New-York tribune., 1880-02-28
TELEGRAPH RIVALRY.
THE srpTrcGIr rop THE wIRFs

THE STRUGGLE FOR THE WIRES.
THE AMERICAN UNION TVLEGRAPn COMPANY IN
s.sTs UPON IT'S R'GnTs-s.IzNG THE LINES IN
KANsAs-wBAT IHE OFFICERS OF BOTH COM
PANiEs SAY.
The following dispatch was received yester-
day the office Of the American Union Telegraph Com
pany IN this city;
Last night we took comper possession Of all lines OF
Uu0u Pacific Railway and branches, and their lines
Opel Tor public business from any and all telegraph
cOmpanIos on equal terms. I'D DIcKEf
The American Union Telegraph Company on February
II Informed the President and diree ors OF tie Union
Pacific Railway Company that it had completed lines OF
telegraph from the Atlantic Ocean to Kansas City ana
Omaha. connecting with the principal cities and
towns east of those pOlnts; that II was the
lessee of tie Dominion Telegraph Company OF Can
ada that It had entered INTO contract for twenty
years with the New French Atlantic Cable Company /;
that IT then constructing lines throughout the
Southern States that II prepared TO do general
telegraph business for the public and that I'm conformity
with the acts Of Congress known 1.-The Pacific Rail
road Acts" It desired and proposed to accept from the
public teeaphc destined for points on Union
Pacific lines he handed to that company at Kansas
City Omaha or other connecting points, and to have
that company acsept and transmit TO the American
Union Company. at the above mentioned connecting
points all telegraphc that might be offered by
the public directed to be 50 transmitted.
is claimed by the officers OF the American Union that
Pacific Roads authorized by Congress to con
railroad aud telegraph from the Mis-
souri, Ry the Pacific Ocean Lands granted and
bonds ssned by the Government to aid this enterprise
II only on the completion and equipment OF the
railroad and telegraph line that the companies became
entitled 10 lands and bonds from the Government The
statutory mortgage lien Of the Government expressyex
tended the whole line of the railroad ana telegraph
And Congress reserved the rght when the earnings of
the enIre road aud telegraph line should exceed per
cent On It's cost to reduce the fares thereon II unrea
sonabe in amount. The companies were moreover re-
quired 10 operate and the roads and telegraph for
M purposes commun travel and ira
So lar as pu lie and Government concerned as
continuous line without discrimination OF any klnn, ana
in sexnressly enacted not 10 he lawful for he propr
etors any np OF telegraph authorized by that act TO
fail % messages and news TOR all per
SOM r,nuIrlng such transmits inn THIS duty IN respect
of the telegraph as we'll as the rOai considered
muo,tan that il is enforced by penal sancdons civil
Thosa prov sons It il claimed. show that Congress
placed the tel graph line, In respect to IFS construction,
maintenance and Use by the Pacific compalaes, upon
precisely the footing the line Of railroads. IN
I'm respect of 6ofh the duties OF the companies
are, so to phrase It, personal and 40 au-
tporty Is given 10 deYOlye them on Others.
n results therefore that no valid tease OF other con-
tract can be by tue tOmpauic- TO surrender 10
d,FOye others Their duty % maintain coutrol and
mapa, their respective lines telegraph. They
taore do ths u respect OF their lines Of telegraph It
~ate than ttey respect OF their lines OF raj way.
ANY lease or contract that efcct is the language
The oihcers Of the American Union caim. therefore,
that assuming hat under their charter the kan-as Pa
cic aud Ulion DPaclhc Railroad Impanles originally
c0sructcd and thereby became proprtors OF Lines Ot
frrun d the duty Of their successor the present
vi u Yucldc Railway Company 10 maintain and use
mem: and that IL refuse - receive aud trans
Graph Company, other company or person.. WI D.
ou yio ptue is duy and iucurrng cl,t and criminal
penalties.
wiu.~fa .dng the NiurctiDus granted bY the
cnur.. ~ K1usHs Cty and Denver 10 re-
s.ian the American Union Telegraph Company
fron interfering with the wires o. The western Union
T.rrrlph Company tine Kal sas Pacific Road the flr
mrr COMPANY nd cut ont the wires Yesterday ing
and now have possession of tie same Under Air Could
order rne lines th Union P'chc Road ku0wn the
Atauiic aud Pacific were also Cul out cruay
morning aud are IN possession Of the American Union
iGr oii,crs of the Western Union Telegraph
C,npanf m this city stlte that tine ues on tie Kansas
Pacific Railroad Juiit bs the western Union Com
p4rN uud.I contract with ihr railroad and the tnle-
IN ph c0mpauv, .hr 90 the ncs has never been ques-
roncd Tie Union Pacific Railroad Company ufsJe a
perpetual lease Of ii~ lines j. tLe Atlantic ana Paei,
rrlczIaph Company some Years ago, IN wLicn u lS
hound 90 give ali tine revenues from olces Ourruted by
the railroad company 90 the Atauuc ana Pacific Iee-
pfaph Company and received in comp"nsatiOn therefor
urarlv - 600 600 OF tine telegraph compauys stock.
Tbe western Union Company's lines on the main stem
f tine l. ion lclhc Railroad, the Western Union Oihc els
.l,tui have not been disturbed