Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-06-16
THE MEMORIAL.

Memorial of Perry Med Collins representing that he hal
obtained from the Government of Russia grant OF the
privilege to construct telegraph from the mouth OF the
Amoor to the Russian IN America and
similar grant from the British Government IN British
Columbs and PRAYING the cooperation OF the Govetn
ment Of the United States to enable him to complete ms
enterprise (Presented to the Senate April II, 1864,
and referred TO the Committee on Commerce)
To the honorable the Senate and House Of Representatives
Of the United States of America IN Congress assembled
The memorial of p Med Collins citizen of the Uni-
ted America, and resident OF the State OF Cali
f0rua most pectfuy represents; hat he has obtained
fIcm the Imperial Government of Russia privilege to
suct line of telegraph from the mouth Of the Amoor
river in Asiac Rnssla to the frontiers OF the Russian
possessions In America adjoining the of Great
Britain.
In connection with the grant from Russia the Russian
Government stpuata, upon certain conditions, to con
struc continuous line of telegraph connecting the Euro
system with the Pacific ocean, about eight thousand
FIVE hundred miles of London and the route of a
ne which may be projected to Pekn and the great COIN
mercial cities OF China.
Your memorast also represents that after having OBJ
tanned the Russian grant, and upon Of the
state Of the and the facts the Government OF her
Majesty, he has been authorized by the Brush Gov
ernmen to construct Ue of telegraph the inter
yeuing territory of British C"umbi4
Thus the grants from Russia aud England authorize the
construction OF continuous line of teeg raph which to
Europe with the United states the whole
OF Asia aud the northwest coast of the Pacific
he whole country, except portion of the route IN
British Columbia which this proposed line must
sparsely inhab ed aud presents local inducements
for the construction a telegraph.
The sole inducemen construction of telegraph
this great extent of country the union of Asia and
Europe with tn American system of telegraph lines, and
by nearly as physically possible overland route
The great progress of teegraphs both in Asia and
Anerc, the proposition originally made to in
luce trial Of this northern overland route, Ia order to
unite Europe and America has cleared away from the
path OF this enterprise many apparent difficulties suggested
in the early stages of the undertaking.
Russia bas extended her telegraph from st. Petersbugh
to lrkoutsS distance Of four thousand miles to the east
and line 10 being constructed along the Amoor river
which with the line 10 course OF
from koutsk to the east Thus it will be thut Rus
sa Is rapidly approaching with continuous line the Pa
cifc ocean.
On side Of the world we have already reached the
Poetic and up towards the British possessions and
| far as Portland, Oregon.
| Prom northern frontier adjoining British Columbia
TO the mouth Of the AMOR river in Asatic Russia tn,
distance may be stated in round numbers at five
| thousand miles.
Previous granting right of way for the construction
OF telegraph the Russian Government authorized your
petitioner TO survey route oil that portion If the
British domnIons east Of the Amor TO British Co
| umbla.
On previous occasions your petitioner presented "a
Congress the facts OF the case AMI reports made
her-"n copies of which hereunto annexed marked
| and b.
The which then existed not only hold good now
but greatly enhanced by the absolute grant right
way then withheld
There much in the North Pacific valuable to us as
nation in commercial point Of view aside from the spe
1 clal interest particularly involved.
Our Pacific whaling feet resort in considerable force
the seas bays aud sounds not only OF the Pacific but
The Arctic in year than seventy American
sells have passed through BehrDg strait aud largely
one hundred have visited the waters adjacent and the
| Okhotsk sea.
The commerce Of Japan and of the Amoor region in
ceasng from year to year, makes it quisite that we
should have perfect knowledge of these
| regions OF the North p ci6c
Ia view # the premises and furtberance OF American
commerce and enterprise, and the and incacuable
d al n
the achievement Of Geographic communication which sha
not only unite Europe to America, but add the whole o
Asia, including Japan China aud India your petitioner
mo respectful y asks the favorable consideration If Con
gress nnd that aid for survey of the proposed
aud subsidy ~ the form OF contract for the dispatch
OF Government messages be accorded meet the
concessions Of Russia aud Great Britain in operative
International spirit and for the general intelligence Of all
| nations
And, as in duty bound, your petitioner will pray
| PERRY Med. COLLINS.