The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-16
TIE TELEGRAPH TROUBLE IN CALIFORNIA
The Western Union Telegraph Company vs.
THE Atlantic and Pacific States Telegraph
Company.

western
THE Atlantic and Pacific States Telegraph
Company.
SAN FRANCISCO Sept. a. 1858.
When the Western Union Telegraph Company,
some two years since, swallowed up, as 1t we're, the
California State Telegraph Company and obtained
entire control OF all its lines the monster corporation
for time felt easy and like the gorged boa constrc-
tor coed Itself mp for quiet nap believing that 1t
could enjoy q rest for some time without annoyance
or molestation, or, In other words 1t little dreamed
that rival company would spring up to interfere
with its entire control Of the Geographic business Of
the Pacific coast.
The law which Incorporated the California State
Telegraph Company gave 1t great privileges. 1t had
the right to enter upon private property and con-
struct It's lines and any interference with the same
was punishable with great severity. indeed, l
doubt II there Is a law IN any other State OF the
Union that 30 well protects its telegraph lines and
everything appertaining thereto. Upon the strin-
gency Of the law the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany depended In q great measure for its security;
for statute while it protected from interference,
granted monopoly to the company, and no other
corporation had the right to build lines within the
State. But all things must have an end, and so IL
was with the monopoly; for while California should
and would protect California enterprise, 1t did not
care to bolster up the Western Union Company to
the exclusion OF California interests, when II was
discovered that the telegraphic anaconda had Sc
cured control OF majority OF the stock OF the State
II was not long after the change IN the control OF
the line on this coast that grumbling WAS heard and
Madame RuInor soon had 1t that it would not be
many months before q new line across the
Continent would be commenced, and that Eastern
and Western capitalists would be found willing to
carry the enterprise to successful termination:
There was a war at FIRST between the Associated
Press Of this and the manager OF the Telegraph
Company here but this queted down and APP
parenty amounted only to "a tempest In tea
pot" The construction OF a new trans-contnental
upon the tolls charged for eastern messages as ex-
orsitant ana praysd almost ,ps an oppoToh 20
ton with the East within the reach OF every one.
SIX dollars for ten words and forty 1--WE cents for
every additional word, In CON- was considered
rather Steep and they knew that nothing but oppo-
sition would reduce II In any material degree.
street but little attention was paid for 1t was thought
that there nothing in them, and 1t was with no
graph Company had sprung into existence
and that the Atlantic and Pacific states Telegraph
Company had actually commenced the construction l
cramento, and that II would be continued east 20
Virginia City AZ soon az the two FIRST named points
were connected. The work went on rapidly; an ad-
mraDly constructed line OF two wires was being put
up, and about six weeks ago II was completed and
telegraph communication was had between San
Francisco and sacramento via Santa Clara, San Jose
and stockton IL was matter OF wonder tnal no
interference was made BY the Western Union Com.
that the managing agent OF the anaconda wound
have been after the new line while In course OF con.
strnction and did not think that law suit would
be postponed until the new enterprise was In work
ing order: but Il came at last and now the battle
RACES, and short time win show who VIII come on
The western Union Company ask the court to
grant injunction TO prevent the Atlantic ana Pa
ci6c states telegraph Company from doing business
over their lines; TO grant damages In the amount OF
$50 600 for injury done to their lines In the construc
ton OF those OF the new company, and to order that
the new company its wires and poles, or: In
other words, give up the project cutrelya modest
nngss The SnopoS law Sefore spoken o.
plain the second request must give some idea o.
how the lines run. Four Of the wires OF the Western
Union Company run south from the city along the
line OF the San Jose Railroad to san Jose. Az that
point one continues south to Los Angeles. while
thence the 70 points s' in " the northern and eastern
sections of the State. Upon much OF this route the
lines 81 e new e a and ,0e pacing
them there some OF their poles have been removed
and the wires placed so close TO theirs as 70 mate
rally Interfere with the working OF the llnes ana
Ia for this that $50 900 damages are claimed.
II is conceded by all who have knowledge OF how
telegraph lines should be constructed that the new
company has butt one Of the best lines in the United
States and from what have seen OF u should say
the same Those who have control OF " consena .nas
Company monopoly In this state was aiinuied NJ
the last session Of she Legislature, ana that now
see ut. One thing appears very clear TO me,
which Is that those who are interested IN
the new company are men 100 Wiue aWths " ,nNcse
| their money in project that they knew would not
stand the test OF law; hence am under me inpres.
sion that that portion Of the case VIII ia W 'he
ground.
The new company contend that, having received
from the san Jose Railroad Company permission 70
construct their line along the line Of the railroad,
they had perfect right to place their poles ~ wnat
| position they deemed best, and that when pole OF
the other company was removed u was only TO make
room that was unnecessarily occupied. They FUR
ther say that their line does not cross or IN any man
ner interfere with those OF the other company, nor
finnn a.
rally In the slightest degree interfere win the
| proper working OF those OF the other COMPANY.
Here they claim that this portion OF the com
plant s groundlass. We hear TO-DAY ahsi lie