THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 



Parliament, which has been published, and which supplies some 

 interesting particulars. 



According to Mr. Whitworth, the most distant points connected 

 by electric telegraph in North America are Quebec and New 

 Orleans, which are 3000 miles apart, and the network of lines 

 extends to the west as far as Missouri, about 500 towns and 

 Tillages being provided with stations. 



There are two separate lines connecting New York with New 

 Orleans, one running along the sea-board, the other by way of 

 the Mississippi, each about 2000 miles long. Messages have been 

 transmitted from New York to New Orleans, and answers 

 received, in the space of three hours, though they had neces- 

 sarily -to be written several times in the course of transmission. 



When the contemplated lines connecting California with the 

 Atlantic, and Newfoundland with the main continent, are com- 

 pleted, San Francisco will be in communication with St. John's, 

 Newfoundland, which, is distant from Galway but five days' 

 passage. It is, therefore, estimated that intelligence may be con- 

 veyed from the Pacific to Europe, and vice versa, in about six d'ays. 



The cost of erecting telegraph lines varies according to loca- 

 lities, but the expenses upon the whole are estimated to 

 average about $180 (36?.) per mile throughout the States; 

 the moderate amount of this estimate is, in a great measure, 

 to be attributed to the facilities afforded by the general telegraph 

 laws for the formation of companies and the construction of lines. 



The electric telegraph is used by all classes of society as an 

 ordinary method of transmitting intelligence. 



Government despatches, and messages involving the life or death 

 of any persons, are entitled to precedence, next come important 

 press communications, but the latter, if not of extraordinary inte- 

 rest, await their regular turn. 



The leading newspapers of New York contribute jointly towards 

 the expenses of daily telegraphic communications. The annual sum 

 paid by the " Associated Press" averages $30,000 per annum. 



The following is the tariff for the press despatches : 



Under 200 miles, ] cent per word. 

 Between 200 and 500 2 



500 700 

 700 1000 

 1000 ,, 1500 



1500 ,, over 



Assuming three cents as the average, the total amount of matter 

 received by telegraph for the "New York Associated Press" 

 amounts to a million words per annum, or about 600 columns 

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