The New York herald., 1867-04-06
TINE vxIrlp STATES GENERAL TELEGRAPH Law.

Tho Authority 10 Bnisd Telegraph Lines In
the United Stntes.
The following the 'Aw Of Congress authorizing the
construction Of telegraph lines In any part Of the United
States:-
AN Acr TO aid In the construction Of telegraph lines
and 70 secure % the government the OF tho same
Be- y As Senate % .sd s Rsss. Of R.prsssn,.
uves of the United STATES OF America IN Congress A.
Or which may heTssfssr be Organised usdsr The
% construct maintain and epsrsls lines Of ,sissrspn
through and over any portion Of the public domain
Of ss u9sd s and along 6.a sa q .s: e:
which have been may hereafter be declared
such by act Of Congress- and over, under or across
Provided, That such lines Of telegraph shall be 20 con-
structed and maintained to obstruct the naviga
ordinary travel on such military or post roads And any
OF said companies shall have the right 10 take and use
from such public lands the necessary stone, timber and
other materials for It's posts piers, stations and other
needful uses In the construction, maintenance and
operation Of said lines Of telegraph and may preempt
and use such portion of the unoc upied public lands
subject TO pre- emption through which its said lines OF
telegraph may be located may Be necessary for its
stations not exceeding forty acres for each station but
such stations shall not be within fifteen miles Of each
other M. M
Sxc And be It further enacted. That teegraphic
communications between the several departments OF the
government OF the United States and their officers and
agents SHALL in their transmission over the lines Of any Of
said companies have priority over all other business,
Postmaster General N
SEC And be il further enacted That the rights and
privileges hereby granted shall not bs transferred by
acting under this act to any other corporation
se e he
from the date OF the passage Of this act for postal
military. or other purposes, purchase oil the telegraph
panies a an appraised vaue to bs ascertaned BY Ave
competent dsinterested persons, two Of whom shall be
two by the company interested and one by the four 20
Z.
teeg aph company shall exercise any Of the
privileges conferred by this act such company shall Ole
their written acceptance with the Postmaster General Of
Approved July "a, 1868.
Ueitsd aata Of zmerico, Departmst ef sase:--TO all
gress approved July a, isoo entitled can cot to ad in
government The uss oi shs same for postal military and
other PURPOSE the original of which d on ne In this
ia tsssinsny whereof, I, Henry sanbsy, Acting ses.
rsary or 50 the Uniied ststss hsvs hsseunto sab
scrDst uy and caasad the sal ~ ths Dspsmsat
boas = de cay Of waslinsses, shis isA ~ 4 A.
gns A. D. 1884 and Of The Indspssdsnes of The Unibsd
ssasss Of Aserra the nnsty-nnt rvpv sr..pppv
the following ths special act pasod BY Congress st
IL last session 10 authox, the Amsricsn Telegraph
Company 70 Lisbon via Bermuda and the Azores 10 lay,
land and opssats their cables the Atlantic coast-
SECTION l. That the American Atlantic Cabls Telegraph
Company OF Now York arc hereby vested with the
raht, power and privilege having acquired ths neces
sary land therefor 70 lay land and operate their cable
Or cables the Atlantic coast except tho coast Of
Florida within the Jurisdiction Of the Untsd States:
and the right power and privilege TO y. land and
American Atlantic CAbas fssgaph Company for the
period Or twenty yean from The .pprova q TINS so;
operations within the spacS Of twp ysas from the o.
provai ~ this act
Ssc That the American Atlantic Cable Telssrsph
Company having acquired the necessary land therefore
shall have The right power and privilege TO land and
operate their cable cables within f the hArbor
waters inets towns and cities the Atlantic coast
except the Of Florida Offering the most practical
and convenient landing, and 70 construct erect all
the necessary fixtures 70 accomplish the oSjset Of this
act
Sso 8 That the government Of the United States
shall at all times have the preference In its use upon
that may b agreed upon between the Postmaster
General and the said company.
SEC 4. That Congress shall have power 70 alter
amend or repeal this act