TELEGRAPHIC LINES. 







greater distances for 5s. For each additional ten words, or frac- 

 tion of ten words proportionate charges are made. 



In certain exceptional cases the shilling charge is extended to 

 much greater distances than 50 miles, and the half-crown charge 

 to much greater distances than 100 miles. These exceptions 

 include towns of the highest commercial and manufacturing 

 importance, with which a large telegraphic business must always 

 he transacted. Thus, between London and Birmingham (112 miles) 

 the charge is only Is., and between London and Liverpool (210 

 miles), London and Manchester (180 miles), London and Carlisle 

 (309 miles), the charge is only 2s. 6d. 



The charge for transmission is of course increased in proportion 

 to the length of the message, but the daily experience of the 

 telegraphic offices demonstrates that, with the exception of reports 

 transmitted to the newspapers, the average length of the messages 

 does not much exceed twenty words. I have obtained a return of 

 the lengths of 74 messages transmitted, without any particular 

 selection of subject, the total length of which, exclusive of the 

 address, is 1151 words. The total length of the addresses is 540 

 words. This gives for the average length of the messages 15| 

 words, and of the addresses 7| words, the average length of 

 the messages, including the addresses, being therefore a little 

 under 23 words. 



Besides the convenience offered to the public by the transmis- 

 sion of messages to the various stations throughout the country, 

 this Company has established a system of metropolitan inter- 

 communication by means of seventeen branch stations in con- 

 nection with each other and with the principal station at 

 Lothbury. These stations are dispersed through the metropolis 

 at points which have been found to be the most active centres 

 of intercourse. They include the eight railway stations^ the 

 London Docks, Mincing Lane, General Post-office, St. Dunstan's 

 Church, "West Strand, Great George Street Westminster, St. 

 James's Palace, Knightsbridge, and the Marble Arch, Hyde- 

 park. Of these the stations on the "West Strand, and the Eastern 

 Counties Railway, Shoreditch, are open day and night. 



Messages of 20 words are transmitted between any two of these 

 metropolitan stations for Is. 



In all cases the charge for the telegraphic message includes its 

 delivery at the place of address, provided that such place be within 

 a radius of half a mile round the station, 6d. being charged for 

 each mile additional, and no charge is made for the addresses of 

 the sender or receiver. 



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