New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-15
TIE MAGNETIC TELEGRAPa IN CALL
FORNiA.
Fro- TIE .4itl California Juiy 20.

The magnetic Telegraph occupies prominent posi-
tion in the burn2k Of ttis State. Cnir internal trade
Il large. Our imports are very extensive Many ar
tics produced vi home in other States are obtained by
California from abroad Prices ire high and profits
large. We have no railroads connecting our COM
mercia metropolis with the great body OF consumer
in the mountains; and, by OF the slowness Of
the nails tic telegraph Ia the in demand. All tho
barge toyns arc connected END eastward IL runs be-
yOnd borera into Nevada Territory, and soon VIII
reach Salt Lake there TO mite us viii wire
from the Atlantic, aud thus place in instantaneous
communication with the further edge Of the continent.
We shall be a, one end Of the longest teegraphc lioe
IN the word-,j9 degrees OF longitude iiaillax ID in
longitude 6j- west Of Greenwich, and San tranci.co
in 2!'a difference Of nearly GO degrees, or one-sixth
of the circumference OF the globe. When this great
line il completed, the news winch starts from Halifax
at O'Clock in the af will reach San francisco
at IL o'clock in the morning OF TIE same day but the
news which ipatch at midday viii not reach them
until O'Clock IN the afternoon.
However let us turn from that matter 10 ono that
more nearly concerns us. We publish this moruing
sct adopted by the Last Legislature, approved by the
Governor, ard now IN force. H. was drawn up under
the supe ryislon OF the Telegraph Company OF this
State aud was intended TO project at the time the
interests of the Company and of the public. The fIst
poilt il that it makes II criminal ofense TO change
any telcgaplic message or 10 communicate its con-
ten,s TO any person other than the 10 whom il is
directed Ihis'cause applies not only TO the officers
aad clerks in the telegraph Office, but to everybody
else. Evers body, therefore, should read the law aod
learn the danger TO which they may expose themselves
by medJIing in other people business or by malt
ciously telling matters which they should keep secret
In the next place, the law provides That the sending
of any iil message with intent TO deceive and in
inre or defraud any individual the public shall
be a criminal ollcIse This does not apply TO little
honxes intended merely innocent JOKES; but prob
ably n false Telegram In regard to important State
affair." such IA should create an intense excitement in
the public mind, would be- considereo fraud upon the
public. and would be punished such.
Contracts may be made by telegraph, and they will
receive the same consideration in the courts il writ
ten out and signed.
A criminal may be arrested on order cent by ele.
graph; provided that the osdcr shall hot be until
an affidavit shall have been made charging him with
the ofense warrant Issued on that affidavit, and
copy OF the warrant fled in the telegraph Office. This
clae gives great power TO the administrators OF the
law, Let scoundrels beware.
Wris may be served in civil as well as in criminal
suits upon orders sent by telegraph Executions, attach
ments inunctons and all documents OF that kind may
now bo sery.d without waiting " for the wagon"
Heretofore If man failed in an interior town, his
creditors in San Francisco conld not get their attach
,nen's served until long after the creditors III his vny
lad settled their affairs, and creditors living in the
interior were at the disadvantage II man tailed
ia san Fmrcsco. But this law puts all ON an equality
10 thi, respect; wherever the telegraphc lines rum
there creditors have an equal chance.
And finally, the new law provides that all messages
shall be sent In the order in which they are received
provided that dispatches " TO and from the FederGt
Government and State officers on Official business shi
DO entitled TO priority"