Butte record., 1857-01-03
The Telegraph Controversy.

We have received q communication from
Mr.. Strong, which we would eheerfully pub
lish entire, were it not for its extreme length
and the small size of our paper. We have
condensed it somewhat, but have endeavored
to give the facts as stated by Mr.. Strong.
YREKA, Dec Goth, 1856.
Mr.. EDIToR--Sir In your paper of Dec. |
9Th, notice an article purporting to be in
formation from .s authority perfectly relia- |
ble,. rejecting severely upon my character
as man of integrity and honesty. Nou,as
| regard my character as my life, cannot
passiveiy submit to such an assault without
notice
In the article referred to in your paper,
you say, &c We have it from authority per-
fectly reliable, that Mr.. Strong was dis
charged from the Alta Company, for appro-
priating the proceeds of said line to his own
use, and not accountinr for the same. Now
this is as base a falsehood as devil incar-
nate can conceive. My term of office as
president and superintendent of the Alta
California Telegraph Co., in common with
all the other officers of the company, expired
by limitation on the 1st of September last,
at which time the annual election OF officers
was hoiaen, and new officers elected in their
stead Ii the Alta Telegraph Co. have ever
charged me with embezzlement, this Is the
first intimation have ever had Of The fact
but think should have been very likely to
have heard something of it, if it was true
With regard to the article of agreement
alluded to, in our article as having been de-
stroyed by Mr. Strong, he denies that any
such article ever existed, and states in sub
stance as follows: That contract was made
between Mr.. Gwynn, and partner of Mr.
Strong, during the absence Of the latter to
the Atlantic States, which was to be subject
to his approval on his return! That Gwynn
had failed in business at Auburn after en-
tering into the arrangement, and became in
solvent, and that on settlement with him for
a certain contract which he had taken to
furnish and set up poles from Auburn to
Nevada, it was agreed that the writing in
aues,ion should be delivered into his posses
sion, and the agreement annulled, and that
the contract was destroyed according to such
understanding.
Lastly you say, : He is the same man who
swindled the citizens of Iowa Hill, Yankee
Jims, Georgetown, and other towns in that
section, by building branch line from Go
Iona to Iowa Hill and representing said line
to be an extension of the Alta line, when he
was the sole owner of said line and had mort
gagged it." SC. 1t is not true that the line
was ever mortgaged or given in trust to any
one, and that the people were not swindled,
will appear from the following facts Al the
| time the Alta Telegraph Co increased their
capital stock from $40, 900 to S220, 900,
| for the purpose of extending their line, it
was in contemplation of extending it, not
/ only through to the southern mines and to
| San Francisco, but from Nevada to Downie
Vile, but afterwards. parties having visited
Downieville and Forest City, and reporting
! that the business in that section was very
dull, the towns small. and the people indis-
| pose to subscribe to the stock to build the
! line, it was thought best by the company to
build a line from Coloma to Iowa Hill, thro'
Georgetown and Yankee Jims, connecting
with the old Alta line at Colomi; instead OF
that section from Nevada to DowDieville.and
| | accordingly obtained subscriptions for that
purpose, and all who subscribed, sub
scribed to the stock of the Alta California
Telegraph Co it being also understood that
the branch would be part of the Alta
line. In the mean time, the people Of Down
/ ievile and that section, began to talk about
/ having the Alta line ex tended to that place,
and parties went up that way to see what
could be done in regard to it, The people
were now beginning to get their eyes open
to the importance of a telegraphic communi-
cation, ,and the amount required for the pur-
pose was subscribed and the line was built.
On completion of the line to Iowa Hill, it
was decided at n meeting of the stockholders
of the Alta Company, at Sacramento. 10
| leave it with the directors to decide whether
to increase the capitol stock of the company
or purchase it at far valuation. But il
was afterwards objected that it would not
be advisable to .ncre ease the capital stock ,and
they did not wish to appropriate the pro-
ceeds of the Alta line to that purpose, and
consequently thu line was left on my hands
| completed this branch line according to
contract, and gave to the subscribers the
stock, not of the branch line, but of the Al
ia California Telegraph Co, which stock said
company had paid TO me, all of which was
according to my contract with the subscri-
bers. 1t was not in the contract that the
branch line should be a part of the Alta line,
although it was understood at that time by
the Alta Company, and by the subscribers
and myself, that it should be Now il
this is called sUindfing then the charge re-
mains against me. The above statements
can substantiate by proofs that are unan-
swerable- Most respectfully yours,
j. E. STRONG.