A Postal Telegraph

I ii this country it is the reeojjnized prov,Inee of the government to transniit tlie correspondence of the people resident within its domain. Xext to the surety of delivery comes ccJerity. The reliability oí our postal ayatcai s already asiuicil, and tbc limit of speed by rail is nearly ittalned, yet :i busy, impatlent race o f business men (Iemand still greatcr t'aeilitics of correspondence at lower rat es titan now exist, so their attentloo turna towards the telegraph and teleplione for relief. lïut the latter is not as yet well enougli developed to be relied upon for long disfauces, thereforc the telegraph more properly comes to be cousidered as a general oarrylng agent. At present we are so uiifortiinate as to flnd the telegraph of the whole country under the control of a single monopoly, eharging us what it will for the gain of its stockholders. Mauy small companies have at times been started, but sooner or later the octopus has drawn them in and swallowed them alive and kicking. In the light of' these facts, while we do not joiu the pessimists, who wofully predict the ruin of the country from monopolies, we do think that the inlerests of the people will be best served if something is encouraged whlch can niake a stand against the telegraphic Corporation. England controls her telegraph and manages it at low rates for the benelit of her subjects, Many of the supporters of our Kepublic ask that it too take into its chaifre this, the most rapid means of conveylng thought for distances. The yearly overplus of national revenues is now embarrassing financiers, but if turued Into a right channel itwouldafford us not only a relief but in a few years, a complete dupllcatlon of the entira Western Union lines. The main objection to it is, that by hl-inging t under government control the agents will have to be appointed as the postmasters and other officials are, and the civil service list thereby will be enormously increased to tho no small dauger oí l'urther corruptlon In politics. It must be acknowledged that there is some l'orce to the objection, j'et In the minds of many the advantages will outweigh the objections. A. proper enforcement of beneiicial civil service rules will put the overnment in control of a great engiue for its own business and in the service of the people a ready and obedient agent for thecheap transmission of tlioir nipid!} increasing business.