“In 1850 the private lines then in operation were purchased by the
government, and have since been under its management. The rates were
originally one franc and a half for a message of twenty words. At
these rates, the telegraph was little used for inland messages, and
its development was very slow. In January, 1863, they were reduced
to one franc, and December, 1865, to half a franc.”
By referring to the official tables published by the Belgian government,
on page 94, it will be seen that the average cost per message on the
Belgian lines in 1851 and 1852 was over 6 francs; in 1853, 5.10 francs;
1854 and 1855, over 4 francs; in 1856 and 1857, 3.62 and 3.42 francs;
from 1858 to 1862, over 2 francs; and even in 1867 they averaged 0.85
francs.