356 TELEGRAPHING IN THE UNITED STATES. 
parts of the heavens, and ran in all directions over the land and under the 
seas. Three great lines were created. The Morse Company, so well 
known, took the lead. House's line, which printed words, became popu- 
lar, and Paine's, more curious and scientific than all, took down the mes- 
sage, and by a chemical process, changes the character by obliterating a 
part of the words, and doing all in an instant. But these three lines 
ran into one another. They interfered with the business of each other, 
underbid, and made a rivalry that allowed no profit, while the public 
was badly served. The companies were all poor and made no money. 
A consolidation was suggested and agreed to between the three com- 
panies. All the lines, then in existence, and the consolidated company 
were called the " Six Nations Telegraph. Company," after the Six Indian 
Nations. 
A division was then made of the territory of the United States, and 
the companies occupying certain portions took each a name by which it 
was to be known. To the American Telegraph Company, to be located 
in New York, was allowed the seaboard from Halifax to New Orleans, 
with branches reaching to Canada. The United States Telegraph Com- 
pany took the inland lines, and embraced the different telegraph com- 
panies in the land not consolidated in the American Telegraph Company. 
This consolidation introduced a new era in telegraphing. It called 
into the service of the lines the ablest talent in the land. It made tele- 
graphing the most profitable business in the country. It produced har- 
mony, concord, and system among the lines. The public are and have 
been better served, so the Companies say. The monopoly has not only 
not increased the tariff of prices as they affirm, but has ranged the prices 
actually lower down than they were before, the Companies having re- 
solved to make the telegraph a public necessity to every man and to put 
its facilities within the reach of all classes and conditions, rather than 
make gain by exorbitant charges. During the war, till the third year, 
the old prices ruled, and when they were raised they were raised only 
50 per cent., while nearly all the business of the land was raised fully 
300 per cent. But it is evident that a large portion of the people are 
debarred from the use of the telegraphs by the present high rates. Its 
use could be made as universal as the most common necessities that are 
found under every roof. Through the length and breadth of the land 
the now silent machines could click with unhesitating pertinacity like 
the spindles in a factory. The immense dividends of the companies and 
their profits indicate how easily such a reduction could be made and 
the telegraph be used no less by the labourer than by the millionaire. 
One of the most interesting places for a stranger to visit, is the 
American Telegraph building on Broadway, corner of Liberty street. 
The great brown stone edifice, from ,basement to roof, is devoted to the 
work of the Telegraph Company, It has a capital of 2,200,000 dols. 
It employs 20,000 miles of wires. It has eighty officers in different parts 
of the country. A pay roll on which the names of 2,000 employes are 
