Year: 1875




Some months ago the country was gratifed
by the announcement that the Western
Union Telegraph Company, under the press
ure of competition by the Atlantic and
Pacific Company had reduced the rates of
telegraphy between New York. Albany, Bos-
ton, Washington and intermediate points.
We were told by the President of the latter
telegraph line General Eckert, that the time
had come when the great desideratum of
modern times, cheap telegraphy, would be
realized. The first sign of the millennium
was this reduction of rates. Shortly after
the announcement of the reduction it was
discovered that the whole scheme was a
stock-jobbing speculation of Jay Gould; that
he had bought largely into the Atlantic
and Pacific Telegraph Company that
he had induced a prominent officer.
of the Western Union to become its
president, and, having made what money
he could out of the rise of stock resulting
from these movements abandoned the enter
prise to its fate. We now learn that the two
companies, the Western Union and the At
lantic and Pacific. have resolved upon in
creasing their rates to what they were prior
to February Is. This is an advance of
twenty per cent Under the reduction mes
sages were sent at twenty-five cents for ten
words; they are now advanced to thirty cents
to Boston and intermediate points, fifty cents
to Newport and thirty-fve cents to Long
Branch. This announcement explodes the
great bubble of "cheap telegraphy with
which Mr.. Gould and his friends amused the
New York market six months ago. So long
as the lines in opposition to the Western
Union are governed by that company in their
tariffs there will be no cheap telegraphy.


The Atlantic and Pacific is, therefore,
nothing more than a tender to the greater
line. This announcement also will strengthen
the rumor that Jay Gould is endeavoring
to obtain control of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company; that having possessed him
self of one monopoly, the Pacific Railroad,
he desires another. There is the story that
Mr.. Orton, the President of the sWestern
Union, is assisting Mr. Gould in this scheme.
But this we do not for q moment credit. Of
course if Mr. Gould has money enough to
purchase controlling interest in the Western
Union Company it is his right to do 20, and
to do with his own property what
he pleases. But here comes q question
affecting the welfare of the people.
The telegraph system is as much part
of our daily comfort and convenience as the
postal system Now, suppose it were possi-
BILE for Jay Gould, or any other daring reck-
less speculator to obtain control of the Post
Office, and have the right to fix his own post
age rates, to give and withhold contracts, de-
termine what cities should or should not
have mail service, would it not be practically
a surrender of one of the most important
functions of government into the control of
a man who has never put his hand upon
any enterprise except to blight it-who is
the vampire of business to-day? The tele-
graph system is as important to the people
as the postal system. AS we advance in civ
ilization telegraphy will as surely usurp the
Post Office as the modern locomotive displaces
the old stage coach. The telegraph is moth
ing but an improved post Office What we
see in the movements of these spectators,
and the tendency to make this great interest
of the people mere fancy stock, shows that
we are in the presence of grave danger.


If this tendency to speculate in the tele-
graph interests, to make this great system
the mere football of a public enemy like Jay
Gould continues, the time will come when
hand and protect the people.