by strong reports and the advan-
tage that they have an early start.
a \. Young. of indianapolis. who has
been in the city several days on business
left for indianapolis this afternoon.
Senator Fleming. of Fort Wayne. who
has been in the city for several days on
private business, left this afternoon for