, 1864-11-07

upon the express condition that they may be
abrosatcd by either Congress or the publishers
Of the Congressional Globe and Appendix at
any time after giving two years notice for that
purpose.
Approved, July 4, 1864.
Az AoT to encourage and facilitate telegraphic
communication between the Eastern and
Western Continents.
Whereas the governments Of Russia and Great
Britain have granted to Perry MacDonough
Collins, citizen of the United States, the
right to construct and maintain line of elec-
trc telegraph through their 'cspective terrific
ries, from the mouth Of the AmOor river, IN
Asiatic Russia, by way o. Behring's strait
and along the Pacific coast to the northern
boundary Of the United States, With view Of
thereby uniting the tecgraphIc systems oi
both continents, and OF promoting interna.
tional and commercial intercourse and
whereas, the government Of Russia, in fur
therance of that object, is now constructing
line Of telegraph through its Asiatc ter.
rtory to unite at the mouth Of the Amoor
river with the line projected by said Collins;
and whereas the government Of the United
States desires cordially to cooperate with
Russia and Great Britain in tIc establishment
and maintenance Of such line Of communi
cation; now, therefore,
Be it enacted 6y the Senate and House Of
Representatives Of The United States Of Americd
in Congress assembled, That Perry McDonough
Collins, Of California, his associates aud assign.
ees, shall nave the right to construct and main
tain line or lines Of telegraph IRON any point
or points on the line OF the Pacific telegraph,
constructed IN pursuance Of the act Of Congress,
approved June sixteen, eighteen hundred and
sixty, northerly, through any Of the territories
Of the United States, to the boundaries OF Brit.
ish America, with such branch lines as may be
needed to open communication with the various
mining districts aud other settlements in said
territories. And for the purposes aforesaid,
the said Collins, his associates and AssignecS,
shall have q permanent right Of way over any
unappropriatcd public lands Of the United
States, together with the right to take any tim
bcr and stone for construction purposes; and
for the purpose Of establishing and maintaining
said lines aud the stations necessary for the re-
pair and working thereof, there is hereby
granted to said parties the nse Of so much un-
appropriated public lands not sold, granted, re.
served, pre-empted nor occupied by homestead
settlers, as may be necessary for stations, not
exceeding forty acres for each fifteen miles Of
line constructed across the public lands Of the
United States, so long Ms the same may be
used for sail purpose: Protiacd, hOTCcer, That
so much OF section one Of this act Us authorizes
the construction OF telegraph lines TO open com
munieati0nS with the various mining districts
and other settlements in said territories, shall
be null and void, unless said ranchncs shall
be completed thin i've years from the ap-
proval hereof
Sec. 2. And bo Il further endeted, That in
order to encourage aud aid the construction oi
said line Of telegraph beyond the limits Of the
United States, the Secretary Of the Navy is
authorized to detail for the use Of the surveys
and soundngs along that portion Of the Pacific
coast both Of America aud Asia, where it is
proposed to establish said telegraph, one steam
or sailing vessel, in his dscretioa, 70 assist in
surveys aud soundings, laying down submerged
cable, and in transporting materials connected
herewith, and generally afford such assistance
as NAV be deemed best calculated to secure a
Successful promotion Of the enterprise.
| Sec. 8. And be IL Further enacted, That the
government Of the United States shah, At all
times, have priority Ii the use of the line or
lines, so ir as the same are within lis territory,
and shall have the right, when authorized by
law, to connect said line or lines BY telegraph
with any military posts of the United States,
ID To use the same for government purposes.
And In order to secure the same from Injury
by savages or osher eyil.disposcd persons, u
the interruption Of the public business, the
| Secretary Of War Is authorized to direct the
commanders Of the military districts or stations,
and other officers, acting under authority oi
the United States in the territories trAyersed
by said telegraph, to use any available force at
their command to protect the same. Subject
to the right Of prior use by the Government,
rs aforesaid, said line Or lines shall be Ut all
times open to the public and to any other tel
egraph company upon the payment Of the reg.
ular charges for transmission Of dispatches. and
all dispatches received shall be transmitted
over said limo and lines in the order Of their
reception at the telcgraphic Office; and the an
swers to said dispatches shall be delivered TO
such parties as may be directed by the sender.
Sc. 4. And be 10 further enacted, That the
better to accomplish tho object Of this act,
namely, to promote the public interest and wei.
fare, by facilitating international aud CONNER
cial intercourse between the eastern and ives
tern continents ia the construction Of said tel.
egraph, and keeping the same In working or
dor, aud TO secure to the government at aIl
times, but particularly in tune Of war, the use
and benefits of the same for diplomatic, naval,
military, postal, commercial, and other pur.
poses, Congress may, at any time, add to, al.
ter, amend, or repeal this act.
i Sec. 8. And bat further enacted, That the
rate Of charges for public or private messages
shall not exceed on said line the average usual
rates in Europe and America for the same ser.
vice, or such rates as shall be asccr airoi and
fixed by q convention between the Uutsd
States. Russia, and Great Britain PrOridtd
That il shall not be lawful for the owners Or
officers Of said telegraph line 10 make any
contract, either directly or through any inter-
vening party or parties, for the transmission Of
dispatches for any newspaper or newspaper as
sociation, upon terms different from those 0pen
to the enjoyment Of all other newspapers or
newspaper associations.
Approved, Jny l, 1864.
Az Acr TO provide for the efficiency Of the
navy.
Be u enacted By the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatipes Of TIE United States Qf Amsriea IN
Congress assembled, That any person enlisted
In the military service Of The United States,
who shall apply TO the Navy Department to be
4 transferred to the navy or marine corps shall,
III hiA nnneafion ha annrove oil hv tha pro aul