The New York herald., 1868-12-15
PROPOSED POSTAL TELEGRAPH COMPANY.

During the second session OF the Forteth Congress
Senator Ramsey introduced a bill sto incorporate
the United States Postal Telegraph Company and to
establish postal telegraph SYSTEM" The bin was
referred 10 the Committee on Post Ofices and Post
Roads, where 1t has since remained unacted upon.
AS there Is every likelihood 1t will receive attention
during the present sessi0nfor we learn tho commit
tee is disposed to report favoraby on tit Is proper
to state what the bill Ii and what 1t proposes to
The first section constitutes Gardiner @. Hubbard.
Samuel w. Bates Estes How their associates and all
OF the United states Postal telegraph Company, for
the purpose OF transmitting telegraph messages and
OF constructing, operating and maintaining lines OF
where all railroads and routes within the United
States and Territories -
consist Of 1000 shares OF the value OF 500 each
being $500 900, with the privilege or increasing the
same from time to time by vote OF the stockholders
at any annual or special meeting called tor that pur-
pose, to an amount not exceeding $500 for every
mile OF wire al such time owned and operated by
the company east OF the sixteenth degree oflOngtude
west from Washington and $500 for every mile OF
wire west OF said degree. majority OF the cor
porators named in the nrst section shall have the
power to receive subscrptOrs to the stock OF the
company at such time and places Us they NAV deem
expedient, and when the whole amount OF STOCK
shall have been subscribed the corporation may DC
organized. Also that upon commencing active busi-
ness the directors may require payment OF the
amount OF subscriptions to the stock OF The company
e. s1Sn time and IN such proportions a as tnSy
shall b0 required within six months from the time OF
commencing active business, and under the penalty,
the company OF such stock and all previous pay
ments thereon; and should the capital stock at any
time be increased the stockholders ct the time 81
same
Section three provides for the time, place and
manner OF electing directors OF the company and
other details:-Firsl-That the company making such
bid viii transmit by telegraph over all lines then or
that may thereafter be owned or operated BY such
company all messages received at the several postal
telegraph stations hereinafter provided for and de-
stations 70 which they shall be directed; that It will
construct as soon as Is practicable and convenient
lines Of telegraph to all cities and villages Of 5000
Inhabitants and over within the United States to
which Its lines not be constructed at the time OF
making such bid that Is to say between Washington,
New York, Boston and Chicago within twelve months
from the delivery Of any contract made in pursuance
of the provisions OF this act, and to Cincinnati,
81. Louis and New Orleans within two years, and to
every city and village as above provided, situated
east OF the sixteenth degree Of longitude west from
Washington, within three years and to every other
That @ as cities and ne villa villages grow up and ACQUIRE
population OF 1000 Inhabitants II win from time to
time extend its lines to such cities and villages That
1t will pay to the Post Once Department The same
sum az postage on any message transmitted Its
lines, and which 1t did not receive at any post office
suboice as Is hereinafter provided that the de-
partment would have retained on such message II II
had been received at such post Office.
Section four authorizes In the usual way the COM
personal property for the transaction Of It's business.
Section hve provides that the central ONCE 0f the
company shall be In washington. D. G., and
Section ak provides that the Post ONCE Depart
ment Of the United States shall, for three months
after the passage Of the act, receive bids from any
telegraph company for the transmission Of messages
by telegraph received and delivered through the Post
ONCE, such pds among other things, 70 contain the
following folio, propositions;-SecondMsuch company
sureties In the penal sum OF 900 for the full per-
formance OF its contract under such proposals, and
fail to commence operations within one month from
the delivery OF such contract or to prosecute the
same with reasonable despatch, or In any other way
to keep and perform It's contract, the Postmaster
General may put end to said contract and receive
new bids and make new contract, II proposition
shall be received within the rates and on the terms
herein prescribed FOR the transmission OF messages
by telegraph
Section seven provides that the Postmaster General
provided for the reception OF bids by the Post ONCE
Department-Flrst TO make o contract for the trans-
q me- Sy for Of ten
the same, as s herein provided for the least for
each word transmitted; provided however, that such
least sum shall not exceed the rates herein set
forth. To furnish at each postal telegraph
station established as Ia hereinafter provided,
employes ana macniasry of the company re-
quired for postal telegraph purposes, and to
pay to such company monthly the amount due to it
fed In such contract, retaining the amounts OF two
three and six cents postage, as herein provided
orn cca PUs.av , & nd vne poss
900 Inhabitants and to which the lines Of wire
run, and from time to time to establish new postal
stations on the lines as they siall be ex-
tended; and TO receive at such post o1ces and sub
oces In any form that letters for the mail are recev
ed all messages offered for transmission to any postal
telegraph station; provided each message Is prepaid
by postage stamps at the rate Of cent for each
word including date, address and signature, for
frar Al txAr
whenever the postal telegraph stations between
which any message Is sent are east OF said sixteenth
sacS wor a. aforesad for each and every Soo
miles or fractional part thereof In any message sent
from or directed to any postal telegraph station west
upon as Is herein provided for the transmission, and
three cents for the postage OF each message; pro-
snas all dGop q, snS,S or
the same city, shall be prepaid at the
rate OF one cent for every two words and
postmaster to cancel all postage stamps messages
received under the provisions or this act and to
transmit the same monthly, with returns thereof, to
manner as he may from time to time direct. Mes
sages shall be delivered from the Post Oice in the
same manner In which mali letters are delivered
and all provisions OF law relating TO the receipt
transmission and delivery OF mailed letters shall 80 far
as applicable, apply tohll messages mailed for trans
mission by telegraph. II any postmaster telegraph op
other employe OF the Post once telegraph
co npany shall Improperly divulge the contents OF
any message received trhnsWlssOn, sucn OHenQer
or offenders shall be imprisoned not less than
nor more than i've years. Tho originals OF all
sages shah be forwarded by mail also Immediately
transmission OF the messages by telegraph to the
parties TO whom they are directed, on the payment
OF three cents additional postage. Thlro-Io desg-
nate from time to time the cities and villages OF 800
Inhabitants TO which the lines OF telegraph shall
be extended, as provided IN the first article
OF the sixth section Of this act, and to estab
lish postal telegraph stations at any city
village through which the lines OF the con.
aching party run may be extended, though said
city village contain less than 5000 Inhabitants,
and from time 10 time, AZ he shall deem expe1ient,
disestablsh any postal telegraph station. IL shall
be the duty Of the Postmaster General TO submit To
Congress an annual report OF the operation OF the