We quote from Mr. Hubbard:—
“A system of railroads is also owned and operated by the government, and the telegraph is connected with both the railroad and the post. A large proportion of the offices are at the railway stations, but every post-office is an office of deposit, from which messages are despatched at once, free of charge, to the nearest telegraph office, when in the same district; otherwise, by the first messenger or by special carrier, on payment of an extra rate for porterage. This union of the telegraph with the post and railroad reduces the expenses for operators, clerks, general management, rent and office expenses, and brings the system into close connection with every citizen.
“The rates are prepaid by stamps, and are uniform and low. The rate for all inland messages by telegraph, or by telegraph and post where the place of deposit or delivery is not on the line of the telegraph, is one half-franc [or thirteen and a half cents currency].”
BELGIAN TELEGRAMS DELIVERED BY POST.
In reply to this flattering picture of the Belgian system of telegraphy we quote the following from a recent English publication:[[15]]—
[15]. Government and the Telegraphs. London, 1868.
“The government of Belgium not only have a monopoly of the telegraphs and post-office, but also of most of the railways of the country. They work the system as a whole. In the case of ordinary half-franc telegrams, the messages are not uniformly despatched by messenger from the office at which they arrive, but are sent to the residence of the receiver by post!
“The administration of the Belgian telegraph in no respect holds itself responsible for the delivery of a message, unless it is specially insured and additionally paid for. They decline all responsibility on account of delay in the transmission or non-arrival of a half-franc telegram. They will not even inquire into the cause of delay of a half-franc telegram! No matter how long a message has taken in delivery, or whatever may be the errors in it, the government will make no compensation to the sender or receiver, except under very exceptional circumstances. Moreover, the twenty words forwarded for half a franc includes addresses both of sender and receiver, ‘all of which is free in this country.’”
For further particulars relative to the Belgian telegraph service reference is made to pages [5], [7], [8], [13], [16]–24.