It came charging full tilt upon Bell, driving three inventors abreast--Edison, Gray, and Dolbear.

It expected an easy victory; in fact, the disparity between the two opponents was so evident, that there seemed little chance of a contest of any kind.
"The Western Union will swallow up the telephone people," said public opinion, "just as it has already swallowed up all improvements in telegraphy." At that time, it should be remembered, the Western Union was the only corporation that was national in its extent.

It was the most powerful electrical company in the world, and, as Bell wrote to his parents, "probably the largest corporation that ever existed." It had behind it not only forty millions of capital, but the prestige of the Vanderbilts, and the favor of financiers everywhere.

Also, it met the telephone pioneers at every point because it, too, was a WIRE company.

It owned rights-of-way along roads and on house-tops.