[Newspaper]
Publication: The New York Times
New York, NY, United States
vol. 11, no. 3155, p. 6, col. 1
The Pacific Telegraph,
INTERESTING REVIEW OF THE HISTORY. From the Rochester Union, Oct.28.
The Pacific Telegraph has been in contemplation for ten or twelve yours, at least, during which time Messrs. O’Rielly and others have presented to Congress several applications for Government aid. These several projects successively failed. Some two years ago the Western Union Telegraph Company, of this city, brought the subject before the representatives of all the Telegraph Companies in the United States, who expressed themselves favorably to the project, and agreed to cooperate with the Western Union in procuring the passage of a bill through Congress granting such Government aid as was deemed indispensable to success.
In pursuance of these initiatory proceedings, HIRAM SIBLEY, Esq. President of the Western Union Company, went to Washington early in the session of 1859-60, and presented the subject to Congress. He met with very little encouragement from the other Telegraph Companies; while from some he encountered a decided hostility. But late in the session a bill was passed much less favorable than was anticipated; but still the Western Union Company decided to make an effort to build the Pacific Line, if they had to do it alone.
The bill provides that the Government contract should be given the parties who should propose, with adequate security, to build the line for the lowest sum within the limits of the bill. And, after long and inexcusable delays on the part of secretary Cobb, who exerted all his Influence to thwart the enterprise was awarded to Mr. SIBLEY, the President and representative of the Western Union Company, in October last.
The Company, anticipating little or no assistance from other Companies or parties in the Atlantic States, dispatched one of their number--J. H. WADE, Esq.,—to California, to secure the cooperation of the Telegraph Companies on the Pacific side of the Mountains. He was eminently successful in his mission. The California Companies having consolidated their interests, covenanted to assume the construction of the line to Salt Lake with all dispatch, and if possible as soon as the eastern section should be completed to that point--an undertaking which they honorably performed, reaching Salt Lake but a few days later than the Western Union party.
“The Pacific Telegraph Company” was organized in this city in May last, (instead of April as stated in the Tribune) under a charter passed by the Legislature of Nebraska, in which the following persons were named as Directors: Hiram Sibley, Isaac Butts, J. H. Wade, Isaac R. Etwood, Charles M Stebbins, T. R. Walker, J. H. Berryhill, Edward Creighton, Samuel L. Selden, J. Adams, John H. Harmon, Benj. F. Ficklin, Albert W. Bee, Jne. S. Graham and Joseph Medbery. The persons whose names are set in italics are members of the Western Union Company, and with the exception of Mr. Crieghton, they are all Directors in that Company, as well as in the Pacific. The Board organized by electing J. H. Wade President; Hiram Sibley, Vice-President; I. R. Elwood, Secretary and Treasurer, and J. H. Wade, Hiram Sibley, Isaac Bulls, D. A. Watson and J. Medbery, an Executive Committee, who, under the Charter, could perform all the general functions of the full Board. D. A. Watson, a Director of the Western Union, has been elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of A. W. Bee. of San Francisco.
The Company being now fully organized and prepared for work, on paper, the very next thing “in order” was to inquire into the “ways and means”. And it may be stated in a few words that not one dollar of the stock of the Company was taken by any party or parties outside of the Western Union Company. The Western Union parties were determined, however, to push the enterprise forward, even though it was apparent they must do so unaided. They accordingly commissioned Mr. Creighton to take charge of the construction and push it rapidly forward.
Mr. Creighton proceeded at once to organize his trains, and to make all necessary arrangements for a vigorous prosecution of the great work committed to his charge. He was obliged to transport all the wire, insulators, tools, camp equipage, provisions, &c., required for the whole line, by wagons from his end of the route. For this purpose he purchased five hundred and mules, and a corresponding number of wagons. And he hired some four hundred men, whose duty it was to dig the holes, set the poles, put on the insulators, and string line wire—in short to finish the line as fast as the immense train moved on toward the Western terminus. These men were well armed with rifles and navy revolvers; and in case of attack by any party, they would doubtless have given as good an account of themselves in battle as they have in the more truly “glorious” work which they have so successfully accomplished.
We would remark that the only aid which the Government is to furnish consists in a yearly allowance after the completion of the line. And the Company is to compensate the Government, partially of fully, as the case may be, by transmitting dispatches in the amount of the yearly allowance without charge. Thus it will be seen that this great work has been achieved by a comparatively few private individuals, most of whom are our own citizens; and who may be permitted to indulge a little honest pride as they felicitate themselves on the prompt completion of their great enterprise.
