Imperial Valley press., 1914-01-14
Uncle Sam Now
Operating Wires
(By Congressman c. H. Tavenner).

(By Congressman c. H. Tavemer).
Washington, Jan. 13.-While the
discussion RACES over the propriety
of the government engaging in the
telegraph and telephone business, Un-
Gle Sam has settled the point for him
self by going into the commercial
telegraph business or rather an ex-
tensive scale. Few persons in the
United States-except those in the
far northwest, know that this is true.
But the fact is that the government
is now operating and has been oper-
ating for some time, over $500 miles
of federal telegraph and cable lines
Moreover, the chief business done
over these wires is commercial, and
last year Uncle Sam took in over his
counters $1S3,769.O7 in tolls from cit
liens who made use of the conven-
ience.
This is all contained in the newly
issued report of the chief signal Of
ficer Of the army, who is in charge Of
the bureau which administers this
telegraph system. The line is known
as the Washington-Alaska military
cable and telegraph system, connect
ing Seattle, Wash, with Nome, Alas
ka, and providing for the population
of Alaska 1O47 miles of interior tele-
graph lines.
There is no longer any military
necessity for this system, and in his
recent report the chief signal officer
advocates that the system be turned
over to the postoffice department as
an auxiliary to the Alaskan postal
service, This will undoubtedly be
done, and while the people Of the
United States are still within the grip
of an extortionate telegraph monop-
oily, the sparse population Of Alaska
will be receiving the benefits of a
government wire service operated al
cost and developed according to the
commercial needs Of the territory in
stead of in way to best suit the
profits of private corporation.
The telegraph corporations within
the United States proper will build no
lines into territory where the popula-
ton is relatively sparse. Such busi-
ness has not been profitable, and the
corporations, who do not have the
public service motive, have been un-
willing to make the profitable wires
contribute to the deficit caused by
those in improbable territory. Conse-
quently, the telegraph convenience
privately owned, has not been given
to the rural districts of the United
States at all, but merely connects up
towns and cities.
The American telegraph companies
would not think of constructing lines
into territory as scantily settled as
that of Alaska. And if it did con-
struct such lines, it's rates would be
out of reach of ordinary people.
The government, on the other hand
has been able to handle commercial
business in Alaska at rates as low
or lower than those charged by the
private companies in the most thickly
settled portions of the United States.
The minimum Alaskan rate on the
government lines is two cents a word,
in comparison with the minimum COM
rate in the United States of
21s cents a word. The heaviest charge
taken by the government is 38 cents
a word, but this charge carries a tel
egram from Seattle to Nome, over
1900 miles of submarine cable, then
relayed hundreds of miles over land
by wire, and finally wirelessed to its
Linked up with this fed
eral telegraph are 10 wireless stations
reaching into the more inaccessible
districts.
It is true that this service is given
to Alaska below cost. The govern
ment is not trying to make this light