, 1860-11-23

An Act % facilitate communication between The A.
laniic and Pacidc States BY Electric Telegraph.
b 4 snaefsd sy AZ Ssnais md fouss Of Rsprss.n
faiiSt. ~ fAe Ualed Siaiei ef Amtrea. u congrsss
asrelrd. That he Secretary of The Treasury under
he direction U TIE President Of The United States Is
herc1y authorized and directed to advertise for sealed
proposals., y BE- received Tor sixty DAYS after the pas
aage oi ~. nci land Ne olhlnent Of which shall be
.nnieed ~ responsible parties. as In the cHss Of
bds ior mail ooutracis) Tor The use by Tie govern
ment Of ine or lines Of magnetic telegraph 10 be
constructed within two years from the thrtyrst day
q July. eg1icln hundred and sixty from some point
points tie Wesl line of ne slse II Missouri Nv
any lulic o. roaies which The said contractors nav
aeiect. (clmeetng AZ such point or points BY tele
graph with the eiiies Of Washington, New Orleans
New York. Charleston, PHILADELPHIA Boston and 9th
er cities IN he Atlantic Southern and Western Statesl
p ihe city oI San Francisco In the State Of California
Tor peod q ten ycars. and shall award the contract
% ne o.et Responsible bidder or bidders. provided
such pro1r does not require larger amount Der year
nom ne United States than iorty thousand dollars:
and permission Is hereby granted % the said PARTIES
% Whom aid contract may be awarded or a majority
q tnem and their aleigns 70 until the end Of the
aid term snch unaccnped public hands ol me United
nta.es aa may b necessary for The right Of way and
for The purpose Of establishing stations for re,,ars
aleng nla llne, not exeeeding a any station one
quariersectipn o. land snch sfatens not 70 exceed
one N hiieen miles on an average Of the whole dis
tance, unless said lands shall be reouired by The gov
efnmeni q The United States Tor lruad OF other Dur.
pose. and provided that no right N preempt any IL
aid lands under the laws of TIE United state bal
nure % aid company, their agents oF sevnnts or 10
any other person or persons. Prorded That no such
contract shall be made until the said line shall lie in
actna operation. and payments thoreunder shall cease
whenever the contractors fail 10 comply with their
cnntact; that the government shall At a times be en-
titled % priority N The use Of the IIne or lne- and
shall hare the privilege, when authorized by law on
connecting said line or lines by teeRraph ;ith anv
military posts Of the United States and 70 use ths
same for government purposes: And provided also
fhat aid line or lines. except such as nav he con
strncted ~ the government 70 connect said line or
nnes VIII NE military posts Of the United States du
nng ne erm q said contract payment Of the reg-
MAR enarges Tor transmission Of Dispatches: And pro
eiaea eo, nat such charges shall not exceed three
collars ior single Dispatch of Ten words with the
nsna. propoItonaie deductions upon dispatehes OF
greater lengh prnsded that nathng herein contained
shah conier upon The sid parties any exclusive right
% construct telegrph % the Paciao or debsr the
goEefnment o. the United States from granting from
time % tine similar fanchsss and privileges % ether
parties.
SC. ?. And6sa J6rrfher snseisd. That The said
contractoz their REigns shall have the Tirht 10
conlfuct and maintain, through any Of the territories
q tA1 United States branch line - 70 eannect
tbar aid line lines with Oregon; and that they
shall hare The permanent right Of way for said line Of
hnes under. Or over. any unappropnated public Lands
and Naies IN ihe aid territories. By any route OF
rnuirs watch Ne aid contractors may select with the
Tree ne during the said term Of sneh lands a. may be
neceaa for TIE purpose Of establishing stations for
rep9in along aid line o. Ines, not exeeeding At any
eatnn one qu.Tter.ecton Of land such stations not
y exceed one n hfleen miles on an average Of the
vhss dl1ncs bui sheuld snyof Ezd qulrtef Esotscns