Year: 1860

Public AZ. "a ,
AN ACT to facitss betveei, fs Afjstie


and Pacific States BY electric telegraph. = .:es@


Be II enacted BY the Senate and House of Representatives
1d the United States Of hterca in Congress assembled
That the Secretary OF the asy under the direction Of
the President of the United States is hereby authorized and
directed to advertise for sealed proposals. be receef @
of which shall be guaranteed by responsfe parties as in
the OF bids for mail contracts for the use by the Coy
snmen, Of line or lines Of magnetic tsegSpso se con-
eighteen hundred and sixty from some point or points ON
the west ne the State Of Missouri By any route OF fce
point or points BY Telegraph With he cities Of washngtUSi
New Orlerns. New York. Charleston, philadelphia Boston
sha o.Ser cities I SIN IN u hs S y n snd s
torna for period of ten years and shall award the con-
tract to the lowest responsible bidder bidders provided
such proer does not require larger amount year from
the United States than forty thousand dollars and perms
sion hereby granted to the said parties to whom said
tract may be awarded or majority of them ana their as
sgns 10 until the end of the said term, such unoccupi
ed public lands of the United States be necessary
for the right of and for the purpose Of establishing
stations for repairs along said line not exceeding at any
station quarter section of land such stations not 70
ceeds in fifteen miles average of the whole dis.
tance unless said lands shall be required Government Of
the United States for railroad other purposes and
vded that no right to prempt of said lands under the
laws of the United States shall uure to said company their
agents servants other person persons what
Provided That such shall be made
til the said time shall be in actual operation and payments
Hereunder shall cease whenever the contractors fail 70
all times be entitled To priority IN the use OF the line or
lines and shall have privilege when authorized BY law,
connecting said line lines by telegrnphed with any mill
posts of the United States nd to use the for
Government urposes And provided also That said line
or lines with the military posts OF the United States shall
be open to the of all of the United States dur


ing the term Of the ssid contract on OF the reg


lar charges for transmission of dispatches And provided
aO That such charges shall exceed three dollars tor
single despatch of words with the proportionate
deductions upon dispatches of greater length provided


that nothing herein contained shall confer upon the said
parties any exclusive right to construct to the
Pacific debar the Government of the United States from
granting from time to time similar franchises and pfivi-
leges to other parties.


SEC AID be it further enacted That the said contac


tors their assigns shalt have the right to construct and
maintain, through any of the Territories of the United
States branch line, to connect their said line


lines with Oregon and that they shall have the permanent
right Of for said line lines under over any
appropriated public lands and in the said Territories
by any route routes which the said contractors
select with free during the said term OF such lands
may be necessary for the purpose of establishing stations


for repairs along said iue lines not exceeding at any
station, quarter section Of land such stations not to
coed in fifteen miles average of the whole dis


ance but should of said quarter sections be deemed
essential by the Government company acting under


authority. for railroad purposes the said contractors
shall renqushed the occupancy Of much as may be
cessary for the railroad receiving equal amount OF land
for like use in its stead


SEC. g. And be it further enacted, That if in any year
during the continuance of the said contra the business
done for the Government htreinbefore mentioned by
such contractors their assigns SHALL at the ordinary
of charges for private exceed the con-


racted be paid aforesaid the Secretary of the Treas
ury SHALL upon said accounts being duly authenticated
certify the amount of such excess to Congrss Provided,
That the of the line be given at time free of cost
the Coast Survey the Smithsonian Institution and the
National Observatory for scientific purposes And provid
company corporation from any telegraph lines
Meeting with this line at either of its termni shall be im
partially transmitted in the order of their reception
ceping that the dispatches of the Government shall have
priority And provided further That Congress shall any
time have the right To alter amend this act.


Approved i6 June, 1850. y--