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Editorial
November 9, 1846
Alexandria Gazette
Alexandria, Alexandria County, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
Editorial from Baltimore criticizes unreliable private telegraph lines to Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, praises reliable government Washington line, and urges Congress via Postmaster General to purchase and control all lines for public benefit, noting their profitability despite gratuitous use of government line.
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THE TELEGRAPHS.
There is something radically wrong with all the telegraphs between here and Boston; and we hope that some arrangement will be made to secure the transmission of intelligence with regularity and certainty, as is, and has ever been the case, from the day it opened, of the telegraph between here and Washington. This line was the first put up, and it might be expected that others would have been an improvement upon it; but so far from improving, they are so much behind it, that whilst the Washington telegraph is a great public convenience, and can be relied on in all weather and for all kinds of news, the others are so often out of order that they are only a public annoyance. We do not know with whom lies the fault; but we only speak of the fact that the telegraphs hence to Philadelphia, New York and Boston, are so often out of order that they are, instead of a convenience, an annoyance.
While on this subject we may add, that every reason of public and private advantage requires that the line of telegraphs should be owned and controlled by the government. The apprehension that they would not pay, has been demonstrated to be erroneous, by even the imperfect operation of the lines now in use. We understand indeed, that the profits of the lines between this city and New York has been very large: and it is certain that the line to Washington would pay very well, too, if the use of it were not, as we understand is the case, given to the private companies owning the other lines, for nothing—so that for all messages transmitted from Washington to Philadelphia or New York, or the reverse, nothing is received by the Washington line.
We do not know on what grounds this gratuitous use of the Washington line, which belongs to the government, is given to the private companies owning the other lines; but suppose there is some good reason for it, or it would not be given to them. That it is so gratuitously used is however, very necessary to be known in deciding upon the profit what it might be made to yield.
We hope the question of purchasing the lines by the Government will, at the next session, be pressed upon the attention of Congress, by the Postmaster General, in a manner to ensure favorable action upon it.—Balt. Pat.
There is something radically wrong with all the telegraphs between here and Boston; and we hope that some arrangement will be made to secure the transmission of intelligence with regularity and certainty, as is, and has ever been the case, from the day it opened, of the telegraph between here and Washington. This line was the first put up, and it might be expected that others would have been an improvement upon it; but so far from improving, they are so much behind it, that whilst the Washington telegraph is a great public convenience, and can be relied on in all weather and for all kinds of news, the others are so often out of order that they are only a public annoyance. We do not know with whom lies the fault; but we only speak of the fact that the telegraphs hence to Philadelphia, New York and Boston, are so often out of order that they are, instead of a convenience, an annoyance.
While on this subject we may add, that every reason of public and private advantage requires that the line of telegraphs should be owned and controlled by the government. The apprehension that they would not pay, has been demonstrated to be erroneous, by even the imperfect operation of the lines now in use. We understand indeed, that the profits of the lines between this city and New York has been very large: and it is certain that the line to Washington would pay very well, too, if the use of it were not, as we understand is the case, given to the private companies owning the other lines, for nothing—so that for all messages transmitted from Washington to Philadelphia or New York, or the reverse, nothing is received by the Washington line.
We do not know on what grounds this gratuitous use of the Washington line, which belongs to the government, is given to the private companies owning the other lines; but suppose there is some good reason for it, or it would not be given to them. That it is so gratuitously used is however, very necessary to be known in deciding upon the profit what it might be made to yield.
We hope the question of purchasing the lines by the Government will, at the next session, be pressed upon the attention of Congress, by the Postmaster General, in a manner to ensure favorable action upon it.—Balt. Pat.
What sub-type of article is it?
Infrastructure
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
Telegraph Reliability
Government Ownership
Public Convenience
Telegraph Profits
Postmaster General
What entities or persons were involved?
Postmaster General
Congress
Private Companies
Washington Telegraph Line
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Government Ownership Of Telegraph Lines
Stance / Tone
Advocacy For Government Control And Purchase Of Telegraphs
Key Figures
Postmaster General
Congress
Private Companies
Washington Telegraph Line
Key Arguments
Telegraphs Between Baltimore And Boston, Philadelphia, New York Are Unreliable And Often Out Of Order
Washington Government Owned Telegraph Line Is Reliable And Convenient
Government Ownership Would Ensure Public And Private Advantages
Telegraph Lines Are Profitable, As Shown By New York Line
Washington Line Is Used Gratuitously By Private Companies, Reducing Its Profits
Congress Should Be Urged By Postmaster General To Purchase The Lines