Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-23
WOMEN LOSING
TELEGRAM FEAR
Thousands of Western Union
Night Letters on Break
fast Tables Daily

In the present prosperity of the
Western Union Telegraph COMPANY re-
fiected in the steady advance of its
stock, predicated upon an increase in
net income for the last quarter of 80
per cent over the same quarter in
1919, no small part has been played
by the avidity with which the Ameri-
can public has seized upon the use of
the night letter for both business and
social communication. While there is
also a large use of the day letter, its
use had not approximated the use of
the night letter which can be sent I'D
10 o'clock in the morning from any
part of the United States to any other
part to be delivered at breakfast time.
SIX years ago there were no night
letters. Tonight, unless some catas-
trophe destroys the Western Union
system, its lines will carry approx
mately 10000 night letters of fifty
words or less. There will be about
two-thirds that number of day letters
sent OF the 100, 900, 900 messages a
year sent over the Western Union
lines. 100000 are night letters,
illustrating the remarkable growth of
this auxiliary TO the telegraph service.
About 100000 day letters are sent
annually. This growth has taken place
IN the case of the night letters since
1910, and in the case OF the day letters
year has been about 20 per cent, and
the company expects like increase in
the ensuing year.
12,OO0.000 Night Letters n Year
The night letter was started by the
western Union in 1910 because II
wished to make some use of its great
facilities lying idle at night It was
decided to make the experiment of
giving its patrons the opportunity to
send nifty words at night for the cost
OF a ten-word day message, to be de-
iNered at the start of business the
next day. The idea took from the
start. Business men found they could
SEND to their travelling salesmen at the
close OF the days business important
information which their men would
have at the start. of the next DAVIS
business quicker than letter, by DAYS
In some cases, and much cheaper than
the old rate Of message. Then the
man away from home began to send
his wife night letter, which she read
at breakfast the next morning. Bust
ness houses began to send appeals to
customers by the night letter. Then
the western Union went after the
business in earnest and now there are
100000 night letters annually
Women's Fear of Telegrams
But the old-time fear of the tele-
gram has not been altogether over
come by the night letter. Only this
month. when the nationwide use of
the night letter was suggested in con-
nection with the celebration of
Mothers Day on May IA. by which
sons and daughters could send words
OF cheer to the ''old folks at home" it
was suggested that the mothers would
receive fear along with the telegram
which would counteract the words of
cheer they would read when they
opened it. 1t was at first suggested
that special envelopes be used which
would bear the words This is a
Mothers Day telegram" This was
discarded because 1t was too expen-
sive. Special Mothers Day blanks
were furnished and the rest of the
problem was solved by instructing all
messenger boys delivering such mes
sages to say to the recipient Madam.
this is Mothers Day message" Tele-
graph officials hope even this precau-
tion Will not be necessary in year or
two.
Telegraph officials believe that the
business and social possibilities of the
telegraph have only been tapped. They
believe there will be more new uses
and greater amplifcations OF the serv-
ice. AS the night letter was inauRIl-
rated in 1910 to supply a use for facili-
ties at night, the day letter was started
to use the valleys in the service
facilities. There are peaks" in the
business at 10 o'clock in the morning
! AT noon and at the closing OF business
around 4.sO o'clock. Bstwaen the