AD) 
NATURE 
[Dec. 30, 1869 
the bounds of existence and account for the evolution of 
history; but the scientific man remembers that however 
complicated the facts which he reduces under the grasp 
of his laws, yet beyond all doubt there remain other 
groups of facts of surpassing complication. Science may 
ever advance, but, like an improved telescope in the hands 
of an astronomer, it only discloses the unsuspected ex- 
tent and difficulty of the phenomena yet unreduced to 
law. W. STANLEY JEVONS 
THE STATE TELEGRAPHS 
UR Government—always the last among European 
Governments to endow the nation with any benefit 
resulting from the advance of science—has at length 
awakened to the fact that the electric current is the scientific 
modern equivalent for the ancient post-boy, and we are to 
havea State Telegraph as we have a State Postal system. 
As early as 1854, Mr. Thomas Allan, the electrician, 
published a paper entitled “Reasons for the Government 
Annexing an Electric Telegraph System to the General 
Post Office,” in which he recommended the adoption of a 
shilling rate, for messages of twenty words, throughout 
the United Kingdom. This paper was published a second 
time in 1863. In 1856, Mr. Baines, an officer in the 
General Post Office, submitted to the Lords of the 
Treasury a plan for the annexation of the telegraphs, 
and a general charge of sixpence for messages of twenty 
words. In 1861, a memorandum by Mr. Ricardo, chair- 
man of the Electric and International Telegraph Com- 
pany, recommending the transfer of the telegraphs to the 
Government, was forwarded to the Chancellor of the 
Exchequer. Late in the year 1865 the proposition was 
again brought forward in the report of a committee ap- 
pointed by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce “to 
consider the present condition of telegraphic commu- 
nication in the United Kingdom, with a view to its im- 
provement.” In June 1866, Mr. Edwin Chadwick also 
forwarded a like scheme to the Chancellor of the Ex- 
chequer. The substance of all these papers was to the 
effect that the existing charges were too high, that the 
rapidity of transmission of messages was bad, that im- 
provements are slow where they have to be made by 
competing companies fighting for high dividends, and 
that telegraphing in consequence was in a more backward 
state in the United Kingdom than in. Switzerland and 
Belgium. 
In September 1865, Mr. Scudamore was requested by 
the Postmaster-General to take the whole subject into 
consideration, and to report thereon. His first report 
was presented in July 1866, followed by a second in 
February 1868. These reports set forth that before 
December 1862 messages of twenty words were trans- 
mitted for fifteen pence to or from any.part of Belgium, 
in which country the telegraphs are under the control of 
the State. At the end of 1862 the charge was reduced to 
tenpence, and in December 1865 the charge was still 
further reduced to fivepence. The hours of business in 
the telegraphic offices in Belgium are much the same as 
those adopted in England. The clerks have the power, 
which they use largely, of altering the wording of mes- 
Sages so as to make them read clearer, and to prevent 
mistakes—a plan which manifestly would not work in 
England, and which would lead to many legal and other 
difficulties. The result of the reductions in charges was, 
that in 1860 one telegram was transmitted in Belgium to 
every 218 letters passing through the post; in 1863, one 
message was transmitted to every 114 letters; and in 
1866, the proportion was one telegram to every 37 letters. 
He also reported that the charge for the transmission of 
messages of twenty words between any two towns in 
Switzerland was tenpence. In 1860, one telegram was 
transmitted in Switzerland to every $4 letters; in 1863, one 
telegram to every 74 letters ; and in 1866, one telegram to 
every 69 letters. In the United Kingdom the proportion 
of telegrams to letters was, in 1860, one to 296; in 
1863, one to 197; and in 1866, one to 121. At the 
close of the year, the telegraphic systems of Belgium and 
Switzerland had been in operation about fifteen years, and 
the working expenses during that period had amounted in 
the case of Switzerland to about 68 per cent., and Belgium 
621 per cent. of the total revenue during the period. At the 
end of the year 1866, both Governments had a good surplus 
on hand from the telegraphic departments. The post 
offices of Switzerland and Belgium have less workthan that 
of the United Kingdom, as shown by the following table, 
giving national statistics for the year 1865 :— 
| | 
| Number of Inland | Number of Inland 
ems 
Nation. Telegrams. Letters, 
Belgium , . . 332,718 241540, G88 
Switzerland . . 304,118 25,183,130 
United Kingdom 4,662,687 706,057,667 
From these figures, Mr. Scudamore concluded that the 
use of the telegraphs was in a more backward state in the” 
United Kingdom than in Switzerland or Belgium ; and he 
recommended their transference to the Government. 
One principal reason urged by him to prove that the 
Government could better afford to send messages at a 
lower rate than the companies was, that the post offices 
could spare for the use of the telegraph 12,000 offices 
rent-free, and a large staff of officials at present engaged, 
but not all of them fully employed throughout the whole 
of their hours of duty. 
He therefore recommended the purchase of the tele- 
graphs by the State. In August last an Act of Parliament 
was passed by the late Government sanctioning the 
plan, and authority was given to buy up the telegraphs 
by paying the companies 45,715,048 8s. 11d. (The odd 
elevenpence shows the extreme nicety of the calcula- 
tion.) The Electric International Telegraph Company 
will receive £2,938,826 9s. od.; the British and Irish 
Magnetic, £1,243,536; Reuters Telegram Company, 
Limited, £726,000; the Universal Private Telegraph 
Company, £184,421 1os.; the London and Provincial 
Telegraph Company, Limited, £60,000; and the United 
Kingdom Telegraph Company, Limited, £562,264 9s. 11d. 
At the present time everything relating to the transfer 
of the telegraphs to the Government is in a transition 
state, very many of the arrangements not having as yet 
been completed. It is intended, if possible, to effect the 
transfer on the Ist of January next; but so much pre- 
liminary work remains to be done, that it is doubtful 
whether all will be ready by that date. A large room has 
