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Canadian Inatituta for HistoricaC Microraproductiona / Inatltut Canadian da microraprodiictiona hiatofiquaa

995

TMhnical Mid BtMioinpHic Now / Noln tMhniqim n biMiographiqiM

Th* Imtitun ha (tMinpHd to obnin Hi* hot arifmil
copy Miilabli for lilming. FMUim of tliit copy which
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L* titr* dc eeunrtur* nunqiM

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□ Blank leant added durini restoration may appaer
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II te peut que certaines pagas blanches aiouttet
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meis, lorsque cela toit potsiWe. ces pefas n'ont
pat M f ilm<et.

Additionel comments:/
Commentairat tuppMmentairet:

L'Inttitut a microfilm* le meilleur exempleire qu'il
tui a M potsiMa de te procurer. Let dttails de cet
exemplaire qui sont peut-ttre uniquas du point de tue
bibliofraphique. qui paunant modif iar una imafe
raproduite. ou qui pauvent axifer una modif ication
dans la mMioda normala de f ihnafe sont indiquie
ci<dessous.

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Pai

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a Quality of print «aries/
(

I Oualitt instate de I'impretiion

Continuous peginetion/
Patination continue

□ Includes index(es)/
(

I Comprend un (desi index

Title on heeder taken from:/
Le litre de I'en-ttte pro»ient:

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Cinirique (piriodiques) de la livraison

This item it filmed et the reduction ratio checked below/

Ca document Kt film*

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to tha ganaroalty of:

National Library of Canada

L'axainplaira film* fut raproduit grica k la
gtntroalt* da:

Bibliothiqua nationala du Canada

Tha imagaa appaaring hara ara tha baat quality
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Original coplaa In printad papar covara ara filmad
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tha laat paga with a printad or llluitratad impraa-
alon, or tha back covar whan approprlata. Ail
othar original copiai ara filmad baglnning on tha
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Tha laat racordad frama on aach microfiche
ahali contain tha aymbol — »- (meaning "CON-
TINUEO"). or tha aymbol y (meaning "END"),
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Mapa, plate*, eharta, etc.. may be filmed at
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entirely Included In one expoaure are filmad
beginning In the upper left hand corner, left to
right and top to bottom, aa many fremea aa
required. The following diegrama illuatrat^ ^he
method:

Lea imagaa aulvantaa ont M raproduitaa avac la
plua grand aoin, eompta tenu de le condition et
de la nettet* de I'exemplaire film*, et en
Gonformiti avac lea eondltlona du contrat de
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la dernMre pege qui comporte une telle
empreinte.

Un dea aymbolea auivant* apparattra aur la
dernMre image de cheque microfiche, aelon le
oaa: le aymbole — w- aignifia "A SUIVRE", le
aymbola V aignlfie "FIN".

Lea cartaa, planchea, tableaux, etc., peuvent ttre
fllmia * dea taux de rMuction difftrenta.
Loraque la document aat trop grand pour ttra
raproduit en un aeul clichi, 11 aat fllm« t partir
da ranglo aupArlaur geuche. do gauche i droite.
et de heut en baa, en prenent le nombre
d'imagea nacaaaaira. Lea diagrammaa auivanta
illuatrent la mtthoda.

1 2 3

•«w>eor» ■nouiTioN mi chut

(ANSI ond ISO Itsi CMAIT No. 2)

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^ APPLIED ItvHGE In,

^6 ftochottr. N«w York UB09 us*

^ CIS) «2- 0300- PHofi.

^H (716) 288- S989 -Fa;.

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-/fl. .

The Canadian Press Association.

ADDRESS BY

Sir Sandford Fleming.

This addicss in (-ffoct points out :—

(1) That gioativ roduced rates and oflipr- imjiortant ad-
vantages would result from the nationalization of
tpleRi-aph service within the Dominion and between
the Dominion and the I'nited Kingdom.

{•>'\ That while such nationalization wmdd have for- its
primary ol.jei^t the immediate heneflt of Canada, it
would incidentally constitute a groat link in a chain of
State-owned telegraphs to encircle the globe.

(3) That the new national avenue of communication thus
creat«i would form the basis of a distinct advance in
the development of closer i-elations between the several
communities of British people in Iwth hemispheies.

i'u

CHEAP TELEGRAPH RATES.

ADDRKHS DELIVERED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE

CANADIAN PRESS ASSOCIATION, FEBY. L>8tii 190;?

BY SIR SANDFORD FLEMINO.

Mk. President.

on f helper TolcRiaph Rates, for the reason that my name for soinc
years ba.k has bee., id.ntiflt^ with the subjeel. I re." ,7it la
•«h pnvileBe to bo allowed to address a My of >nen n-p e^nt
mg the rei.ogn.:*d organs of pttbilc opinion. Yon have L M me a
gre,.t compliment „n,| my satisfmtion isenhaneed by the'?aet tha"

L?ne'iK"^evn;''r' •" "P""" ?" " '""'•)'"-■' '» »•"'-'' I "«vo long nd
earnestly devoted my attention.

Ruskin tells us that "th- weakest umonB us has a irift • however

wTirK'iift'fn'h"'"" '^ "rJ''"- '" "™ """ -'■!'* worthily as:i
wl 1 be a Rift to his ra(x>. Whether Ruskin be i ight oi' wronir I

o? Jwer' '^^b, .'*" °i"I°'\!;"'' '■" '""'""8 run, make up for lack
of ^wer. Imbue with this idea, I have for over twen.y years im-
posed upon myself a task cl.«ely a.so<:iat,xi with the subjocfwh h
you have given me,-a task which has led me, without hone of
per«,„nl reward to visit five continents and traverse al he grea
oceans-one o them , the Atlantl, , many times. In this self"mS

fhev'h ,r,l"" •' '"'' "";' '""™^«'' P*""- """ inadequate the servtet
they have been given willingly and without slint.

huch being the ease, I rejoice to have the opportunity, which vou

hnve given nje, to throw some lighten a problem of i^at pubMe

™Mr™n,me '' V''" •""'• "'""'' "-y ^""^ '" trying fT^oSot:
I shall conimence by expressing the satisfaction whicdi I feel that
this aviation ,s deeply interested in the same problem, and that
I am ve'i'v ul^nHK""^^"- ^'°V°'' important action respecting it
asThlve^thr,^! ° '"f ,"*''?' "' " ™ «■»"'«'• «'ith you, inasmuch
Press ^tlfh?'"''!*^'' "?'"'"" "'""^ !»«■'"• "ndmission of the
do ?,■„. n^v "">■"""»; "•"' I have done, or anything that I can
do, IS as nothing compared with what you can accomplish.

m„M»i """"'i"^ •^■°"'' '■''™''''' ■' "Pi*'"'^ 'li»' resolutions were unani-
mously passed at your last annual mooting in favour of the Gove" -

and G^eaf^H^^P- '" ":;'"'"'''' " Sta*e-owned cable between CanadL
Zm^TttT- ""? "> n»'i»'""i='e the land telegraphs of the
i^ZZ' 'i^<^''t''«^' '<"■ *'"' traniinission of messages in both cases
bo reduced to the actual operating cost. Perhaps I may mention
that, on every suitalje occasion, during the past year I gave mv
r^oS ''"?,™PI»« '» ""= Poli'^y «"d PrfncitJles laid down^ in your
fT„H M 'T'"""' ""^ P'""*"' y"-"' h^-l barely commenced when

LrdresseS"?^ti,'' 'p ""m°" ''"'"" '^'^'''*^™P'' S'"-^i«' "y sea and land"
addressed to the Post Master General, the Hon. Wm. Mulock. It is
dated January 1st. 1902, and in the i-emarks I am about to submit I

shall lOKiird the contents as known to you. In that lottcr, I pointed
out the immediate iidvantagcs to the [looplo of the Dcjmlnlon which
would result fi^m carryinB into effect the resolution which you
passod I desire on this occasion to ro a little farther and indicate that,
beyond the direct benefits to Canada, there is a xreat ulterior purpose
to be served by the adoption by Pailiament of the policy laid down
by you. This ulterior purpose, I shall with your kind permission
endeavour to explain. Let me flist, however, say a word rospeclinc
the marvelous system of telegraphy introduced by Marconi.
THE MARCONI SYSTEM.
The distinsulshed inventor, before visiting Ottawa a few weeks
ago, startled the world by his successful efforts to transmit electric
wave signals across the Atlantic. I had the great satislaction to
have several Inteivlews with Signer Marconi, who is of opinion that
only a few months will be required to develop and fully reveal the
possibilities of his system. He confidently expects to be able lo send
telegraph messages between the two continents without the interven-
tion of submarine cables, and that, in consequence of the comparatively
small mitlal cost of apparatus, the charge for the transmission of
messages will bo very low, compared with the present rates. If this
proves to be the case, we may certainlv regard the Marconi system,
not as an opponent of, but as an ally of cheap telegraphy. Negotia-
tions opened by the Government resulted as stated in the speech from
the throne at the opening of Parliament, "in an arrangement through
which, should the project prove a successful one, as is hoped for the
Uovernment and people of Canada will enjoy the benefits of the
invention on very favourable terms, including rates for trans-Atlantic
messages very much below those now existing."

While it is greatly to be wished that the highest expectations will
be realized, we must recognise that doubts have been raised and, not-
withstanding the splendid results already achieved by the inventor of
wireless telegraphy, some of the leading English authorities on
electrical science, such as Piofe^or Oliver Lodge, Sir William Preece,
Ur. Muirhead, Lord Kelvin and others, are of opinion that the system
will be found to have its limitations, and that the greatest success
possible for it will not suffice to render submarine cables unnecessary.
Marconi himself, when on this side of the Atlantic, enterifliiied no
fear of failure, he was full of hope that he would prove his invention
to be a complete commercial success, and he expressed the belief that
he would bo able to transmit messages across the Atlantic with ample
profit, at one or two cents per word. The impression formed in my
own mind was that of admiration for the great inventor, who had
already done marvelous things in wireless telegraphy, and whose
hoped for success in spanning the ocean, if realized, would pass his
name on to future generations as that of a world b-nefactor.

It appears, however, that there is a Marconi company to bo
reckoned with, and that in financial matters the distinguished inventor
has not I fear all his own way. I would infer from what has come
to light that the over-ruling company in this case— like other com-

panics, is more bent on dividends iind profits, than on beneBttinR the
pubilc, and that it has adopted the policy of charginK rates very
much hijfhor than Marconi himself seemed at one time to consider
necessary. This is of course merely the conclusion I ha"e arrived at
alter learnlnK the terms stipulated by the company ip •> ) arranKo-
ment with the Oovornment. Instead of the very low ra. expected,
the Marconi Company claims ten cents per w Td 'o the trans-
mission of ordinary messages.

Talten by itself, a reduction from twonty-flve cents to ten cents
per word is a great step in the right direction, and the arrangement
entered into by the Government, to elTect, if possible, the deairerl end,
may he regarded as to a large extent, satisfactory and wise. A
reduction of 60 per cent, on present char.^e-j, assuming that the
experiments and trials, soon to be undertaken, succeed, will prove a
great public benefit, and its influence far good will be felt in many
ways.

1 confess, however, to a feeling of disappointment that the Marconi
company has not seen its way to make the rate considerably
lower. In my letter to the Postmaator Oeneral of January last, I
pointed out that by establishing a direct State^wned cable, ordinary
• trans-Atlantic messages could bo transmitted for fl^e cents a word and
that there would be the prospect of a further reduction as traffic
Increased. Under these circumstances it seems to mo more than
likely that unless the Marconi Company can perfonn the service for
half, or leas than half, the rate stipulated, it will not be possible for
it to give to the Canrdian public, permanent satisfaction. Our re-
quirements demand the speediest and cheapest means of communi-
cation such as a self supporting State-owned cable couH give.
ATLANTIC CABLE 8EBVICE.
As judgment has t» be suspended in the matter of the Marconi
system, it may not meanwhile be without profit to consider tL- alter-
native. In doing so, I shall not tax your paifcnce by repeating the ai ^u-
ments I advanced in my letter to Mr. Mulock, in respect to the establish-
ment of a Stat6^)wned trana-AUantic cable. I furnished evidence
to prove that such a cable if employed only aboi 'wo hours a day,
would, at the existing tariff of charges, be self-supporting. I shewed'
that there is practically within sight, business to keep it going for
twelve hours a day at the rate of five cents per word, and I pointed
out that, if employed up to Its maximum limit, the earnings would be
sufflcient to meet interest on cost, sinking fund to replace capital
maintenance and all operating expenses, if no higher rate be levied on
messages than two cents per word. I do not recommend beginning
with the extremely low rate of two cents, but I can see no reason
why a 3ve cent tariff should not be the standard for ordinary mes-
•age? irom the first. All such mef sages would be despatched in the
ord ■ in which they would be received. Urgent messages for which
a preference in delivery is desired, would be subject to an extra
charge for that privilege. Obviously a reduc -ion from twenty-five
cents a word to a standard rate of five cents for ordinary messages

would popularlM! train-Atlantic corrpspondcnec, and render It available
for purionpg tor which It has not hitherto been upicd. Powlbly a fair
price for Prew dcupatches would be half rate, that Is to say two and
. half ccntH a .lonl.

The propoanl haa been Renorally well received in Great Britain
M well H« III ruiiiida. True, one or two annonymoua lettont have
appeared In the Times and other London papers, written obviously in
the intcrestt of the cable companies, but my arguments in favour of
the proposal remain un.answci-eii.

An Atlnntlc, cable uiider (Jovomment control would, by lowering
charges I'Ighty |«r cent., interfere more or less with the existing
cables. That interference would, however, he merely an Incident, as
the objects to he aclileved by the establishment of the new cable are,
not (»mp<^!titlve, but purely national. .Should the effect be to lower
genomlly trans-Atlantic rates, the augmentation of business, which
certainly would follow in a few years, would prevent revenue sutt'er-
ing 'o any gi-eat extent.

1. order that the companies' business may be interfered with as
littlii as possible, It may be advisable to introduce the reduced charges
by a gradual process. For example, the average length of an ordinary
message is probably six or seven words, costing for transmission slit
or seven shillings. If by arrangement, the minimum price of a
message he plac«<l, in the first insUmce, at four shillings or one
dollar, by nil cables, both old and now lines would transmit dollar
mes.sages ; the only difference would be In the number of words trans-
mitted ; in the one case It would be six word.s, In the other twenty.
Either way, there would be manifest advantages to the public. By
some such airangemcnt, a Cancdian cable may be established across
the Atlantic with a minimum ot interference with cxistine cable
lines. "

STATE CONTROL OF LAND LtNES.
To nationalize the land telegraphs of the Dominion is, probably,
01 the two questions, the one which concerns us in Canada most
intimately. 1 shall therefore with pcrmis.sion, submit some remarks on
the criticisms relating to the proposal which have appeared in the
Canadian press. I have always pointed to the Postal telegraph
system of the United Kingdom as a model to bo imitated in its
essential features, for the reason that it is a remarkable public ser-
vice, unparalleled in any part of the world. The telegraph lines were
owned in the first place, by railway and other private companies.
They were expropriated on the authority of an act of Parliament and
have since then been controlled and extended for a period of over
thirty years by the Government. By means of the State owned tele-
graph system, any person in the three Kingdoms can send to any
other person, however remote, a messa^ of 12 words, for 6 pence,
and each additional word, for one halfpenny. Almost every post
office is a telegraph station, and if the person to whom the mes-
sage is addressed, lives three miles away from an office, the telegram
ia sent to him without extra charge and the messenger Instructed to

recolvo a reply l( oiio bo required. Pcraonal pxpcrionco m .«(i™ mo
that there In nothing to oxci-l the British poatal tclPKniph nervlic (or
chcapniws, accuiai:y, utility, and dc<»|)iit.h Tlio pii>|»wiil 1h to havo
the system an far as praitlcahle and appll.ahle, Iniroilmjed In Canada
of course, with such modlHcatlons iw ox|>ericncc has provo.1 to lie
advisable, and the conditions 0/ the country »U(JKest, to he rx|)e<lii'nt.

Some o( our ncws|>apers In notlcolnR the proix>sul, sukbohI, very
properly, that caution shou.'d tie ohaerved, and that no incvouihl'e
•top 1)6 taken until ite wisdom bo well assuiMl. The suKKostinn is
perhaps mainly owing to the fact that wo are In the habit of lii';iiinit
that, while the mall service of the United Kingdom earns inmienso
prottts, the telegraph branch la a source o( cx|HMise. To arrive at
the actual facts, I havo made a careful examination ol the Post Offl. .•
returns to the Imperial Parliament and other ofHclal documenta. In
the last report n( the Post Master General It appears that the total
receipts of the telegraph branch for the year 1900-1901 wag
«3^429,453, and the expenditure X3,81 2,569, showing a deHciency of
X3r)3,216.

With respect to this deficiency and the cause of it, there can be
no better authority than tho Post Master General himself. His report
for 1895 and appended documents point out that, for the precccdlng 25
years, during which period tho clegraphs had been under Govern-
ment control, the receipts exceeded tho expenditure by a total sura of
41,795,000, equal to an average annual surplus of f71,80O. This
does not however Include tho charge for Interest on the purchase
money of the original lines, which is now howerer included and
forms the mnjor piirt of tho deficiency. This interest charge on
copital is f 298,000, but the report itself furnishes evidence to show
that it is far larger than It should be.

The revenue is further burdent j by various charges, which as it
seems to me, arc quite unnec&ssary. I havo already mentioned one
of those, the porterage on messages sent three miles from tho post
oflice free of charge. In all such coses, the messages are usually
carried by hand, and no doubt It is a great convenience to those who
live a little way in the country, but it should not be done at the public
expense. The remedy is simple, to charge for porterage, or use a
telephone as we do in Canada.

Again several railway companies had conceded to them thirty
years ago the right to free transmission of all their telegrams, and It
appears that these free telegrams havo Increased out of all proportion
to the growth of public telegrams. It is estimated that the loss to tho
treasury from this cause alone now exceeds the sum of £80 000 or
?400,000 per annum.

But the matter which most seriously affects the receipts is the
extremely low and unremunerativo rates charged for Press despatches.
The Post Master General states In his report of August 2nd 1901 that
"the Press telegrams entail a heavy financial burden on the telegraph
service." The charge for press telegrams in the United Kingdom is
the lowest in the world and the amount of work performed for the

presr is without a parellei in any other country. In the year ending
March 31, 1901, the average ^vpelcly numter of words in press tele-
grams was 16,065.502 equal to about 835,000,000 words per annum.
This enormous volume of business involving not far short of half the
domestic telegraph worlc of the country, was performed at a charge
totally inadequate to meet the actual cost.

During last year, 1,083,000,000 words were transmitted in
ordinary public telegrams yielding £2,257,399, while 83.5,000,000
words were sent by wire in press despatches which contributed
to the revenue only £141,600. The former is at the rate of a half
penny per word, the later for Press work represents 12 words for a
halfpenny.

In Canada the press rates, as I am informed, range from 25 cents
up to a dollar per hundred words; if the press despatches of the
United Kingdom were charged at the very lowest Cenadian press
rate, that is to say, at quarter of a cent a word, there would be
an annual surplus after paying interest on capital and every other
charge.

Sir William Preece, lately at the head of the Telegraph branch of
the Post Office, states in "St. Martin-le-grand" for last October, that
the unremunerative rates charged for press despatches entails an
actual loss to the department roughly estimated at £400,000 a year."
Another writer thus expresses his views in explanation of the course
followed. Referring to the deficiency in the balance sheet he says
"tnis of course means no more than that the government are per-
suaded of the educational value of the press, that it gives a sum equal
to this large shortage in the shape of a bonus to the newspapers. It
is another form of applying the principle of aiding in the diffusion of
newspaper information, which in Canada and the United States is
done by nominal charges for transportation."

These facts and explanations furnish reasons for the adverse
balance as it appears in the siccounts of the telegraph branch of the
General Post OfBce, and as the nominal deficiency is not owing to any
defect in the general system, and as there is no actual loss to the
public, both parliament and taxpayer have no difficulty in over-
looking the absence of a financial balance on the right side of the
account, in view of the inestimable benefits which ttie service con-
fers on the community.

There is one feature of the British telegraph service of peculiar
importance, and that is the adaption of a uniform charge for all
distances. As I have dwelt on this point at some length in my letter
to Mr. Mulock, to which I have so frequently referred, I shall only
re-affirm the view 1 hold, that in no country would a uniform charge
for telegrams be of greater general advantage than in Canada. We
have already, in common with the mother country, adopted the prin-
ciples of uniformity of charges in the mail service. In both countries
a postage stamp will carry a letter to any place near or remote, and
every argument in favour of applying the principle to the carriage of
letters, applies with ten fold force to the transmission of despatches by

telegraph. Long experience in the British Islands, and indeed,
wherever the principle has been applied, amply confirms the wisdom
of the policy of charging the same rate for all distances. It must,
however, be distinctly borne in mind, that in no country docs it appear
to have been possible to put the principle in practice without first
placing the telegraph lines under Government control.

At present, the rates charged are graduated according to distance
and range, from 25 cents a message, and upwards. With the service
brought under State control, the lowest rate should at once I think be
made uniform for all distances.

With respect to the general principle of Government control,
little need be said. From the earliest days, the Government of every
civilized nation on the face of the earth has taken charge of the con-
veyance of letters and correspondence, and, as a rule, they have always
employed the best available means of doing so. At one time the
mails were carried on horseback, at another period by stage coach.
In more recent times, the Governments have not hesitated to have
the people's correspondence conveyed by steam power. To-day, a far
speedier, and I may add, far cheaper agency than steam, that is to
aay, electriii'y, is at command, and we may ask ourselves the
question, is it not incumbent on the Government to take the fullest
advantage of this heaven sent means of conquering time and distance ?

I submit for your consideration, three remarkable facts.

(1) Canada remains the only country in the British Empire
where the telegraph service is not state-owned.

(2) With two single exceptions, Canada and the United States,
the telegraph service of every civilized nation on the face of the
globe is controlled by the State.

(3) In Canada and the United States, the charges for the trans-
mission of telegraph messages are practically double the rates charged
in all other civilized countries.

I leave it with you, gentlemen of the " Fourth Estate " to deter-
mine how long this condition of affairs should last in this British
Dominion.

GREAT ULTERIOR BENEFITS.

"A cheaper telegraph service." — The subject on which I have
been asked to address yo' is not simply a domestic question con-
cerning Canada alone ; it is a matter of Imperial and infer-Colonial
concern and may well be considered not only by the Canadian Press
Association, but by the statesmen who will be gathered together at
the coming conference In London next June. On that occasion, it
may "be assumed that the bend of the Colonial Secretary's mind will
be found in accordance with the desire of the Colonial representatives."

At this stage in the History of the British people, a wide-spread
interest has arisen in Imperial matters. The South African War has
given to the Imperial idea a great impulse. As we view it from a
Canadian standpoint, we feel ourselves awakened to the fact that the
Dominion of Canada forms no inconsiderable part of the surface of the
Globe which is designated British, and that if we do our part aright

we should take a leading place in a great political organization—
The British Empire — now in process of growth and development.
Our geographical position is in itself commanding. Writing in 1894
the Colonial editor of the Times said of Canada, "She possesses with-
out question a position of central importance in the British Empire,
the Atlantic Ocean gives her natural communication with the United
Kingdom and South Africa ; the Pacific offers her equally easy com-
munication with India and Australia and the East. She commands
the commercial highroad of two hemispheres."

Is it not fitting then that we should bestir ourselves? that we
should not allow the besetting sin of apathy to obtrude itself? that we
should in all respects perform the filial duties befitting the eldest
daughter in the great family of British nations?

Today, the widely sundered groups of British people comprising
diverse races and creeds and languages, are animated by a community
of sentiment; they have fallen heir to great possessions in all quarters
of the globe, and it is surely one of their first duties to safeguard, to
consolidate, and develop their magnificent heritage.

To bring the Empire into shape and form many things are
needed; in not a few of these we Canadians can render yeomen aid;
in some things we may, indeed, as we have already done in the mat-
ter of Imperial penny p'jstage, take a leading part. I propose to point
out what Canada can do for the Empire by placing the telegraph
service by land and sea, between Vancouver and London under State
control.

At the Press Banquet last night, where I had the honour to be
a favoured guest, it was pointed out very forcibly by the Premier
that, in the interest of unity, stability and progress, one of the most
important office of the Press is to cultivate friendly relations
between the various elements of the population. "In my own time '
said Sir Wilfred, "I have seen daily and yearly the work of unifica-
tion of our country." "The members of the Association have done a
great deal to promote that harmony" — this feeling would grow, the
more the people of the several Provinces became acquainted with
eacli other."

Is not this beneficent function of the Press of wide application ?
I think you will all concede that the King's subjects everywhere should
be better acquainted than they now are ; that, as far as possible, the
several great groups of British people around the globe should be on
terms of intimacy. I ask, does that condition now prevail ? what
intimacy have we with our nearest British neighbours on the western
side? What do New Zealanders and Australians know of us, or we of
them ? The answer is, — next to r ithing ; and how under present con-
ditions could any intimacy, if it existed, be maintained ? As Profes-
sor Short pointed out in the last Canadian magazine, the component
parts of the Empire stand most in need of a better knowledge of each
other. To this end, we have to invoke the powerful good offices of
the press, aided by the telegraph, the most perfect means yet discov-
ered or likely to be discovered for the free interchange of knowledge.

A comprehensive telegraph system, extending to every British
passession in both hemispheres has been projected, and, in order to
reduce the cost of transmission to the lowest charge, it is hv^ld to be
indespensable that the whole service should be under state control.
The Pacific cable is regarded as the initial section of the Pan-Britanic
system, and this great undertaking is now in progress under a board
of management constituted by six British Governments. It will
come to the memory of some present, and it will be remembered with
pathetic interest, that the last public words spoljen by a Canadian
Premier, a few hours twfore he passed away at Windsor Castle, were,
in reference to and in support of this the pioneer section of the Pan-
Britannic telegraph system.

The Pacific cable is under contract to be completed within the
present year : if its establishment be followed by the nationalization of
the Canadian land telegraphs, together with a state controlled means of
telegraphy across the Atlantic, a new and exceeilingly important stage
in the development of the all-liritish glotie encircling telegraph system
will have been reached. Then, it will be poasiljlo for the sister
colonies. New Zealand and Australia to unite with Canada in extend-
ing the postal telegraph service of the mother country across the
Atlantic and across the Pacific. Then, the Empire will lie in
possession of a continuous chain of state-controlled electric wires from
London to the Indian Ocean, embracing in their circuit 247 degrees
of longtitude — more than two-thirds of the circumference of the globe.

One important point remains to be touched upon, the cost of tele-
graphy by the Imperial system. It may be gathered from what I
have stated, that tlie charge for transmitting messages between Lon-
don and Vancouver need not exceed 6 or 8 cents a word ; and as
Vancouver is not far from half way between the United Kingdom
and Australasia, the charge for the who'e distance should not be more
than 14 or 18 cents per word. Of course it is recognized that if the
Marconi Atlantic service proves successful, the laying of a state cable
accross the Atlantic may be deferred, and in that event the trans-
Atlantic rate will in all probability for a time be ten cents, that is to
say, five cents higher than I have estimated. But in any event I he
total charge for transmission between Australia, New Zealand, anci the
United Kingdom should not exceed twenty-five cents or one shilling
per word.

A shilling rate will be immensely appreciated in New Zealand
and Australia where they have been always accustomed to excessively
high telegraph charges. When I visited Australia eight years ago, I
desired to telegraph friends in Canada and receive replies about once
a weclc. On arriving at Sydney, I sent one message, but it cost so
much — the charge being ten shillings and four pence per word — that
I did not again indulge in the luxu . of cabling to any extent.

This is not the place to allude to the powerful cable monopoly or
the struggle between private gains and public benefits which has,
ever since the first inception of the Pacific cable, been going on.
Suffice it to say that the triumph of the public interest has com-

''■HM

menced, that the telegraph charges between Australia and London
are now reduced, and It may possibly be claimed, that the advocacy
of the Pacific cable haa hiid some effect in causing the reduction.
The present charge is now iour shillings a word. The reduction
to one shilling would be distinctly an outcome of the two Canadian
proposals discussed and recommended by this association, and musi
hei-eafter be regarded as a service rendered by Canada, of inestimable
value to the Empire. To make this plain, we have only to bear in '
mind that as New Zealand is antipodean to the British Islands,
when the globe-encircling telegraph is rompleted there will be no
place more remote from the Imperial centre than New Zealand.
Obviously, therefore, the transmission charge on telegrams from any
one of the King's possessions to any other, on any part of the surface
of the globe should not be greater than one shilling a word. The
maximum charge may indeed be less than a shilling. I am hopeful
and sanguine enough to think that there are electrical discoveries yet
in store, and that the triumphs of telegraphy will make still cheaper
rates possible.

Members of this Association are awakened to the fact that exist-
ing charges for ocean telegraphy are far too high We all know '
that the expense of cabling is practically prohibitive to the majority
of people. It is only on matters of great urgency, or those in which
large interests are at stake that cablegrams are sent. Cables are
employed by persons in ofHcial positions, by managers of large mer-
cantile firms, by the very rich, and by those engaged in stock oper-
ations ; ' ut the majority of people do not use them. Moreover, by
reason of the expense, many who use cables, resort to them as sel-
dom as possible.

It is in the general interests that all this should be changed, thit
telegraphy should be popularized, and that every kind of hindrance
to free intercourse be removed. It is felt that there should be noth-
ing to prevent cables and telegraphs being as freely employed as the
penny post.

To popularize telegraphy, by sea as well a" ' y land, is to my mind
a movement which concerns the British, more than any other people.
We greatly require a postal telegraph service between all parts of
the Empire, and above all things, we need rates so cheap that the
service may be freely used by all classes. I have furnished evidence
to shew that Canada can greatly assist in the development of such a
service, and it must be clear to all, that, when consummated, the im-
proved and cheapened service will revolutionize the world's corres-
pondence. In this age, the ordinary mail is fast becoming too slow
and inadequate. Year by year, our wishes and our wants will, more
and more seek to be made known by telegraph.

In concluding these sentences, Mr. President, in which I have
endeavoured to comply with your request, I have referred to the
resolutions which the Association passed a year ago, with respect to
nationalizing the telegraphs of the Dominion and establishing a State
controlled means of telegraphy across the Atlantic. I am perfectly

ftfi*-' flpfl, that by carrying into effect those resolutions, Canada would
secure for her people a much cheapened and more useful cable tele-
graph service, and that ulterior benefits of the very liighest Imperial
importance, would bs the outcome. Thus in helping herself, Canada
without farther effort, without the smallest risk, and without any ad-
ditional cost, would inaugurate a policy immensely far-reaching and
benoficent. Almo'it immediately, the kindi-ed communities of New
Zealand and Australia would feel its good effects; eventually its
benefits would extend to India, South Africa and elsewhere, and
thus, in promoting our own domestic interests in the matter of tele-
graphy, we would contribute to the advancement and well being of
the whole Empire in a substantial, thoroughly practical and effective
manner.

ADDENDA.

It was said by one gentlemen at the meeting that a single cable
across the Atlantic might prove inadequate and that as a protection
against interruptions it would be advisable to have it laid in dup-
licate. I ask permission to add by way of explanation, that a similar
view was expressed befoie the Imperial Paci^ , Cable Committee,
which met in London in 189 i. It was indeed urged by some wit-
nesses that cables laid across any ocean should be laid in duplicate.
I was then in London and in reply to the allej^ation, submitted to
the Committee as follows {ride Canadian Parliamentrv Return No. 51
for 1899 page 77).

In the evidence submitted to the committee ft has been alleged as absolutely neces-
sary. If a a trans-Pacltic cable be laid at all. that it should be laid In duplicate. Curiously
enough the gentlemen who have laid greatest stress on the necessity for two cables across
the Pacific are among those most averse to the est-olishment of a Pacific cable under any
circumstances. It has been mad^ to appear that a single cable has been rarely laid in any
part of the world, and that in cases where two cables are not laid side by side at the
same time, duplication- immediately follows. Mr. Preece could not recall an instance of
any company relying on a single cable. The Impression conveyed was that provision is
made for laying both cables from the start, or directly on the completion of one cable, the
work of laying the second trvariibly is proceeded with. 1 take the liberty of mentioning
that this course is not universally followed.

The Eastern Extension Company's cable from Madras to Penang was single for 21
years; the first cable was laid in 1870, It was duplicated in 1891.

The cable nl the same company from Penang to Singapore was laid In 1870, it was
duplicated in 1892, 22 years afterwards.

The same company laid a single cable from Australia to Tasmania in 1869, and dup-
licated it in 1887. after a lapse ot 18 years.

The same company laid a single cable from Australia to New Zealand in 1876; the
second cable was not laid until 1885.

The Cape of Good Hope had telegraphic commiinications established by a single cable
in 1879; duplication was not effected until 10 years afterwards.

A single cable was laid from Portugal to Brazil In 1874 and it was not duplicated until
1884.

There are many other instances; 1 have, however, mentioned a sufficient number to
make plain that there is no such rule invariably followed as that alleged. The duplication
of a cable is a matter which is entirely governed by circumstances; generally It is pro-
ceeded with when additional facilities are required by the traffic, or warranted by the pro-
spect of a rapid development of business.

1 am perfectly satisfied that eventually many cables will be required across the
Pacific, but to my mind there ts no necessity for establishing more than one at present.

The IniD(>iial ComniiHoe decided (o rwommend the catablishmciit
of one enbic, loaving its duplication to te followed at some future
time "wlien the success of the undertukinf; warranted a fresh outlay
of capital." '

That was the wise decision reached by the committee presided
over by Lord Sellwrne, and of which Lord Strathcona and Hon. A O
.Jones, Lieut.-Governor of Nova .Scotia were members.

Jly own frequently expressed views in harmony therewith, are,
that one cable will l)e sufficient until a second is really demanded by
increased telegraph tiafflc, and that meanwhile a" substitute for
duplication of both Atlantic and Pacific cables may be obtained in
quite another, far nioic useful and far more effective way. That is
to say, by takins steps to extend .State-control over deep sea cables
from Western Australia, via the Cape to England. By so doing
l»th Atlantic and Pacific Cables will form portions of the "round
the world system," when every point touched will be doubly con-
nected with every other point. It will be at once recognized that
this arrangement would obviate any necessity for incurring a double
capital expenditure on cables to lie idle at the bottom of the ocean
waiting for ..n interruption which may not happen. The same
expenditure would go a long way towards completing the globe gird-
ling telegraph system which would admit of me8.sages being transmitted
either westerly or easterly, and should anj emergency arise to pre-
vent them crossing the Atlantic they could still, under ordinary cir-
cumstances, be sent in the opposite direction. Obviously, instead of
sinking money on two cables laid side by side, one of which for the
present would be little used, the wisiT policy would be to inaugurate
the Pan-Bntannic telegraph service so as to cheapen communications
and provide the freest means of intercour.se for the several groups of
British people in the four quarters of the globe. Assuredly one of
the fir.st results of such a service, would be to reduce greatly the
cost of telegraphy all over the world ; while its undoubted tendency
w'oiild be to vitalize the broadest patriotism and realize f^e dream
of the United Empire Loyalists and all imbued with the true Cana-
dian spirit.