“The lowest American rates are higher than the average foreign
rates, and the average rates several times higher than the foreign.
These high rates retard the development of the system, which was
more rapid in its early growth in this than in any other country.
What are the reasons assigned for these high rates? Are they well
founded, and if not, how can they be obviated?”
These assertions are entirely erroneous, and the facts quite the
reverse. _The highest American rates are lower than the highest foreign
rates; the average American rates are lower than the average foreign
rates; and the lowest American rates are lower than the lowest foreign
rates._ The lowest rate given in Europe is half a franc, about equal to
14⅘ cents in currency, while our rate between Baltimore and Washington
is only 10 cents. In Paris the tariff on city messages is half a franc
(14⅘ cents), and in London, for city messages, 6_d._ sterling, equal to
18 cents in our currency; while the rates for New York, from the Battery
to Harlem River, are only 10 cents.
In order that a fair comparison may be made between the American and
European systems of telegraphy, so far as the rate of charges is
concerned, we present a list of sixty of the principal stations in
Europe, and the same number in the United States, with the tariffs and
distances in air lines from London and New York respectively, together
with the rules and regulations of each system.