218 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
full” on our business, only ‘‘on account,” and afterwards, three or 
four years ago, I had to get out all of the records, on which the Court 
of Claims decided that the Western Union Telegraph Company was 
entitled to a considerable increase over the old Wanamaker rate. 
Mr. Wricut. What companies do you deal with—both or one? 
Professor Moors. We deal with all of them. We gather all of our 
reports just as completely as we can over the Western Union. We 
gather by circuits. What 1 mean is that we gather at Chicago, for 
instance, many short messages, and then we put them into one message 
and the whole report is sent over a long circuit, and copied off at sev- 
eral points simultaneously as it goes through. 
Mr. Brooks. It is like the Associated Press? 
Professor Moore. Yes, sir; it is highly essential that we should 
have the good will and cooperation of the telegraph companies. 
Mr. Bowrr. Do they give preference to your business over the 
business of private persons? 
Professor Moore. Yes, sir. 
Mr. Haucen. Does the Agricultural Department make a special 
arrangement or is the arrangement made for all the Departments? 
Professor Moors. We have a special rate. I make a contract with 
the Western Union, and when it is signed by the Secretary of Agricul- 
ture that is the end of it. 
Mr. Bowrzr. Why did Postmaster-General. Wanamaker make the 
rate? 
Professor Moorr. Congress gave the Postmaster-General the right 
to establish a Government rate for all Government business. 
Mr. Haucen. Are you doing anything with wireless telegraphy ? 
Professor Moorr. Somewhat. 
Mr. Bowrr. You discussed that question before. Have you changed 
your opinion from what it was then as to the practicability of the 
service? ; 
Professor Moors. No, sir. 
Mr. Bowrs. Has there been any distinctive improvement in it? 
Professor Moors. You very lately gave us money to build a cable to 
Farallone Island, California. We have laid the cable and constructed 
a building there. I have a picture of the building in my book. The 
island is 30 miles from shore. We report the passing of all vessels, 
and we display our warnings out there. We have also just connected 
that island by the wireless system, and on the first day of the new year 
we sent the first message through. That is a wireless system to take 
the place of the cable when the latter is out of order. We no sooner 
got the cable working and giving the maritime interests the service 
they demanded, when a steamer came along and picked up our cable 
and cut it—maliciously, we believe. We are now prosecuting them 
through the Department of Justice. 
Mr. Scorr. What motive would they have for maliciously cutting it?, 
Professor Moors. They claimed that the anchor got caught in the 
cable and that it was necessary to cut the cable to save the vessel. It 
would take time to free the cable without cutting it, but it is a simple 
matter to send a man over the side of the ship and cut it. It costs 
about $2,000 to mend the cable. 
The CyatrMan. Have you no redress against steamship companies! 
Professor Moors. We are prosecuting them through the Depart- 
ment of Justice, but I do not think it will amount to much. 
