The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-01
SEPARATING W. U. ANDU P.
TINE UNION PAoIFIC ALREADY ar
WORK ON ITS TELEGRdPHS.

the Interests OF thr Two Mig Corporations.
OMAHA. Mob, July Slater years Of litiRa-
tion and the expenditure OF a fortune in law
yers' fees and court coats, tho Union Pacific
and tho Western Union Telegraph Company
have concluded to separate their systems OF
telegraph lines. BY those familiar with tho
business and this particular case this is adj
mi tod to DO n gigantic undertaking.. All the
preliminary arrangements for tho undertaking
have been almost complet cd. and General Super
intendent Korty Is at present ut Ogden, Utah.
tho western terminus of tho Union Pacific
main line, engaged in putting the plan agreed
uron into execution.
1ho origin OF the demand for separate tole-
graph systems, after the two tig companies had
maintained one system with such mutually sat-
~isfactory results for a generation, Is something
OF n mystery, but IL Ia conceded generally TO
have been duo to stockholders Of 10th compa-
MES. who commended that each was securing adj
vantages by the combination to tho disadvnn-
taRe OF the Other. Finally the litigation for
separate maintenance was commenced. but In
rather n covert manner, tho Government being
the ostensible complainant, on the theory that
Its interests would DO better conserved II the
Union Pacific had an independent telegraph
System. Both companies resisted the apIlicn-
tion, but not, as they alleged and as many rail-
road men think, because there wns any par
ticular advantage in tho combination to
either side, but because Of the cxtraor-
binary difficulty Of separating the multi
plicity of interests involved which had
accumulated through moro than thirty years of
constant service. The Federal court ordered
tho two companies to separate their lines, but
dilatory tactics wero rcsorted to, and for sew
cral years tho courts order was held up. Now
General Superintendent Korty has gone out to
begin the work of separation. Already he has
begun the construction of a separate system
leading from Salt Lake City up to Ogden, and
from there the work W Il be pushed rapidly enst-
ward. Some idea of the gigantic project in
volved may be secured when 1t is remembered
that in order TO operate its great
train service properly tho Overland must
have at least five through wires from one
end to the other. three Of which must be of the
best copper and the other two OF fairly good ma
tcriai. In addition to stringing all this wire.
which In a straight line would reach II h.th OF
the way. around The earth. the ,ompai, must
erect thirty poles on each mile ira, crsed, which
will mean the use OF something over 10000 tall
cedar poles. worth from ~ to s. apiece. After
hour to place. each in position after the hoe il
dTnE.the wire gang are ready Tor work.
construction gang. and, under favorable oircum.
stances. string about five miles n day. This
to w.t The ' milo nG sma eo s1Pr st w HEsEaSfs 3 n d tSiends
s3l so a mile, still. this is .one.half less than
the original lines of the Union Poetic cost.
though they were constructed OF tine cheapest OK
lion wire and could not be used with any degree
OF accuracy unless atmospheric conditions were
favorable. Consequently. though the new tele-
graph system, OF the Union Pacific will not cost
line, 1t will DO probably superior to anything OF
the Kind In the West. Several months will be
required 10 %.olnplete the work. Meantime the
Two companies vii. continue to use the old sys-
TEN "a usual.
Still. the worl; of constructing the new line
across rivers, deserts, and snow.cappcd noun
tains will be child's play in comparison with the
ANTIQUITIES attending an equitable distribution
companies. drisHi tGily' ih .o interests en- ste We're =; M9 Suito
distinct, but repairs were mede repeatedly. new
Inns crested 10 The increasing
tios merged into, the one system. continuing
through a period regarded as the lite of two
complete systems of telegraph. At first tho tel
eSrnph, lie was pushed out from day to
day ls| ros along with the construssion Of the
wire was strung though the cost was enormous.
The work wasdone by the construction company
having the contract to build the railroad. and
Tho lien OF the Government was supposed TO
eomtaGy on The main line. Future develop
mtnts indicated that nothing of the kind was
contemplated by the original owners. and to-day
the telegraph lines will not go with tho read.
close on the property II would have to buy the
telegraph lines Of the. company or erect some of
ated on the road without The hep OF the te E.
graph sy stem 80 the old company controls the
situation completely.
For several years after The completion OF the
road the corporation operated an independent
telegraph line. a /, thni timc'he great combine.
fancy. and the Union Pacific Telegraph Com
pany was only one OF many snail lines Going
business throughout the country. Finally, as
the Weston Union continued to absorb other
lines. the Union Pacific round its IL eNchr nRing
business at Omaha with thai monopoly wholly.
Finally. the proposition was maze by the West.
T%acIh s%'" lines, t DO the 'iTST nion P q inc ' baS';
R Keep f fSe' i Pns i in qteaiT. In 'n 4siarn 1 fSr
this tho Western Tnion was to have
line. tho exclusive %privilcgG Of transferring al!
business at this point and the practical control
q Union Pacific telegraph lines for ali purposes
train service and other things appertuin'ng TO
the business o. the Union Pacific. At once III,
commercial. offices OF the two companies here
were. combined and the Union Pacific surren-
dered nll control OF its telegraph business. New
lines Of wire were necessary 10 transact the In.
by thn, Western Union. Did wires were oe-
stroyed and the Western Union put in new
ones, and old Instruments gave way be-
fore the later inventions, until Today
scarcely a ves,ise q The original telecr.ph
From time to time supplementary. contracts
were made. moiify ing or rmniilying the original
clause from another. The Western rnioH
claims all The lines In use along he right OF way
or The Western Union. and, having been so long
IN pnssession. Is in a position to maintain its
claims. Then. too, the railroad Gun scarcely dis.
pute his claim. since in equity 1t appears 10 be
a lust claim. SO this practically forces the rail.
rond to put in n new system of its own. This
means Il parallel system half way across the con-
nhent. IL VIII mean two telegraph ofi' es in
e5ch town OF any oOnscp uGnce In this section be-
tween the Missouri River and the Rocky Noun
taina and n duplicate set %: telegraph operators.
IT, is not, however, molly settled That the rail
TStd company will SUI render everything TO the
western Union. Though tie niOn Pacific Id
~ work constructing is now independent line,
mere IS yet Il probability that the officers will
inS,sl on 2 commission being appointed IN, in
N,estigate III" situation and MAKE, ..n award nj
tht properties OF the two companies, /. this is
done II VII be probably BY !hc eInplUymcnt o,
some OF the old employees who were !ssoria.c cd
in the ORIGINAL construction Of The Union Pa
cihc's telegraph lines. Joseph Creighton, who
had charge OF this division. of Tho York,
Il long since dead. Lut his brother. tht
nhnhi John A. Creighton, brother Of the pioneer
me builder, sti,l ii,es iu nmNh.. II" was viii
nis prothor all tho time and nntHriniiI assisted
IN me work. ii" should lie Of material aid IN
bringing ordor out OF %tanGlc. Then Edw ard
Iosewhter, who whs the pioneer business 'nAia,
Enro OF NE w cstcru Union in Omuha and q 'ncrll
SUI, rintendent kerry Of the Union PaCinr trio
Rraph Department would tc abe to determine
NUN Nat Is Chinese puzzle to others in tho
CAGE. The prob bilitie- nrathnt, before he ease IL
seized. a, commission consisting ~ those mcn
= Will In nllA InA., 10 lii =. "a. al n 81 ~ AH an 4nu