442 THE INDIAN EMPIRE [CHAP.
levied on telegrams presented between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. After
several experimental modifications, a revised tariff was intro-
duced in January, 1882, under which the charge was made uni-
form for all hours of the day and night and for any distance, and
the address was signalled free in all cases. For the purpose of
this tariff, telegrams were, after I886, divided into three classes:
Urgent, Ordinary, and Deferred. The charge for an Ordinary
telegram was one rupee for eight words and 2 annas for each
additional word. Urgent telegrams were charged at double,
and Deferred telegrams at half, the rate for Ordinary telegrams.
From the Ist of January, I904, the tariff was again reduced. In
the case of Ordinary and Urgent telegrams the number of words
for the minimum charge of R. i and Rs. 2 was raised from eight
with a free address, to sixteen including the address. The
charge for Deferred telegrams was 4 annas for four words, with
I anna for each additional word, and the address up to six
words was signalled free. During the calendar year i904 there
had been an increase (as compared with I903) of 43 per cent.
in the number, and of 7.6 per cent. in the value, of private
Deferred messages, largely owing to this change of tariff.
From July, 1905, the address of Deferred messages has no
longer been signalled free, but ten words, including the address,
may be sent for the minimum charge of 4 annas.
Foreign The original tariff for messages between India and the United
tariffs. Kingdom was £5 per twenty words. This was reduced at the
United
Kingdom. Vienna InternationalTelegraph Conference (i 868) to £ 2 I 7s. 6d.
In I87I this tariff was raised, at a special Conference at Berne,
to £4 Ios.; and at the St. Petersburg Conference of I875
a word-rate was established, which was fixed at 52 francs via
Suez or Teheran and 5 francs via Turkey. In I879 these
rates were somewhat raised, but at the Berlin Conference of
i885 they were reduced to 5 and 4~ francs respectively. In
March, Igo902, the rate per word via Suez or Teheran was
reduced to 2s. 6d., and in August, Igo5, was further reduced to
2s. The rate per word via Turkey, which was 2s. 3d. since
January, I903, was also reduced at the same time by 5d.
Foreign The tariffs for foreign countries, being made up of the shares
countries of the different Administrations concerned, are liable to
generally. vary in accordance with the alterations in rates made by them,
as also with the route employed. Tables showing these are
given in the Indian Telegraph Guide, published quarterly.
Ceylon is, for telegraph purposes, a Foreign Administration, and
telegrams to that colony are charged at 3 annas a word from
India and 42 annas from Burma.
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