porterage, which is levied in the great
majority of cases. During the first twenty-
two weeks of 1867 the London and
Provincial Telegraph Company had a sixpenny
rate for messages, and carried ninety-three
thousand three hundred and forty-six
messages. During the first twenty two weeks
of 1868 they bad a shilling rate and carried
only eighty eight thousand and fifty
messages. There was no marked change
between their area of operations or number
of offices. The above figures show a falling
oft' of between live and six per cent; and
of course the company lost also the annual
growth which would have accrued if they
had not raised the rate.

If we assume that when the uniform
rate of one shilling is established, the
messages now carried for sixpence will fall
off by one half, we shall probably make a
much more than ample allowance for the
effect of the alteration. On the other
hand, it is contended that the increase of
fifteen per cent expected to follow from
the increased facilities given by the Post
Office, will go to counterbalance the falling
off produced by the change of rate.

In the case of the messages now carried
for one shilling, there will be no change of
rate. In all other cases, the Post Office
proposes to effect reductions: that is, a
reduction of thirty three per cent in the
rate for messages transmitted over
distances exceeding one hundred, but not
exceeding two hundred, miles; a
reduction of fifty per cent for messages
transmitted over distances exceeding two
hundred miles in Great Britain or in Ireland;
and a reduction of from sixty to seventy-
five per cent for messages transmitted
between Great Britain and Ireland. That
reductions of rate tend largely to
increase the transmission of telegraphic
messages, is abundantly proved. The precise
effect of each reduction may be matter
of dispute, but no one can doubt that
each reduction will have an effect. The
principal witness before the Committee
last year, attempted to deduce from
the experience of foreign countries the
precise effect of each of the contemplated
reductions. His deductions were
considered sound, and his estimates of increase
moderate; but, of course, deductions
drawn from the experience of foreign
countries are always open to the objection
that this country differs in some respect or
other from foreign countries, and that
circumstances which operate powerfully
abroad will be less effective here. It seems
to us that this objection is not very
weighty. It may be fairly reckoned that
a franc goes about as far on the Continent
as a shilling goes here; and that from the
effect produced abroad by a reduction
from a franc-and-a-half to a franc, the
effect of a reduction here from eighteen-
pence to a shilling may be safely inferred.

The managers of the principal telegraph
companies agree with this view.

The extension of the existing system of
wires to the money order offices of the
United Kingdom, whereby the telegraph
will be brought closer to the population,
will, it is expected, add greatly to the
business done. By reducing the distance
between the telegraph stations and the
senders and receivers of messages, the
charges for porterage (which are considerable,
and in many cases almost
prohibitory), are reduced, and the rapidity of
transmission is increased. The difficulty
of finding porterage in rural districts,
irrespective of the charge for it, is at present,
in many cases, very great. This difficulty
will of course be lessened as the wires are
brought closer to the population.

Under the new regime, the rules relative
to the lease of special wires to newspaper
proprietors, and to special press messages;
and the collecting and editing of news;
will be somewhat different to those now in
force. The existing companies let special
wires, but at high and almost prohibitive
rates; convey special messages for the press
at rates lower than those charged to the
general public; and also collect, edit, and
transmit, intelligence to the press.

                                                                Per annum.
      They receive for special wires    ...     £ 3,953
      For press messages      ...     ...    ...   £2,732
      For collecting, editing, and
      transmitting news         ...    ...      ...   £25,197
                                                                 ———
                                          In all ...     ...   £31,882

The Post Office will continue to let
special wires, and, as its maximum annual
charge for a special wire is to be five
hundred pounds, whereas the maximum charge
at present is one thousand pounds, and the
minimum charge seven hundred and fifty
pounds, it may fairly be expected to derive
the existing amount of revenue, namely,
four thousand pounds, or the rent of eight
special wires. With the special press
messages and the intelligence, the case is
different. The Post Office will not collect
and edit news for the press, but will merel
y transmit that which is collected and edited
by individuals or associations acting on
behalf of the press. The charge,