STATE-OWNED CABLE

Evening Star, Issue 14524, 28 November 1910, Page 6

STATE-OWNED CABLE

I'.HTWEEN BRITAIN AND MONTREAL. Prc*3 Aowciation—By Tclc<rraph— Copyrisht LONDON, November 26. 'Th« Tiinee' warmly commoiwls an huportajit plan for a State-owned cable via Iceland which is now under consideration. It is estimated that a tariff which is inadoqmOo to earn t, profit for the existing Atlantic cables, even when they are working *t their fullest capacity, can earn a satisfactory protit fur tho Iceland route •i working only six hours per day. What is represented to bo a practicable cible charge, though it would not necessarily ho 'adopted at tho outset, woukl reduce the cost of ordinary messages from Britain to Montreal to per word. The rate on Government, Press, and deferred messages would in that case be 2£d per word. A sixpenny rate would cover the cost of similar messages to Australia. The capital required would be £850.000, and the annuil receipts at the lowest rates mentioned above are estimated at £148,750. and the expenditure at £103,500 (working expenses £55,000, repairs £12,000, contingencies, canvassing, etc., £15,000, provident fund £3,000, and renewal fund £18.500), leaving an annual profit of £45,250, or upwards of 5 per cent, on tlie initial outlay. Tho suggested service would gain in security it wireless were installed over portjunjrf.tliG.xoute. The,cost x woiud..bc,&a*aJl,