The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-12-18
That Telegraph Line.

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A Fourth of the Necessary Subscription
Assured-Another letter from
Supt. Meriwefher.
The article and correspondence on the
subject of telegraph line from Donald
sonville to New Orleans, which appeared
in the CHIEF of November IS, were em-
bodied in a circular and transmitted by
Mr.. Bernard Lemann to such persons as
he deemed most likely to take an interest
in the establishment Of the important
improvement, and from whom there was
reason to expect contributions i'll aid of
the project. Mr.. Lemann informed us
the other day that, notwithstanding the
universally acknowledged desirability of
telegraphic communication between this
section and the States metropolis, and
the repeated expressions Of prominent
planters and business men in favor of
securing such communication in the iden-
tical manner now proposed, only two or
three responses to the circulars have
been received. This apparent indiffer-
ence may, however, as Mr.. Lehman sug-
gests, be due to the fact that all those
engaged or interested in sugar planting
are at this time pre-occupied with the
labors and anxieties of tho rolling sea-
son, and have little leisure to devote to
the consideration of other matters. We
hope that this will prove to be the case,
and that as soon as the sugar crop is
secured, no trouble will be experienced
in obtaining the cooperation of suffi-
cient number Of our leading citizens to
insure the early arrangement of the pre-
liminaries reqnisite to the construction
Of the proposed telegraph hire.
We understand that about $1100 of the
required subscription Of $4500 is already
assured by Messrs. Lemann, Hanson,
Mccall Bros, N. Israel & Co., of Ascen-
sion, j. w. Burbridge & Co., Of New Or
leans, and perhaps one or two others,
and if such gentlemen as Messrs. John
Burnside, Duncan F. Kenner, Leon God
chaux, E. G. Palmer, H. s. Buckner, r.
H. Yale, and several others we might
name who have large planting interests
in this vicinity, and to whom tclegraphic
communication is especially desirable,
will respond with equal liberality, the
remaining three-fourths of the necessary
advance loan can be raised almost with
out an effort. No doubt a number Of our
resident planters besides those named
above will signify their Willingness to
subscribe literally, as soon as they are
"out Of the woods with their work of
harvesting the seasons sugar crop.
In connection with this subject we give
place ,te the following letter, still further
Z plainint kh6 lIet ia .nfs tho plan under
which the Western Union Telegraph
Company proposes to build and operate
the line between New Orleans and Dom
aldsonville, should the subscriptions
asked in favor of the project aggregate
the amount required:
SUPERINTENDENT's OFFICE, J
Western Union Telegraph Company, s
Mobile, Nov. ~, 1880.
Bernard Lemann, Esq, Donaldsonyille. La. !:
Dear Sir-Your esteemed favor of the 10th
to band. ! have been absent, which is the
canse of the delay of this reply. Ii we should
build the line it would be along tie right OF
way of the railroad. The advantages of
building it along the railroad are many and
l presume it rs not necessary to mention
them here. Parties living in New Orleans
or at points between New Orleans and Don
aldsonville. can of course telegraph both
ways between New Orleans and Don
aldsonvillc. For instance. if Mr.. Thomas
Jones, who lives in New Orleans, s,1bscribes
two hundred dollars, he Of course has credit
at the Office in DoDaldsonvilIe for that amt
All his correspondence between those two
points would be charged to his account at
Donal,sonrille. All messages he sent from
New Orleans to Donaldsonvlle would go
collect. and all messages he received from
Donaldsonville would be marked paid. But
his messages from New Orleans going to
other points could not, of course, be charged
who lived in .Donaldsonville should be in
New Orleans he of course could send all his
business collect and it would bc charged to
his account at DonaldsonyilJe. We could
give the Manager at New Orleans list of
all the subscribers and lie could take in their
business aud send it collect. 1t would be,
of course impossible to do this at every
office. Telesrapliing from other offices by
subscribers would be arranged as follows
For instance, if you were in Cincinnati and
wished to send a message to Donaldsonviie
you would offer it at the Office collect Tn
der the rules the Manager could not take it
collect unless you were to bring some re-
sponsible person known to the feeei.er or
Manager who would state thasyou were a
responsible party and ouldEuarantce that
the message would be p4id for at Donalil-
sonville He would then receive it from
You and send it collect and it would be
charged to your account at home. After
one such guarantee at the Office the receiver
of that message Of course would take your
messages collect without any further ques-
tiOns.
You will please accept my thanks for the
prompt and energetic manner in which yO,,
have taken hold of the matter and l trust
you will meet with entire success. Will you
please report at your earliest convenience
what progress has been ma'lef II there is
any other information that can give, please
call for it and l will furnish it promptly
Yours truly, c. g. MERIWETHER,
Superintendent.
Bro. L. E. Bentley, of the Donaldson
vile First Nan Of the Tribe, Secretary oi
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