'Memorandum on the Indo-European Telegraph Department and Narrative of Events to the end of 1898' [‎5v] (10/20)

10
47. At the Paris Conference the Indian transit between Bombay and Madras
was reduced to 35 centimes, and from the 1st July 1891 the rate for Press
messages was reduced from 24 to 12 centimes.
. -From 1st January 1893 the rate between Burope and Australia was
increased to 4s. 9c?., as it was found that the loss sustained at the 4s. rate was
excessive.
49. In 1893 the control of the Department was placed directly under the
Secretary of State for India, and Mr. B. T. Ffinch was transferred to London
as Director-in-Chief from 1st April 1893.
50. In 1894 it was found that the proportion paid into the Joint Purse
by. this Department was greater than it should be in comparison with that
paid in by the Indo-European Company, and on investigation it was
discovered that this was due to the large amount of traffic passing between
India and Persia since the opening of the Meshed line, which, "under the
terms of the Joint Purse Agreement, had to be credited to the Purse as
Indian traffic, although no allowance had been made for such traffic when the
Joint Purse was arranged. After considerable discussion the Companies
agreed to revise the percentages to be drawn out of the Purse, and from 1st
January 1894 this Department has received 18*06 instead of 17*27 per cent,
of the Indian traffic earnings. This has resulted in an increased revenue of
nearly 3,000?. a year for the Department.
51. In 1895 the Departmental Cable Steamer was employed in layin°*
a new cable between Ceylon aud India, which had been manufactured in
our Cable Factory An East India Company trading post. at Manora.
52. In April 1896, a Supplemental Agreement was entered into regarding
the Australasian Message Fund, under which, from 1st May 1895, the amount
guaranteed was reduced to 227,000?. and the sum payable bv the Colonies
in any one year was limited to 10,000?. The Agreement was also made
binding for at least five years.
53. Sites for new quarters for the Director and Staff of the Persian Section
at leheran were purchased from the Persian Government and the title
deeds deposited at the British Legation. The buildings for the Staff were
occupied in November 1896 and for the Director in October 1897.
54. The International Telegraph Conference was held at Buda-Pesth in
1896. The principal alterations affecting India were,
1 * increase in the length of a permissible word in telegrams wholly in
plain language, as distinguished from telegram wholly in code or
partly in code and partly in plain language, 15 letters being allowed
as the maximum instead of 10 as heretofore.
2. An increase in the number of figures and signs permissible as one word
when written in series, as regards every class of telegram, five
characters being counted as a word in place of three as heretofore.
3. Substantial reductions in the rates between India and the East and
South Africa, including Mauritius, as also between India and the
Straits, China and Japan; as well as minor reductions in their
terminal rates by the Russian and Persian Governments. India was
represented at this Conference by Mr. S. V. P. Luke, C.I.E and
Mr. B. T. Ffinch, C.I.E. ’ ’ d
55. In January 1897 a serious riot occurred at Bushire owing to certain
bench marks having been fixed near our Office by the Survey of India
Department, v Inch the Persians, incited by their Seyeds, considered to be
the cause of the want of rain.
56. In the same year the Shah was assassinated, and for some time anarchy
reigned in Southern Persia and there were many disturbances in different
parts of the country, but the telegraph officials and lines escaped any serious
injury. ^ J