The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-02-09
OozRss-o1SDsaSon.
SAW FsAxcrscO. Feb. Z, 1851.

SAN FRANcIscO, Feb. Z, 1851.
EbIToRs DsNocaAT; Since my arrival in this
State, after an absence Of S0mething over two
years, have noticed articles pabIished in your
paper under the bead Of OditOFial aud over The
name Of u. r. ElstDeF containing % many mis-
statements and evideDcing such degree Of ig-
noranee upon the subject that cannot fOrbear
q word Of explanation, not Of defence.
Stockholders in this city who have read u.
R. Elstuer'S 90 called report published in your
Issue Of Saturday last, pronounce Il weak ef.
fort, displaying an ignorance upon the subject
that is truly refreshing, and the only wonder 10
that be bad not been sOOner removed frOm the
responsible office Of Secretary. He has 6lled
the place almost continuously since the cOmpa-
ny was organized, and By his own acknowledge
ment msnifests such degree Of incOmPetency
for the position that Il Is no wonder that the
affaIrs Of the company have gone at loose ends.
The President, who seems TO hare given him
the night mare" has evidently bern "mOre
sinned sgainst than sinned."
Unsolicited BY myself the PlaeervilIe and st.
Joseph Overland Telegraph Company, about
two years since, appointed me their agent at the
East. Accompanying the resolution passed by
the Board Of Directors, was letter II instruc-
tiOns, and the fOllOwingis an exact copy Of both
documents now in my possession:
"Moved BY Mr.. Raymond, that Mr.. A. W.
Bee, be appointed q special PgeOt Of the eomPa-
nv at the East to attend to the business Of the
company, and that the Secretary Is hereby All.
Ihori1ed to notify Mr. Bee Of his appointment.
Carried. +. II. LOWELL, SecIy.
December Il, 1855"
The letter Of instructions was as follows:
OFFICE r. AXD II. TELEGRArH Co..
PLACERvILLE, Dec. 18th, ISIS.
A. W. BEE, New York City.-Dear Sir: Alta
regular meeting Of the Beard Of Directors u
the p. and Il. Telegraph Co, resolution was
passed appointing you the general Agent Of the
said Company, and To alan authorize you to
bring the interests Of The Company bet"re the
Government, with view to obtain assistance
and to make such arrangements with any line
having in view the construction of q line con-
Meeting 18th the Company you represent at Salt
Lake City. You are also authorized to negot.
ate for material to construct the line, shir the
same, effect assurances, &C.; and all such bust.
ness matters that will best promote the object
desired, and report to the President and Score.
tary from time to time. Signed.
+. 4. BEE, PreS't.
+. Il. LOWELL, Sec'ry.
Icntered Immediately upon my duties in &. 'od
faith. | repaired To Washington and intro
duced bill at the Sessi0n Of 1859. which vas
rep"rted avorably upon BY the Senate Commit.
tee, but the amendments were Of such nature
that advised Dr. Gwin to refer it over until the
next Session.
During the adjournment of Congress put
myself IN communication with Mr.. e. W. Field,
Prof Morse, Amos Kendall. Hiram sSibley, and
many other leading Telegraph men. visited
companies, 10 different States, made elab,rate
estimates Of the cost of the line overland IN the
Pacific, PrObsble revenue. examined routes, and
when Congress again met, had % far convinced
them Of the advantages If such line that they
agreed TO unite with US in the enterprise. A
bill vas introduced in January 1860. and after
great labor passed in June following.
A convention IL delegates from all the sig
Nations Of Telegraph Companies was held in
Washington about ihia time, and another WAS
called in New YORK Immediately after the pass.
age ri the bill. The whole subject was referred
to the Western Union Telegraph Co. {" act in
concert with my.eIf in deVisiUg plan to secure
the contract. ! went TO Rochester with Mr. II.
Siblry. President of the Co., and it was deter.
mined by the board Of Directors to bid at the
maximum limit II the BILL
In August, 1851. l received . letter from the
Company represented, signed by F. A. lee.
PresIdcnt, N. II. ElstOer, Secretary, and A. u.
Park, Director, authorizing me e. bid for the
contract in the name Of the Company, but As no
Bond accompanied it l concluded To accept q
proposition made By NJ. Sibley TO support the
proposal to be made by his Company and share
the benefits. We repaired to Washington with
proposal backed by 81 on. NDo security. and
remained there until the 2lst September. when
the award was made by Sir. Cobb TO Mr.. Siblry.
We Immediately called meeting ct Rochester
II interested parties, aud there entered into
written agreements regard to prosecuting the
enterprise.
Was DESTROYS Of centrAlizinR ell the buaiueas
Of the Cal. Tel. Companies on THE lise; and il
wss agreed that NJ. J. u. wade. . Director,
should cOme out here and aid in bringing about
an arrangement. and complete arrangements Gor
building to Salt Lake. Negotiations ere now
going on TO consolidate all the Telegraph Com.
panies in the State which, Il effected, will secure
over eso, O00 annually for ten years 70 the stock.
bolders.
The publication Of the statements of ". r.
ElStner has imPeTiled the interests of every
stakeholder, and may snatch from their grasp
the fruits Of my two years. hbovs.
l cannot believe the Company will endorse
his statements. have never received . dollar
from the Company; and here this immaoulAte
n. II. Glstner SdviSss the Company 70 repudiato
me and any just compensation that may Be due
me! That Is principle for you, with . ven.
geance!
II had been as sharp IS Mr.. Elstner, in &c.
curing pay for my services, might at this time
be the owner Of . number Of shares Of stock.
I never had power given me 10 sell stock Of the
Company. Ihave made large purchases Of wire
at the Fast, and have always supposed that my
acts as agent Of the Company were fully en-.
dOrsed BY the Board Of Directors
EIstner states that Mr.. A. D. WaIdron was
last year appointed agent ct the East. He has
never been heard Of there to my knowledge.
II the representations Of the "IAte Secreta-
~" concerning the sransactionsO Of my brother.
+. A. Bee. with the Company. are as wide Of
the mark as his reflections upon me, then his
whole document is not worth the paper upon
which It is printed.
have reported pFOgNess TO the President Of
the Company from tinIe " time, and know how
To make 6nal report when my mission is
ended. Yours, A. W. BEE.