Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/266

 >2 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

TWENTIETH MEETING.

General topic : Telegraph and Telephone Systems. References :

Muir, The Telegraph Systems of the World (McClures Magazine, July

1895)-

Interesting discussion and statistics of the telegraph lines and cables

of the world. Yarney, The Telegraph up to Date (Lippincotfs Magazine, October

1894).

The main steps in the development of the technique of the telegraph. Webb, Future of the Telephone Industry (Engineering Magazine

March 1892).

Shows the intricacy of a large telephone system and in consequence

the improbability of greatly reducing the cost of service.

Special Report on Local System. (For suggestions see above.)

General discussion, topic : Should the Public own the Telegraph and Telephone System ? References :

Clark, The Telegraph and Telephone Properly Parts of the Post-office System {Arena, March 1892).

Asserts that the government lost control of the telegraph only by accident and that there are the best of reasons for its resuming the right.

Ely, Problems of Today (New York, Crowell), 1888, pp. 277-296.

Here, as in magazine articles (see Poole's Index), Ely argues for government control.

Jevons, Methods of Social Reform.

Discusses analogy of telegraph to the post-office system, and con- cludes that it may be best to manage in connection.

Parsons, The Telegraph Monopoly (Arena).

This long series of articles presents all the arguments for govern- ment control.

United States House Executive Document, 1871-2, IV, Report of the Postmaster General. Recommends adoption of postal telegraph system.

United States House Miscellaneous Documents, 1872-3, No. 73, Report of David A. Wells.

Is decidedly opposed to government ownership, for financial as wel as political reasons.