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The Honduras syndicate paid the Government $15,000 a year for lease.

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The telegraph system of the Republic embraces the national lines, as well as those of railway and private companies.

The tariff is uniform over the different systems. The lines are all aerial, and the construction consists of palm or pine poles, and in many instances trees are used for the purpose of holding the wires.

First telegraph line.-By a Government decree of October 9, 1876, it was resolved to begin the construction of a telegraph system. By February of 1877, there were in operation 692 miles of wire in the Departments of Tegucigalpa, Choluteca, La Paz, Comayagua, Santa Barbara, Copan, Gracias, and to the port of Amapala. Communication was likewise established with the neighboring Republics of Guatemala, Salvador, and Nicaragua. By 1879 there were in operation 1,547 miles of lines, at a total expenditure of 21,421.94 pesos. In 1881 1,409 miles were added at an expense of 243,950 pesos, and, again, in 1882 1,704 miles more were hung and opened to service.

In September, 1882, the Republic of Honduras was put in cable communication with North America and Europe through the Central and South American Company, which established stations at La Libertad, Salvador, and at San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.

Lines in 1902.-The mileage of telegraph lines in 1902 was 3,249. During the year the volume of business may be noted by the following: Number of messages sent, 617,939; number of words, 12,299,857; value of messages, $369,023.10, which amount includes official and public-service telegrams, for which no charge is made. One thousand four hundred and seventy-eight cable messages were sent, containing 10,951 words, and having a value of 24,837.35 pesos.

The revenues from the telegraphic service for 1901-2 are given

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The school of telegraphy in Tegucigalpa has not given the results which were expected in proportion to the expenditure thereon.

Number of miles of telegraph lines, 1902-3
Number of offices in the Republic, 1902-3

3,246 164

The transmission and delivery of all telegraphic messages is under Government supervision and every message is subject to censure.

The tariff rate for messages is 15 centavos (about 6 cents) for each five words or fraction thereof. Messages in any other than the Spanish language, and code of cipher messages, pay double rates. The cable tariff which fluctuates with the price of silver, is as follows (January 18, 1904):

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Classification of messages.-Messages are considered as official and private. Official messages are such as are transmitted by the President, the Chief Justice, the Secretaries of State, Commander General,

Venezuela:

Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello

6.39

Other places...

6.10

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MAIL CARRIERS AND MULE TRAIN LEAVING POST-OFFICE, TEGUCIGALPA.

Director of the Telegraphic Bureau, Chiefs of the Bureau, and operators; Deputies in Congress (on public business) when Congress is not in session, and on either public or private business during the session of Congress; telegrams directed to the President, Secretaries of State, and other Government officials to whom the franking privilege has been extended, provided the messages contain not more than 10 words; franking privileges may likewise be conceded to departmental officials, ministers plenipotentiary, delegates, and confidential agents; to societies for the diffusion of scientific, artistic, or industrial knowledge; to medical men pursuing investigations of general sanitary interest to the country.

Telegraph law.―The telegraphic and telephonic service is a branch of the public service and constitutes an exclusive right of the State.(Telegraph Law, Article I.)

Prohibition of cipher.-In private dispatches the use of cipher, signs, or combinations of conventional words to conceal the true contents of a message is absolutely prohibited, except by special arrangement with the central office.-(Article 38, Telegraph Regulations.)

Repeated telegrams.-Upon request to have a message repeated to insure its correct transmission, the office from which sent shall repeat the message, and if no error has been committed, the party requesting the repetition shall again pay the amount of the message. (Article 45, Telegraph Regulations.)

Code or cipher telegrams.-Whenever a code or cipher message is presented for transmittal, the code or cipher book must be exhibited for examination and deposited with the officials of the telegraph office.

POSTAL ORGANIZATION.

Organization of mails.-The control and organization of the national postal service is vested in Congress, which body, in March, 1898, passed the postal laws which are at present in force. In January, 1899, the President of Honduras proclaimed the regulations whereby this branch of the administrative service is governed. The postal service comprises official mail matter, ordinary correspondence, printed matter, samples and business papers, parcels post, registered letters, postal money orders, and postal drafts (with United States). Postal service.-During the year 1901-2 the business of the postoffice increased to considerable extent. One million two hundred and forty-two thousand eight hundred and sixty pieces were carried, classified as follows:

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This was an increase of 180,243 pieces over the preceding year. The increase in the parcels post was over 60 per cent. During the

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