B & O and W. U. telegraph litigation over Texas lines

ELECTRICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

·

·

THE TELEGRAPH.

·

·

The following press despatches indicate that the advance of the Baltimore and Ohio company in the south-west is being bitterly opposed:

Paris, Texas, Oct. 23. — The court to-day heard application for 11 injunctions against the Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Co., brought in the name of farmers and land owners along the Texas and Pacific Railroad Co. through this county, to restrain the Baltimore and Ohio company from erecting its telegraph line along the right of way of that road. The land owners represented the interests of the Western Union Telegraph Co., which company, after having been defeated in their previous applications in their own name and that of the Texas and Pacific Railroad Co., are said to have bought up from the farmers their interest in the railroad right of way and applied to the court through this medium, claiming that the condemnation of their land for railroad purposes still left them entitled to damages, now that it was proposed to condemn the land for telegraph purposes. The court refused all these applications on the ground that, while the damage to the plaintiff, if any, was trifling, the damage to the telegraph company by stopping the work would be irreparable. The farmers are happy, having already received their money from the Western Union company.

Paris, Tex., Nov. 14. — Twenty-four Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph employes were arrested here several days ago at the instigation of, the Western Union, but in the name of the Texas and Pacific Railway Co., claiming that the Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Co. was trespassing on their right of way, which, however, had been previously condemned under the general telegraph law of Texas. The men were released, the judge ruling that the railroad company should pay the costs. To-day the Baltimore and Ohio obtained an injunction from the United States Court restraining the Texas and Pacific company from any further interference with the Baltimore and Ohio's men or property in Fannin and Red River Counties.

Galveston, Nov. 14. — The Western Union obtained an injunction from the United States Court in this district in October, restraining the Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Co. from building its new lines through Red River County on the right of way of the Texas and Pacific Railway, claiming that the proceedings of the State Court were not final, and that the Western Union company owned the exclusive interest in easement for telegraph lines along the railway. The United States Court to day gave judgment in favor of the Baltimore and Ohio company, dissolving the injunction.