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An association organized in 1848-49 by a number of New York newspapers, for the purpose of conveniently and inexpensively collecting and transmitting news. Its organization was suggested subsequently to the establishment of the first telegraph line between Washington and Wilmington, Del., and because of the delay in receiving dispatches, owing to the limited lines. The first members of the association were the New York Sun, the Herald, the Tribune, the Journal of Commerce, the Courier and Inquirer and the Express. Contracts for lower telegraph rates were arranged with the companies and other newspapers were admitted to the association. In 1880 355 newspapers were served by this association and a total number of 611,199,630 words were transmitted.