The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-03-05
frrm The New Fork rrsbene.l
THE TELEGRAPH WAR.
Another Victory nor she New CON
pamy.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany has taken possession OF the telegraph
lines built along It's tracks by the Atlantic
and Pacific Telegraph Company. The
Western Union Company obtained an In.
junction Ia this city against this, out the
| papers were not served until too late to
prevent the seizure. The lines were one
rated By tho Atlantic and Pacific under A
temporary arrangement. A contract for
ten years has been made by the railroad
corporation with The American Union Tele-
graph Company, aud the railroad telegraph
lines will be managed Ia connection with
the new company. instead OF the Western
Union aud Atlantic and Pacific.
Details Of the Telegraph Revolution.
| The lines OF the Atlantic and Pacific Tel
egraph Company along the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad were seized late Saturday
afternoon by the railroad company. These
lines were built In 1875. 1876, and 1877 by
the Atlantic and Pacific Company, which
has since operated them under temporary
arrangement with The railroad company.
They extend between Washington, ID. c.,
and Cincinnati, Marietta, and Columbus,
Ohio, Washington, Pa, and Chicago.
Before the lines were seized the Baltimore
aud Ohio Railroad Company served Satur-
VNf tUN ttAtl'Huy SShtt AT HV-
tce Of its intention at once to take posses
sion OF the lines. In this notice President
/ Garrett, OF the railroad company, an.
nounced the readiness of the company to
do the telegraph business OF the Western
| Union and Atlantic and Pacific Companies
upon the usual terms regulating interchange
OF business. immediately after receiving
the notice, the Western Union applied for
an Injunction TO Chief-Judge Curtis, OF the
Superior Court, in this city, which he
granted, restraining the railroad company
from taking possession OF the lines.
This Injunction was served on President
Garrett, at the Windsor Hotel, about
O'Clock Saturday evening. but The lines had
been taken by the company mole than two
hours before. President Garrett had been
out riding In the afternoon. and on his re.
turn went in 10 dinner without being in
formed that the officers with the INDUCTION
were awaiting his arrival.
No contract between the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company aud the Atlantic
and Pacific Telegraph Company was ever
made. When the lines were built tenn
porary arrangement for operating them was
made by President Garrett with General
Thomas II. Eckert, who was then presi-
dent, and d. III. Bates. then general super
intendent Of the Atlantic and Pacific Com
pany. President Garrett then expressed
the fear that the telegraph company would
be absorbed by the Western Union Com
pany, and for this reason refused TO
give the new company more than q
Temporary permission to operate the lines.
He would consent TO no proposition that did
otreserve to the railroad company the right
at any time to take possession of the lines
at their cost price. The Western Union
Company had secured temporary iDjunc-
ton TO prevent the building OF the lines, but
this was dissolved on July IL, 1876, by Judge
Green, OF the Count OF Common Pleas, at
J Columbus, Ohio. Before the second trial OF
the case. the Western Union Company had
secured control Of the new company. The
case was then defended by the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company, aud the deci-
sion Of the lower court was sustained. In
these decisions exclusive grants 10 a tele-
graph company were declared TO be against
public policy and therefore void.
contract was concluded Saturday be-
tween the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and
the American Union Telegraph Company
by which all the telegraph lines and BUSH
ness OF the railroad company will be man.
aged i'm connection with the American
Union instead OF the Western Union and
Atlantic and Pacific Companies. The con-
tract was made for ten years. The total
length OF the lines of the Baltimore and
Ohio is nearly 5000 miles, and there are 400
offices. Extensions to these lines are now
building. The principal offices are at BaltI-
more, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati,
Columbus, Sandusky, Cbillcothe, Defiance,
Chicago. st. Louis, Vincennes, and Louis
vile. The railroad company has accepted
tbe provisions of the act of Congress OF
Iati IN folo at0c.
and il has also taken out letters Of incOrpo-
ration in Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, and Iii.
nois, and in other States through which its
lines pass.
II ON THE UNION PACIFIC.
The situation along the line Of the Union
Pacific railroad remains unchanged. AT st.
Louis and Kansas City, and at other points,
I il is understood that the Western Union
Company refuses the Transfer OF all bust
ness FROM the Union Pacific. No discrim-
nation is made between dispatches prepaid
and those on which the iates are to be COL
lected at the point OF delivery. All inter-
change Of business with the Union Pacific
is refused. The State laws OF Missouri pro-
vide for each refusal to transmit messages Il
; penalty OF 500. 1t is said also that the
Western Union has refused TO exchange
business with the American Union Compa-
laws of that State provide that any ,mpany
refusing 10 receive and transmit In good
faith the messages OF another company shall
forfeit all rights and franchises acquired
under the laws Of that State. An action
under this law will probably be begun soon
against the Western Union Company.
Incidents OF the Conflict.
THREE IMPORTANT LINES SECURED BY TIE
AMERICAN UNION AT COLUMBUS.
CINCINNATI, February 29.-An Enquirer
| dispatch from Columbus, o., says: Shortly
after day break this morning the American
Union Telegraph Company took possession
OF The Atlantic and Pacific CompaDy's wires
| in this city by cutting them out and run
ming them into the Offices OF the former
| company near the Baltimore and Ohio
freight.bouse. The officers OF the Atlantic
and Pacific Company were taken complete
| ~ by surprise. the transfer being accom-
| pIished before they suspected anything
wrong.
The lines cut out were two running east
10 Wheeling, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore,
and one running west TO Chicago. This
action connects the western division Of the
American Union Company with the system
OF tue Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
.pany.
Ii is said that the cutting out was done
on Sunday in order 10 avoid an ipiurc-
ton. There Is chance OF a conf ct between
the employees of the rival companies before
| the fight is ended.
ST. LOUIS, February 29.--It is reported
| that last week. after the American Union
TeIepranh ComDany seized the wires of the