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294 METHODS OF SOCZAL REFORM.
increased, it is said, in the extraordinary proportion of 11,600
worked by the Post Offico, against 1,900 possessed by all the
companies. I do not know mho first put afloat these numbers,
but I find from Nr. Scudamore's Official Report (p. 73) that in
reality tho telegraph companies had, in 1865, 16,OGG) miles of
line, 77,4404 miles of mire, nnd, in 1863, 6,196 instruments,
numbers which compare very differcnt,ly with tho60 of the
Post Office.
Nevertheless, it will be agreed that the practical working
of the depsrtrnunt is now satisfactory, and but for the statements
of certain gentlemen recently commissioned by the
rIrewury l to report upon its financial position, it might have
seernod that the results of the transfer afforded matter only
for congrntulntion. This Report, however, shows that tho
working expenses of the department have steadily advanced,
until they form 96; per cent. of the income, leaving scarcely
nnything to pay the interest 011 the large sum of about
510,000,000 sterling sunk in the systetn, or to meet contingent
expenses and liabilities. When wo obswve the steady may in
which the working expenses have advanced in proportion,
being mther u1uru than 57 per cent. in tlle fourteen months
ending 31st March, 1871, 782 per ceut. in 1871-2, 803 in
18i2-2, a d 014 per cent. in 18734, it becomes impossible to
hopo that the tclugmphs will ever pay their real expenses
under the present Lnriff and regulations.
I hnvo 110 hesitation in sngiug that in a financial point
of view the purchase of the telegraphs has been a blunder,
a d that it wns brought before Parliament and the courltry
upon representations which hsve proved in many particulars
coutrary to fact. I need hardly say that the capital cost of
the present telegraphs has been at least four times what was
estimated. In his first Report (p. 37), Mr. Scudamore distinctly
and confidently asserted that the whole of the property
and rights of every description of the companies lnight be
purchased for a sum within fB,400,000. Betmeen two and
three times as much has been paid, and there are yet contingent
claims of unknown amounts to be met. This &-
crepanoy, however, is nothing to that regarding the " cost of