The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-23
THE TELEGRAPH LINES.
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IMPORTANT FACTS FOR the PUBLIC.
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Conflict between tho American Lines
Seeking Connection with
the Atlantic Cable.
Memorial to Congress from the
Old Concerns.
Reply of the American Telegraph
Company.
Debate In the British Parliament on ExeIu.
sIve Telegraph Privileges,
&c, &C., 10.
MEMORIAL OF THE OLD LINES

MEMORIAL OF THE OLD LINES
To THE senate AND HOUsR or RsPasssNrArTyRs
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AxsRICA IN CONGRESS-
ASSEMBLED:
The memorial Of the Magnetic Telegraph Compa-
ny, and the New England Union Telegraph Compa-
N.Y. by their joint committee duly authorized, respect
That the Magnetic Telegraph Company, whose
line of telegraph extends from Washington to New
York, was the first telegraph company organized in
lessor Morse's invention Of the Amer an electro
magnetic telegraph now peryadng the civilized
world. and was soon after followed by the organize
ton OF the New York and Boston Magnetic rele-
graph Association, which, having been uaited with
competing line on substantially the same route IL
now known by the name of the New England Union
Telegraph Company.
The Magnetic Telegraph Company has since. by
lease, obtained control of the Washington and New
Orleans iDe so that they possess che line along
the Atlantic coast, from New York to New Orleans.
Upon these companies devoived the necessity OF
solving many problems in relation TO long lines of
electric telegraph which had hitherto been involved
In doubt and could only be solved by expensive ex.
periments Scarcely, however, had they begun to
receive q return for their investments, when rival
lines sprung up, under difiervnt systems Of tele-
graphing, which the two companies believed 10 be
iDfrDgements of Morses patent for the use Of which
they bad given half their stock. Expensive litga-
ton the consequence; from which, however, no
effective protection obtained, on account Of the
defective character of the Datent laws and the con.
HCtiDR principles applleu 10 their construction
the judicial tribunals
Nevertheless, your memorialists would have been
content to carry on their business with the imper
feet protection which the existing laws afford
them, without an appeal to Congress for further le
gsation, had they been left to contend only with
infringers OF their patented rights, or even with
full and fair domestic competition. But your me-
morialsts represent and charge, that combins alton
has been entered into by parties ana companies in
out Of the United States, endeavoring to force
the companies represented by the undersigned to
surrender their property into the hands Of such
combination on their own terms or Of destroying
its value altogether. And your memoralists charge
that this combination, through concealment of It's
ultimate objects, and through representations and
pledges OF some OF its active managers prevented
your memoriasts from taking steps to protect their
interests, while the said combination procuring
the aid Of the British Province Of Newfoundland,
the government Of Great Britain and the govern
ment of the United States.
Your memoriasts desire to be understood as not
opposed To the great enterprise of connecting Ed
rope and America by Geographic cable, nor % any
assistance in ships or money which their government
may think proper to give 1t; but hey MAINTAIN that
IL is the duty OF their government. whether they as
sst the enterprise not, to that II shall not be
used to oppress interest in the United states for
the purpose Of building up another, and that this
duty becomes more imperative when the government
furnishes it with material aid.
Your memorialsts further represent, that the
bDation OF which they complain u CONF posed OF the
New York, Newioundl and and London Telegraph
Company, Incorporated by the Legislature OF the
British Province of Newfoundland the American
Telegraph Company. incorporated under the laws of
the State of New York; and the Atlantic Telegraph
Company, British corporation, embracing an At
aDtic teegraphc cable from Newfoundland to the
coast Of Ireland. Whether there IL n fourth party
covering telegraph line from the Irish terminus OF
the proposed Atlantic cable tn the city of London,
your memoriasts are not advised Il IL material.
Your memoralists represent, that the three tee-
graph companies Aforesaid originated with certain
capitalists in the city OF New York who are stock
holders in all Of them, and control two Of them di
rectly and absolutely and the third indirectly
but efectuay. The New York, Newfoundland and
London Telegraph Company, and the American Tel
egraph Company, are composed mainly Of the same
men. and are under the saDe control; aud the same
who control them are influential stockholders
In the Atlantic Telegraph Company, which could
not have existed In Its present shape without their
consent. In fact, the Atlantic Telegraph Company
and the American Telegraph Company were but
parts Of one scheme, which originally embraced
In the act incorporating the New York, Newfound-
land and London Telegraph Company and in in
terest and control they are still parts OF scheme,
nsomuch that the success Of contributes n 10 be
not absolutely essential to. the success OF ALL and
any aid anoroed by the government giving strength
10 one gives strength and power 70 all.
That these three companies one Ia origin and
design Is concusvey shown by the act Of the Leg
islafure Of Newfoundland Incorporating the New
York, Newfoundland and London Telegraph Compa.
ny, passed April Is, 1854. The 18th and 18th sec
tons Of that act In the following words, viz:
1ssh. The corporation hereby created shall have the
role and exclusive right 70 bud, maze, occupy, take
work the said line line of TELEGRAPH between saint
Johns and Care Ray bstwseu aay pc,ots this
klspd (eroep,ips only The srssps line between sAnt
johns and tboeesr) for the fu period any years
from the passing NJ th act subject nevertheless 70 the
risht pre- pton by govnnept OF cosoay
hereinafter provided and during tins said period Of hfty
years, other person persons body bodies poirc
Or corporate shsIi psrm.ei 70 construed, purchase
tab operne any line or lines OF telegraph this
.ns or 20 ,s'.na 70 o.r gpoa OF ,.c, s.y r.r Of ,s
subI the jurisdiction Of The government this cDiooy,
with any 'eesrsphc cable, wire otnr of seie
place whatsoever PROVIDED hovever ths, sail line OF
telegraph shall not hsve been comp csd from Saint Johas
soubsisss. and a commentator 81 telegraph across
Prr &c Edward Island, the s'and Of CAGE Breton
otber.e e-ssb,shed sh the contiuonto' Apcrtes 9th
Eve years from passing a. this act exclusive
privileges granted By hs &c too sbsll cease
s n 80 49, 90. !, ina ms's 70 ...s,
Nevoubd sIc and Ireland or any o.hsr sand plac
Places IN he Ausruc Ocean, or 10 Europe, IN the uee
sses snc 70 c0uiuuct purchase and work any sexrsph
line hncs, means Of communicated In CAosis,
Prince FL ssrd Island, Cape Breton, Nova scotia New
Brunswick The United States and In the wsfsrs adj
.cept between ssd sisuds Provinces or sA,ss,
spd betwees any Of them and Newfoundland Provtied,
a,t ob,.psd q The raverrneu,s Of ssM Provsces soi
states respectively and general 70 purcesse or n1e
any tine Of tegsph -hich msy pos CT Der AFTER De Goa
roltc az CIV pose uoi,ed states British Prov
rcc. o. North Awer'cs or ksrope .nl 70 use sne SANE
,be, may also instruct, purchase hire seam
or other vessels 70 AID 10 The acquisition or vsnsmIssoa
iDg 90 ,ny Of the operations 81 the said ANY.
The llth section, il will be perceived, confers on
the company absolute monopoly for fifty years Of
landing a telegraph cable on the coasts Of Newfound
land: and the 18th section confers them the power
to establish and work line OF telegraph between
Newfoundland aud Ireland" the precise enterprise
in course Of execution, with the aid OF govern
ment by the Atlantic Telegraph Company. IL the
latter company. therefore have any right 20 land
Geographic cable on the coast Of Newfoundand. u
must have been derived from the Newi0undand
Company. 10 whom the grant was originally made'
II will also be perceived that the 18th section con
fers ON the company power 20 construct, purchase,
hire and work telegraph lines In the United states
az well "a in the British Provinces Ihis power has
NO, baa, axerriscd in the United states in the name
of the Newfoundlani Company; hut the "a me men
Nh cort,i that company have organized themselves
-.~lia "A thn AuQ