National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-31
POSTAL TELEGRAPHY,
Text of the Important Bill offered b,
SenafAr KirLM0nd. of EOMa.


! The bill introduced by Senator Kirkwood to
/ aid I" the United States Postal Telegraph Com
pany" in the construction and operation of postal
telegraph lines refers to corporation of that name
organized underline general incorporation laws OF
| the State of Iowa and also under the telegraph
laws of the United States as made and provided in
title s. ofthe Revised Statutes.
! The officers named in an accompanying copy of
the articles of incorporation are Charles c. Gilman,
president; H. L. Huff R. H. Mcbride, and J. H.
Hammond, vice-presidents; W. II. Pollard, secre-
tary, and Joseph Edginton, treasurer-all of Iowa.
/ The bill proposes to authorize this company to
construct lines of telegraph throughout the entire
| United States. and in all the waters embraced in
treaties made BY the United States with other gov
| ernments, and to enter and occupy any and all
Government pOst-offices for the establishment OF
stations therein, and the performance of postal
telegraph service during full period of one nun
| dred years, with right of renewal.
The bill further provides that the company snail
| be empowered by the United states to construct
and maintain its lines over all public and private
lands, pOSt-rOads, bridges, &C. to the same extent
! that the Government might exercise its right Of
! eminent domain" for the same purposes; that
fourth assistant pOStmaSter-general shall be ap-
! pointed to exercise supervision Of the Affairs OF
| the company; that the tariff TO be charged TO the
public shall not exceed 20 cents for the trasm us
sion of each message of twenty words, or less for
! any distance in the United States, and
where delivery is made through the postal
all responsibilities attached 10 the and charge
one cent per message for dropletter delivery, two
cents for carrier delivery, and such rates as may
be fixed by the PoStmaster-General for special de-
| livery when receipt may be demanded by the
sender
| 1t is provided that within ninety days after the
enactment of the bill the company shall commence
the construction of its plant, and within twelve
months thereafteFshal connect the cities OF Wash
! ington, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Balti,
| more, Richmond. Charleston. New Orleans, Pitts
/ burg Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, ST. Louis
and intermediate cities, with its lines:
| Within three years thereafter the plant must
be increased to $4,000 miles i'll length and within
seven years TO 10000 miles, and at rate there
after that Congress may from time to time direct.
The capital stock is to be limited to slOOOOO,O0O,
sSuablc in series "a" and B. of equal amounts,
and each series limited TO $3.50 per mile of each
mile of line equipped with one wire, and $50 per
! mile for each additional wire.
Series is to be dividendbearing stock, and shall
| alone represent the ownership and management
of the properly. This stock is 10 be sold TO the
public TO provide means for construction pur-
poses, &c. Series is TO be nCn-dividend bearing,
and allowed no voice in the management of the
affairs of the company except in the disposition
of its property and franchises by sale or lease and
shall be donated to the United States Government
in return for the privileges granted, and as bar
TO the disposal of its franchises or property.