The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-25
| Who Originated the Newfoundland Telo-
graphs

TO THE EDITOR or ~HE HERALD.
There can be doubt that history will do justice" to
ali who promoted the accomplishment Of the Atlantic
telegraph But rome who most loudly assert this maxim
DESTROYS OF foressllng the verdict OF history
their favor 70 the exclusion Of others equally II
better, entitled TO t. That the establishment of e'-
graphic communication between the eastern coast OF Now
fourdland and the continent OF America the first
great link in the chain Of electric communication between
the United States ard England, viii question.
Certain publications Of late in the Tribune and Evening"
Post wen article in Hunts Merchants Aagasine
for this month (which latter has only under
my notice claim for Mr. H. b. Tebbes the honor OF the
project Of the telegraph from the American continent To
Newfoundland and Of its Introductory relation the At
lantic cable, with very faint a..ason 10 another
gentleman whose merits ignored that beg the favor
Of small space in your columns TO state few facts in
reference to the orgnaton Of the project Of the telegraph
10 Newfoundland and in justice TO its rcal protector Mr.
Frederick N Osborne. do without meaning in tbs
east TO detract from tie well earned merits OF those WAC
have planned and plished the Atlantic telegraph
and who assured sincerely desire that Mr. Osborne
should have tho fullest credit for his early enterprise and
,aboIs.
was then, during the winter Of 1880 that Mr.
GisbJone, who had been AZ engineer engaged in
tending the electric telegraph through Lower Canada AMI
New Brunswick to Halifax s. conceived the projoct Of
telegraph connect ST. Johns the most easteriy port
Of America with the main continent The Importance OF
telegraph being ever carried across the Mantle was
about the same time, promulgated by DR.. Mlllock tho
Roman Catholic Bishop OF Newfoundland, in st. Johns
newspaper.
In tho spring Of the following year s5 Mr. Osborne
visited Newfoundland appeared before the Legislature,
then in session, and explained the details Of his pan
which an overland line from ST. JONAS TO Cap .
Ray nearly four hundred miles in length, and
not then having been laid.) a communication
between Cape Ray and Cape Breton BY steamer and
rer pigeons eventually Il was hoped by i subms rne
that IlspS
encouraged the project granted f500 sterling 10 enable
Mr. Osborne to make an exploratory survey of the
posed line to Cape Ray and passed act authorizing its
construction, with certain privileges, and the appoint
ment Of commissioners for the purpose of carrying It
out Upon this Mr. Osborne, who was then the chief
officer o the Nova Scotia Telegraph Company returned t.
TINT Province resigned his situation and devoted him
sell to the project Of the Newfoundland telegraph HV
ing organized local company for constructing tn
| first telegraph line in the island, from 81
| Johns to Carboncar a distance Of sixty miles,
he on the 4th September, set out upon the artuous
expedition Of survey of the proposed lire to Cape Ray
which occupied upwards OF three MONTHS during vii
time himself and his party suffered prvaiions
narrowly escaped starvation having traverse
rugged and hitherto unexplored part Of the island o.
his return having reported the Legislature fyoraby
Of the project and furnished estimates Of the cost he lie
termned to proceed to New York to OBTAIN assistance
carry ii out During his absence the survey pabNc
meeting had been held at 81. Johns to promote steam
/ communication with England towards which the
plated telegraph to the continet held out
ducement; and now, for the first time, il that
| Mr. Tebbetts' name was mentioned TO Mr. Osborne:
and at the instance OF the Committee Steam Comnnn
l cation furnished with letter Of Introduction
Mir. Tcbbctts, who known 10 be projecting tine o.
steamers from Galway to New York, which,
pected, might thus be induced to call at st. Johns Mr..
osborne returned to ST. Johns in the spring of 1852
when. al his instance, act incorporating himself (ais
being the only namc mentioned in IL and such Others
might become shareholders in company to be called the
Newfoundland Electric Telegraph Company, was passed,
granting an exclusive right 10 erect teegraphs in New
oundiand for thirty years, with certain
land by Of encouragement, to be granted upon the
completion Of the telegraph from st. Johns Cape Ray
| Mr.. Osborne then returned TO New York where he
organized under this charter company, of which Mr.
Tebbeais and Mr. ID. Holbrook prominent members
made his financial arrangements with them and proceed
ell 10 England to contract for the cables from Cape Pay
10 Prince Edward Island, and from thence to the main
land Returning in the autumn. he proceeded in sinai!
steamer, in the month Of November OF that year. 1852
stretch the FIRST submarine cable of length Amc-
RIGA, the Northumberland Strait from Prince Ell
ward Island to New Brunswick, which cable however,
shortly afterwards broken, and a was sub.
scquently laid down by the New York, Newfoundland
and London Telegraph Company In the spring Of the
following year 1858 MIR Osborne set to work
10 complete his avorc project OF the lnc (Which he
tended should be chiefly underground) from st Johns to
Cape Ray lie had constructed thirty or forty miles
of road and was proceeding with every prospect OF
when, most unexpectedly, those Of the company
in New York who were to furnish the neciful funds
dshonorcd his bills and brought his operations TO sud
den termination lie and the creditors of the company
were for several months eouyed up with promises o.
forthcoming means from his New York allies which pro
misses finally entirely unfulned and Osborne being
the only ostensble party, was sued and prosecuted
ed the claims Of the creditors Of the company
He cbcerully and honorabiy up everything he pos
did his utmost relieve the distress
which the poor iaborcrs the limo had been involved
Had the matter ended here he would have been utterly
ruined in his worldly affairs; and whatever Of merit in
connection with the enterprise there may have been In
leading Mr. Osborne TO rely engagements which at th
critical Juncture so disastrousy failed 10 be perform
ed certainly due 10 his other New York associates
Mr.. Osborne himself was, however u be deprcss
cd by these dscouragcments and about the end OF the
year 1883 With the consent OF his creditors ne proceeded
10 New York To endeavor 10 retrieve his fortunes and
obtain the aid Of other parties 20 carry out his enterprise
lie there, eventually fe in with Mr. Cyrus Field who,
and buy out their rights condition Of obtaining
and more liberal charter, extended plan, hay
/ America Together with the Mcssrs Field white Gs-
borne returned 10 Newfoundland in the spring Of 1854,
and useuly exert.d himself procuring the charter
in which his appears and in which
therein inserted n solicitation when the act had passed
through several stages In order that as the undertaking
10 into new hands, he might at least have the
tcaton of seeing his permanently connected with
project which had been by his enterprise and
In which he had undergone many q good and
III fortune. simultaneously with the granting OF the
charter act which had been passed granting bounty for
| steam communication with England was repealed. The
history of the New York Newfoundland aud London Tce
graph Company salresdy before the public Osborne be
its CHEF engineer, which post he shortly resigned but
was Subsequently IN The yea 1866 reengarcd in that
paciiy In which he completed the construction of the
land line from st. Johns ~ Cape Rsy--a very costly
am isr. .s w., NJ ,s,arnas
charter, Il being intended 70 complete the commn-
nication with Europe by means Of steamers from
/ Newfoundland 10 ireland; nevertheless, Mr.. Cts.
\ borne had some correspondence with Mr.. Brett
upon tie subject of telegraph the Atlantic
early believe, 1852: but Ire other similar and previous
conceptions actual steps taken TO carry any
such project In the spring u 1857 numerous body Of
Mr.. Glslornes friends IN Newfoundland, order to de
monsrae their appreciation &C his enterprise and 81
particular his energetic services In the Of clegra
phic communication between Newfoundland and tho
neut Of America, entertained him nj public dinner At
81, Johns and then presented TO him testimonial in tho
| shape Of a handsome and valuable piece of plate.
la concluding tins brief and imperfect sketch of Mr.
Gsbornes connection with the telegraph 10 Newfbund
land ought not to omit 10 claim for the colony Of New
foundand the Justice which think has hardly been
corded to her the earliest and in proportion ~ her
means, The most liberal patron of the telegraph.
| IL BaoAD~AY, Sept %, 1868. T. M. ARCHIBALD.
\ ~----
supreme Court-Chambcrs.
| THE ENGLISH ENBEzzLENENr CASE.