All developments of significance produce individuals who wish to use their interests and abilities to make good rewards - both technical and monetary. A Canadian - Mr. W. H. Butcher - is one of these who contributed positively and significantly to the development of telegraphic communication both in Victoria and in Tasmania.
Events actually preceeded the 1856 Eureka uprising. Both the line to Williamstown and the line to Geelong were constructed by Mr. W. H Butcher. At that point, another approach to constructing telegraph lines emerged with a business proposition. It came from Mr. W. H. Butcher who saw good profits being returned from a line to Ballarat. The Geelong Advertiser of 2 August 1855 introduced the context as follows:
"The following letter put into our hands by the projector of a company to realise that desirable consummation shows that it can be done profitably. The statements made in the letter as to the advantages to be derived from the establishment of the telegraph are as complete as could be expected on a subject which is absolutely inexhaustible. Our correspondent, for instance, has made no mention of the function of the telegraph as a crime detecter and consequently of a crime preventer. Horse stealing would cease to pay, if by a complete systems of telegraph, the brands of stolen horses could he instantaneously transmitted to all the places at which horses are usually sold. The applications of the telegraph are endless":
The Letter to the Editor was as follows:
"Mr. Editor,
I beg leave to lay before your readers a few remarks and suggestions relative to the contemplated line of Electric Telegraph between Geelong and Ballarat which line, when completed, will place Ballarat, Queenscliff, Geelong, Williamstown and the metropolis of Victoria within instantaneous communication of each other. It is proposed that the above line be constructed and managed by a Joint Stock Company - the said Company to be called the Geelong and Ballarat Electric Telegraph Company - with a capital of seven thousand pounds (£7,000) to be divided into one hundred and forty shares at fifty pounds per share to be paid in calls of ten pounds (£10) each. The total amount of each share to be paid within three months from the date of the first call - it being the intention of the projector to complete the line within that time. Six thousand pounds of the above sum to be appropriated for construction, instruments, batteries, etc. and the balance of one thousand pounds used for a small station at Ballarat and other contingencies.
The said Company to be subject to the following rules and restrictions, by order of the Government, which we copy from a letter of the Colonial Secretary on the subject, which are as follows:
- The same protection to be afforded to the Posts and wires of the Telegraph as is afforded by the Government to any other description of property, but no extra police would be employed for their special protection.
- The Government would require that messages sent from the office of the Colonial Secretary should have priority of all others in their transmission.
- That the Line must be approved by the Surveyor General.
- That nothing in the shape of a monopoly is implied in these regulations as it is the intention of the Government to lay electric wires on the Lines of Railway, which they contemplate undertaking.
- That in event of any public disturbance, the Government should have possession of the Telegraph.
- That the scale of charges proposed to be levied, and the regulations to be adopted, should be subjected to the inspection and approval of the Governtment.
- That the Government would reserve the right by repaying the money invested, with interest, to purchase the line should they at any time deem it advisable to do so.
The scale of charges to be levied is proposed to be the same as are now in force between Geelong and Melbourne, as follows:
For the first ten words, exclusive of address or signature, 4s; for each added word, 3d.
This would be less in proportion to distance than the present tariff and would no doubt meet the views of the public.
By means of the instruments which are intended to be adopted, the company would be enabled to transmit messages to and from a station at the same instant, thus performing an amount of work with one wire which, with the ordlinary instrtuments, would require two, so that should the business increase sufficiently to warrant a reduction in the proposed tariff, the company would be enabled to do so probably with as great advantage to themselves and the public generally. The instrument referred to is a late patent and far superior to any now in use; it is rapidly superseding all others throughout Europe and the continent of North America. The Home Government have adopted them for the use of the allied armies in the Crimea. and they are found to work very satisfactorily - their great value consisting in making one wire answer the purpose of two by sending the electric current in opposite directions at the same instant, thus saving the Company the expense, should the business warrant it, of the erection of a second wire.
Having made careful calculations respecting the number of messages likely to be transmitted, expenses incurred, etc., the following estimate of the probable revenue and expenditure of the contemplated Company is presented as a fair one, and if the scheme be carried out well, the compiler confidently relies upon the result exceeding the estimate:
Estimated Revenue and Expenditure of the "GEELONG AND BALLARAT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH" RECEIPTS.
| Transmission of Messages from Ballarat to Geelong, Melbourne and other offices, say 25 per diem, average at 6s. | £7 10s 0d |
| From Geelong, Melbourne, and other offices, in return, say 25 per diem, average, at 6 s | £7 10s 0d |
| Per day . | £15 0s 0d. |
.Annual, allowing 5 days per annum for interruptions. 360 days at £15 0 0 = £5,400 0 0
| Expenditure: | |
| Superintendent | £500 0 0 |
| 1 Chief Operator, at Ballarat | £300 0.0 |
| 1 Assistant ditto | £250 0 0 |
| 1 Chief Operator at Geelong | £300 0 0 |
| 1 Assistant ditto | £250 0 0 |
| 4 Messengers: 2 at each Station @ £50 | £200 0 0 |
| Acids, Fuel, Light, etc | £200 0 0 |
| Stationary, Printing, etc. | £100 0 0 |
| Rental of offices, etc | £300 0 0 |
| Repairs of Line | £200 0 0 |
| Contingencies | £300 0 0 |
| Reserve Fund | £500 0 0 |
| Total | £3,400 0 0 |
| Leaving a profit for dividend | £2,000 0 0 |
In submitting the annexed estimates of the probable receipts and disbursements of such company, I wish it to be understood (that from experience both in this colony and abroad), in my opinion, both the income would be increased and the computed expenditure materially reduced as the benefit enjoyed by this mode of communication became generally known as such line became permanently established. Aside from the private despatches transmitted, those sent by Government, as well as reports for the press, would form a very material item in the revenue of the company. The fact of the slow bi-weekly postal communication which now exists between Geelong, Melbourne and Ballarat, will also tend to enhance the value of such a mode of communication. In the absence of steam, also the electric wire becomes more valuable, as in the present case, and where answers are required, supersedes all other methods.
It is a well known fact that numbers of our inhabitants transacting business between the above places, depend almost, if not entirely, on the stage coach and private hand, rather than await the tardy movements of the mail. If, then, an electric telegraph connected these points, how much greater would that traffic become? What merchant or storekeeper would have the patience to endure a delay of from two to four days for his answer by post when, for a trifling expense, his question might be answered by the telegraph within the hour? How many instances are there, where parties both in the cities and on the diggings are compelled to travel to and and fro, at great expense, in order to expedite their business, a great portion of which could be done by the electric wire at a mere nominal cost.
Between Queenscliff, Geelong and Melbourne, we have convincing evidence of these facts. Notwithstanding, there are at present two daily mails between the two latter places. There is a very large telegraphic business transacted and would, we think, be greatly increased if the Geelong office could be placed in a more central locality.
By the electric wire all important news, both from Europe and the adjoining colonies would be anticipated many hours in advance of all other modes of communication and, not only would Ballarat be benefittcd in this respect, but all its surrounding gold fields,as the Ballarat Press would be enabled to circulate their morning's issue many hours in advance of the Geelong anid Melbourne papers, with later intelligence, thus placing the digging population on an equal footing with the seaboard towns. Arrivals, departures, foreign, colonial and the local markets, with the latest news of all descriptions, would be published simultaneously with the city papers - a boon by the diggers devoutly to be wished for.
I also beg to state it is the intention of the Government to extend, as soon as practicable, electric wires throughout the colony, each mile of which will tend to enhance the value of those lines which may be in existence, as distance in all countries increases the importance of the electric telegraph, more particularly where they have to depend solely upon horse transit as in Victoria. Thus for instance, a line to Castlemaine, Bendigo, Maryborough and such other places to which such lines might extend, would materially increase the business of the line proposed. By the extension of the Telegraph, "rushes" from one gold-field to another would become less frequent and the digging population would feel more settled in their respective localities, from the fact of the people being informed day by day of the actual results obtained at other fields, and by the opportunity afforded to contradict many of the fabulous reports and rumours which have so often carried the digger from a fair yielding field to one many miles distant, which produced him nothing but disappointment and vexation.
Viewing the Electric Telegraph in a pecuniary light, I think no one can doubt its advantage, the comparatively small cost for its sustenance and its capabilities for earning a large revenue, leave no doubt in my mind of its proving a very lucrative speculation to its shareholders.
In conclusion I beg to state, that I have the written authority from Government to form such a company and carry out the line under the restrictions mentioned above. Any further information on the subject may be obtained by letter addressed to the undersigned, Post Office, Geelong.
I remain, etc., W. H. BUTCHER.
New South Wales.
Mr Butcher was one of the first people to reach out to the New South Wales Government about the desirability of constructing the Sydney to Melbourne line. In July 1855, the Chairman of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce said that "he had received a long and very carefully prepared letter from Mr. Butcher of Melbourne, suggesting the means of establishing communications between Sydney and Melbourne by means of the electric telegraph" (see First line to Victoria). It is at present unclear how much further Mr. Butcher was involved in that discussion.
Tasmania
On 26 September 1856, Mr. Butcher won the contract to build the first line of telegraph in Tasmania - from Hobart to Launceston.
By 1858, Mr Butcher was the Superintendent of Telegraphs at Launceston.
After some silence about Mr. Butcher, news was reported on 20 January 1859 in The Age:
"Mr. Butcher arrived at the Heads on 23 December 1858 on the Oneida after va majpr incident in which the screw of the ship broke. He was described as being the contractor for laying the electric cable between Tasmania and Victoria. This gentleman was empowered to treat with the Governments of these two Colonies for the application of Hughes' patent Printing Telegraph apparatus".