The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-01-09
UNCLE SAM OWNS
SEATTLE:N0ME Line
Telegraph System Formerly Operated
For Military Reasons Now Being
Operated by United States Govt.
IS 5000 MILES IN LENGTH
Tolls Amounting To S183,769O7 Ia
ken In During Last Year-May
Add It To Postal Service

From Congressman G.. Fl. Iavenner
Washington, January 9-While
the discussion RACES over the pro-
priety Of the government engaging
in the telegraph and telephone BUSH
ness, Uncle Sam has settled the point
for himself by going into the COM
mercial telegraph business on rather
an extensive scale. Few persons in
the United States-expect those OF
far northwest, know that this is true.
But the fact is that the government
is now operating and has been OPP
Grating for some time over $500
miles OF federal telegraph and ca
BILE lines Moreover, the chief bust
ness done over these wires is COM
mercial, and last year Uncle Sam took
in over his counters $183,769.07 in
tolls from citizens who made use Of
the convenience.
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, AL
aska, and providing for the popula-
ton of Alaska l ,O47 miles Of inter-
ior telegraph 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 Post Department as an
auxiliary to the Alaskan postal SER
vice. This will undoubtedly be done,
and while the people of the United
States are still within the grip of
an extorionate telegraph monopoly,
the sparse population Of Alaska will
be receiving the benefits of a govern
ment wire service operated at cost
and developed according to the COM
mercial needs of the territory instead
of in a 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 pop
ulation is relatively sparse. Such
business has not been profitable, and
the corporations, who do not have
the public service motive, have been
unwilling to make the profitable
wires contribute to the deficit caused
by those in Improbable territory.
the telegraph convenience privately
owned, has not been given to the ru-
raj 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 scantly 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 COM
mercial business in Alaska at
rates as low or lower than
those charged by the private
companies in the most thickly set
tied portions Of the United States.
The minimum Alaskan rate on the
government lines is two cents a word
in comparison with the minimum
commercial rate in the United States
or IL cents a word. The heaviest
charge taken by the government is
IS cents a word, but this charge car
ries a telegram from Seattle to Nome,