| Miles of line | Miles of wire | Number of offices | Number of messages | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1861 | 305 | 1968 | 16 | 11,549 |
| 1862 | 372 | 2741 | 22 | 133,514 |
| 1863 | 831 | 5099 | 48 | 226,729 |
| 1864 | 1343 | 8096 | 100 | 518,651 |
| 1865 | 1672 | 9506 | 125 | 743,870 |
[15] Journal of Statistical Society, March, 1881.
[16] Miscellaneous Statistics for the United Kingdom, 1862, 1864, 1866 and 1868-9; Parliamentary Paper No. 416, Session of 1867-68; and Journal of the Statistical Society, March, 1881.
| Miles of line | Miles of wire | Number of offices | Number of messages | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 73 | 335 | 52 | 74,582 |
| 1861 | 92 | 378 | 78 | 114,022 |
| 1862 | 103 | 401 | 84 | 243,849 |
| 1863 | 107 | 430 | 81 | 247,606 |
| 1864 | 115 | 454 | 80 | 308,032 |
| 1865 | 123 | 470 | 83 | 316,272 |
| 1866 | 150 | 495 | 80 | 214,496 |
| 1867 | 150 | 495 | 81 | 239,583 |
| 1868 | 163 | 82 |
CHAPTER III
The Alleged Break-down of Laissez-Faire
Early history of telegraphy in Great Britain. The adequacy of private enterprise. Mr. Scudamore’s loose use of statistics. Mr. Scudamore’s test of adequacy of facilities. Telegraphic charges and growth of traffic in Great Britain. The alleged wastefulness of competition. The telegraph companies’ proposal.
Upon the foregoing evidence, taken from the experience of the State telegraphs of Belgium, Switzerland, and France, and from the experience of the telegraph companies of the United Kingdom, Mr. Scudamore reached the conclusion that in telegraphy, in the United Kingdom, private enterprise had broken down. He stated his conclusion in these words: “It is clearly shown, I think, … that the cardinal distinction between the telegraph system of the United Kingdom and the systems of Belgium and Switzerland is this: that the latter have been framed and maintained solely with a view to the accommodation of the public, whilst the former has been devised and maintained mainly with a view to the interests of shareholders, and only indirectly for the benefit of the public.” These words were intended to convey, and they did convey, the meaning that the policy of laissez-faire had broken down. That policy rests on the assumption that in the long run, and upon the whole, the public interest is conserved and promoted by the activities of the individual citizens who are seeking to promote their personal fortunes—by the activities of “the mere speculator and dividend seeker”—to employ the phrase that came into common use in 1866 to 1869, and ever since, has been made to do yeoman service.