Since then the telegraph business has been carried on in the United States in a more business-like and progressive manner than ever before.
There is so little friction between the two companies apparent to the public, that it is sometimes charged, or at least suspected, they are in actual alliance, but such is not the case. Competition for patronage was never so sharp as now, but it is based upon excellence of facilities and service and treatment of patrons, and not upon any form of buying patronage with money, which has proven the ruin of so many companies whose chief purpose seemed to be to do the most harm in the shortest time, in order to sell or lease their property for more than it was fairly worth.
Probably no two men ever had more complete control of large interests not their own during their formative period than has been the case of Mr. Chandler and Mr. Ward in their respective positions, and to Mr. Mackay’s implicit confidence in them may be attributed much of the success that has been attained by the Commercial Cable and Postal Telegraph Companies, which are now practically one property.
Most of the principal officers of these companies have been brought to their present positions by these gentlemen, and the business is conducted with singular harmony and efficiency.
Mr. Mackay, who was from its inception President of the Commercial Cable Company, assumed also the Presidency of the Postal Company early in 1901 at the earnest request of Mr. Chandler, who desired to be relieved, partly by reason of somewhat impaired health, and partly because of his preference to spend much of his time in his Vermont home. Upon his retirement from active charge, he was made Chairman of the Board of Directors, and in this capacity renders a variety of services and exercises as a useful influence. He is still, as he has been for many years, a Vice-President of the Commercial Cable Company, of which Mr. Ward continues as first Vice-President and General Manager.
Mr. Clarence H. Mackay has succeeded his father as President of the Commercial Cable and Postal Telegraph Companies, and entered with great pride and energy into the project of laying a cable to Hawaii and the Philippine Islands as projected by his father.
These very important links in the circuit round the globe adds further power and opportunity to the Postal Company, whose activity seems now to have fairly begun, and being laid upon sound foundations of finance, construction and methods of business is evidently destined to continue an increasing success.
The following figures show the pole and wire mileage, number of offices operated or reached, and number of messages handled in 1903 by the Postal Telegraph Cable Company, its subsidiary companies and direct connections in North America:
| Pole mileage | 48,801 |
| Wire ” | 276,244 |
| Points reached | 19,977[A] |
| Messages handled | 21,600,577 |
| Number of new offices added in 1903 | 3,729 |
[A] 1,782 of these are reached by no other company.