THE ELECTPJC TELEGRAPH. 



289. The state telegraph lines, appropriated to the public 

 service, have at present (1854) a total length of about 550 miles, 

 upon which about 16000 miles of wire have been erected. With 

 the exception of some short distances through Brussels, these 

 wires are everywhere supported on posts. 



The total capital absorbed in this establishment is estimated at 

 23000/., and the gross annual receipts in 1854, were computed at 

 10000J.,* of which the net profit was 3600/., being nearly 16 per 

 cent, of the capital. 



Immediately on the completion of the submarine cable between 

 Dover and Ostend, an active daily intercourse between London 

 and Brussels commenced, and has since been sustained. The 

 connections were completed on the 20th June, 1853, and on the 

 27th of the same month, 111 despatches were interchanged between 

 the two capitals. 



It is proposed to construct wires and apparatus sufficient to 

 maintain the communications on this important line, so that even 

 with the greatest pressure of business, the public shall not have 

 reasonable ground of complaint on account of delay. * ' A 

 telegraphic line," observes the Minister of Public Works, " should 

 not be organised with the mere powers which suffice for the 

 ordinary or average business, but should be such as to meet the 

 exigencies of occasional pressure, without subjecting the public 

 to delay, or interrupting other regular business. Besides which, 

 it ought never to be forgotten, that in telegraphic business great 

 pressure must always come at particular hours, when prompt 

 expedition is indispensable. This will be easily understood in the 

 business of the Belgian lines, which constitute the route upon 

 which the quotations of the money markets of all the great 

 centres of affairs London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Ant- 

 werp, &c. are transmitted at certain hours." 



290. The business transacted by the Belgian telegraphs con- 

 sists of three classes of despatches. 



HOME DESPATCHES, being those transmitted between two Belgian 

 stations. 



INTERNATIONAL DESPATCHES, being those between a Belgian 

 and Foreign station. 



FOREIGN DESPATCHES, being those transmitted through Belgium 

 in passing between two foreign stations. 



Of these three classes of telegraphic business, the second has 

 proved to be the greatest in number, and the third the most pro- 

 ductive, as appears by the following statement of the results of 

 the year ending 31st December, 1853. 



* Report of Minister of Public Works to the Chamber, Feb. 14, 1854. 



