It seems scarcely worth while to follow Mr. Hubbard in his statements
regarding the capital of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and the
cost of its lines. We have given a statement on pages 37 to 40 of the
organization of this company, the amount of its capital, length of
lines, and other matters of interest.
Mr. Hubbard’s statement that the directors of the Western Union
Telegraph Company have steadfastly refused to reduce rates until forced
by competition, and then consolidated with the competing company, and
again raised the rates, is without the slightest foundation in fact. We
have previously stated that no increase in the rates has been made since
the consolidation with the United States and American companies, but, on
the contrary, they have been reduced to more than one thousand stations,
while the opposition have less than three hundred offices all told.