Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-02-03
omclaI.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Passed at The First Session Of tie TAiriy-Eiohth
Congress.
LPuDL1c-No. 171.1

AN ACT TO encourage ami rNci.It0te teiegraphlc
communication between tn, eastern aud ives
tern continents.
whereas the Governments Of Russia and Grent
Britain have granted to Perry MacDonough Col
Inns citizen Of the United States, the right to
construct and maintain line Of electric tee-
graph through their respective territories from
the mouth Of the Amoor river, in Asatic Russia,
by way OF Behring's Strait and along the Pacific
coast to the northern boundary of the United
States, with a view of thereby uniting the tele-
graphic systems of both continents and Of pro
noting international aud commercial inter-
course and where the Government OF Russin,
in iurtherance Of that object is now cons structing
line Of telegraph through its Asiatc territory
to unite Mt the mouth CT the Amoor river with
the line projected by said Collins and whereas
the Government of the United States desires
cordially to co-operate with Russia and Great
Britain in the establishment and maintenance of
such line Of communication; Now, there
fore,
De it enacted by the Senate aud House of
Representatives Of the United States Of America
in Congress assembled, That Perry MacDonough
Col.ns, of California, his associates and assign
ces, shall have The right to construct and main
tain line or lines OF telegraph from 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 CT British
America, with such branch lines as may be need
cd to open communication with the various mi
ming districts and other settlements in said tcr-
ritories And fer the purposes aforesaid. the
said Collins, his associates aud assignces shall
have permanent right Of way over any uuap-
propriated public lands Of the United States,
together with the right to take any timber and
stone for construction purposes and for the
purpose of establishing and maintaining said
lines and the stations necessary for thercpar and
working thereof there is hereby granted to said
parties the use of so much unappropriated pub
lie lands, not sold, granted, reserved, 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, 70 long as
the same may be used for said purposes: Pro-
pided however, That so much Of section one Of
this act as authorizes the construction Of tele-
graph lines to open Communications with the
various mining districts and other settlements
in said territories shall be null and yoil unless
said branch lines Hhall be completed within five
years from the approval hereof.
Sec .. And be it further enacted That in
order to encourage and aid the construction Of
said line Of telegraph beyond the limits of the
United States, the Secretary of the Navy is au-
thorized to detail for the use Of the surveys and
soundings along that portion Of the Pacific coast
both Of America and Asia, where it is pronosed
to establish said telegraph, one steam or sailing
vessel, in his discretion, to assist in SURVEYS and
soundings, laying down submerged cable, and in
transporting materials connected Herewith, and
generally afford such assistance o. may be deem
cd best calculated to secure successful pro
motion Of the enterprise.
Sec 8. And be it further enacted, That the
Government of the United States shall, at all
times, have priority in the use of the line or lines
so far as the same ore within its 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 aud to
use the came for Government purposes. And in
order 10 secure the same from injury by sayages
or other evil disposed persons to the interruption
of the public husiness the Secretary of War is
authorized 10 direct the commanders Of the mil
itary dis ricts or stations and other officers act
lag under authority of the United States in the
Territories traversed by said telegraph, to use
any available force at their command to protect
the same. Subject 10 the right Of prior use by
the Government ns aforesaid, said line or lines
shall be at oil times open to the public and 10
any other telegraph company upon the payment
Of the regular charges for transmission sf de-
epatches, and all dispatches received shall be
trns smitled over said linc and lines in the order
Of their reception at the Telegraph office and
the answers 10 eaid dispatches shall be doliv-
cred to such parties as may bo directed by the
sender
Sec. 4. And be II further enacted, That the
better to accomplish the o ject of this act, name
ly to promote the public interest and welfare,
by facilitating international aud commercial in
tercourse between the eastern and western con-
tinents in the construction of said telegraph, and
keeping the same in working order, and to sa-
/ rure TO the Government at nil tmea Int partic-
ularly in time Of war, the use and benefits of the