A fast telegram was the premium, full-rate class of telegraphic message designed for urgent communications. Unlike day letters or night letters, which were deferred to off-peak hours to save money, fast telegrams were pushed to the front of the transmission queue and delivered by a messenger as soon as they arrived at the receiving station.
Heard on the job
Send a fast telegram to the Chicago office to halt the shipment immediately.
Also heard as
- full-rate telegram