The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-23

riasts in behalf Of the New England Union Tele
graph Company-who owns more tnan one half oil
It's stock, and who formerly owned most Of the line
between Boston, Mass, and Portland Maine, then
the only line between those ponts-took the respon
shilty for purposes of his own Of refusing to allow
the transmission said line OF any messages what
ever coming from, or destined to pass over, the lines
in the Provnce Of Nova Scotia and continued in this
highbanded manner to embarrass communication
with that Province, until other parties. to whom
your remonstrants have succeeded, bought said line
OF him on his own terms.
As further evidence that the complaints OF the
memorialists are not founded in the sincere belief
that the arrange ments Of your remonstrants for
nection with the Newfoundland Company, or with
companies In the United States, Of an improper
character your rem0nstrants charge that the memo
nallsts nave themselves perseveringly sought to
erect perpetual arrangements more stringent in their
character than those which are made the ground OF
their complaint.
In July last, at the invitation of the gentleman
first among the memorialsts, meeting Of ten of the
principal telegraph companies of the United States
was held, and proposition was then submitted by
nun, winch contained, among other provisions, the
Tho several companies, parties hereto, bind Thorn.
selves 70 each other TO connect e far a
tcssle with the lines Of such existing oompanes a may
become parties TO this agreement and In event TO con-
meet with any new line which may be gotten no in OPPOSE
ton 70 or to The obvious injury q any existing line
This agreement shall tai effect soon e ratified by
any three Of tho companies, ard shall DO perpetual
Your remonstrants were present at said meeting,
and were invited to join in this agreement Their
lines extended then as they now do to the Province
Of Nova Scotia. Had they acceded to the proposition
the memorialists would have been content; but any
parties who might hereafter have extended lines to
the frontier would have had the very ground Of
complaint against the memorialists that they now
claim to have against your remonstrants.
are only excited when they regard their pecuniary in
terests as likely to be affected.
At the time Of the meeting above mentioned, and
directly thereafter il became evident to your remon
strants that unless they would accede to terms die
taed by the memorialists their design was to effect
a combination in opposition to your remonstrants
and to certain western and southwestern companies.
As the proposition above quoted shows, the agree
ment was to be binding upon the companies signing
it as soon as any three should ratify it.
For twelve years the mem0ralists have made
every effort to prevent competition in the business OF
patent which has been in force eighteen years; and,
having been VIGOROUSLY wanting in the spirit Of pro-
gress they ask for legislation which would COM
pei the enterprising to share with them the well
earned reward of their risk and expenditures. And
this they presume to ask when they have not only
declined to participate in the hazard and outlay of
the enterprise but have endeav0red by ceaseless OPP
position to embarrass its progress.
1t is not denied by your remenstrants that all OF
the companies represented at the meeting in July,
excepting only the memorialsts, have united in an
agreement for their mutual benefit and for the
prompt interchange of business, but without in
And your remonstrants respectfully represent that
as they believe none Of the arrangements made by
them in any way violate the legal moral rights Of
any parties; and they aver that no parties have more
readily entered into such arrangements than the
memorialists who now ask at your hands legislation
for their protection.
Your remonstrants deny that they have, either
alone in combination with others, endeavored 70
force the memoralsts to surrender their property;
and that they have had desire to bring about
q connection with the lines of the memorialists for
any other purpose than that, in the legitimate and
proper extension Of their own lines they might avoid
a collision of interests with the memorialists, and at
the same time have lines extending to Washington,
In order to facilitate communication from their other
lines; to- adopt improved systems Of telegraph
d1ce the rates between New York and Washington,
higher than in any other part of America. in
der that their other lines might be benefited and
their patrons better served.
Forthis end they have repeatedly sought to effect
an amicable arrangement with the memoriasts
In November last your remonstrants proposed to
lease the property Of the Magnetic Company for ten
years, paying TO them an annual rent equal to
thirty per cent upon the cost OF property supe-
rior in every respect to theirs and covering the
routes; but the offer was rejected.
Subsequently negotiations were opened be-
tween the memoralists and your remon-
prospective antagonism by union Of interests;
and on the 23 Of December last the following memo.
rsndum was agreed upon:-
Memorandum OF an understanding between the Masuc.
Tic American and New England Union Telegraph Compa
MICS, subject TO ratification.
let the three furnish TO the other t~o state.
ment Of he proportions OF given amoun Of stcck-ssy
for example, 81 zoo ,o00whioh they think right for
them y claim in consolidated company, with the stats
ess Their receipts ana expenses and every fact on
which tier , claim t oSSd WITH proof OIL
consider and ADJUST the amount to be assigned each
II the committees cannot unanimously sgree each
NOUS decesicn Of the three shall be final No person
be selected as an bitter who objected TO By ether Of
the companies.
For the American Company,
For the Magnetic Company,
For the N r. unIcn Company,
JOHN McKEssoN.
NAV York, Dec. 90, 1857.
Three days afterwards your rcmonstrants. by one
Of their directors sent the following communication
to the representative OF the Magnetic Company
NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 1857.
DrsR sR-PermH me to hand you enclosed a copy OF
the memorandum OF the 23d instant, and letter adj
dressed ts VIM. n Swain. Esl., President, &c which I
send to u ~ We understand Mr. Swain 10 soseni AT The
South
che letter referred 10 was open, and contained an
Official cory OF resolution Of the directors Of the Amer
can Company, Appoiniicg one OF their number commit
tee, In accordance with The above memorandum
engaged In the preparations OF tho schedule 10 BE-
furnished TO the other two computes, AMI shall be
pleased 10 receive theirs ~ their convenience.
As the committee the part OF this psuy, 10 SCI
with like committees from the others shall be prepared
10 meet them At any time they may agree upon.
The Secretary Of the American Company received
in reply the fo1lowing:-
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 1857.
DKAR Sal deem II my duty, in courtesy 70 your com.
pany {, inform you that leters received this day from
Mr. Mckesson render the ssson OF the New England
Union Company 10 the articles recently agreed
upon by Mr. Cooper Mr.. McKesson and myself, entirely
hopeless.
Sincerely rcgrctung tha, abors have NOT led 10
pacific result must consider the project Of he Of
the three companies ~ end-a least for the present
Very respectfully, your obcdient servant,
AMOS KENDALL.
II viii therefore be evident that the representa-
tions OF the memoriasts TO the effect that your re-
monstrants have sought to Cypress them, are
unfounded: and that. on the contrary, the memo.
rialists have had every opportunity TO participate in
any advantages your remonstrants may have Sc
cured, but have OF their own choice declined so
to do.