[Newspaper]
Publication: Marysville Daily Appeal
Marysville, CA, United States
vol. 6, no. 112, p. 1, col. 5-7
History of the Pacific Telegraph.
The S. F. Bulletin, of November 7th, published a valuable historical sketch of the great Continental Telegraph, from which we compile the following leading facts: It is not known who first conceived the idea of building a wire across the continent, but it was first made the subject of a public effort by Henry O'Reilly, who, about ten years ago memorialized Congress on the feasibility of telegraphic communication between the Mississippi Valley and the Pacific, and when the session of Congress closed it was thought that a clause in one of the appropriation bills granting his request had passed. But when the smoke of the ''last hours" cleared up the clause was discovered dead among the rubbish. That the Overland Telegraph was a common idea on the Pacific, nine years ago, is made very clear by the last section of the Act of the California Legislature, passed in May, 1852, granting to parties the right to construct a telegraph line from San Francisco to Marysville, but specially providing that "nothing in the Act should be so construed as to prevent the construction of a telegraph line between the Atlantic and Pacific." It was from this side, too that the first practical beginning was made. The Placerville and Humboldt Telegraph Company was organized in 1858. The first pole was erected on the 4th of July of that year, and the line completed from Placerville to Genoa, (then in Utah, now Nevada Territory,) in the following fall. In the spring of 1859 the line had reached Carson, and the discovery of the Washoe silver mines led, in the fall following, to the construction of a branch line to Virginia City.
To make this promising start into the desert, private enterprise and capital had sufficed, without any encouragement from either State or General Government. The company above named, however, had left no stone unturned that promised aid from both. Their agent, A. W. Bee, one of the Directors of the Company, we believe it was, proceeded to the East, and in New York and Washington labored to obtain the co-operation of Eastern telegraph men, and to interest Congress in the movement. Mr. Broderick, in May, 1858, introduced a bill into the United States Senate which authorized the Postmaster General to contract with Henry O'Reilly, J. J. Speed and T. P. Shaffner, to carry Government messages to and from its Pacific stations for ten years in consideration of $70,000 a year, to be paid to the three men named and their assigns, and a pre-emption of 320 acres every ten miles on the route. This bill was reported by the committee of which Dr. Gwin was a member, but in the incompatibility of temper between the two Senators, the bill suffered and never reached the House. There was beside a tide always setting against the scheme, unaccountable then, but quite explicable soon afterwards, and which will need no explanation when we come to speak of the way telegraphing is managed at the last.
Meanwhile somebody was busy in California, and our Legislature in April of the following year (1859,) passed an Act pledging the State to give $6,000 a year to the Telegraph line that should first get through to connect with an Eastern line; and $4,000 a year to the line that should be second in getting through.
This encouragement gave fresh impetus to two enterprises that were already commenced—one by the way of Placerville and Carson Valley, whose company was already generally known at the East as "The Placerville and St. Joseph," (Mo.,) the other by Los Angeles and the route that the Butterfield Overland Mail stages traversed.— The latter had the advantage of more immediate remuneration from the best customers of all telegraphs, the newspapers, as they had made arrangements to tap the mails at either end, and hasten the news that they brought. At the East it had as an ally the American Telegraph Company, whose territory stretched along the Atlantic and GuIf border from New Brunswick to New Orleans; and who, if the Los Angeles line should strike through Texas, would take the Pacific to Washington and New York over their wires. The Missouri Telegraph Company had two strings to their bow. If the Placerville line, direct toward St. Joseph grew fastest, they were sure of the connections for their purposes. If the Los Angeles line followed the bend of the Butterfield mail route up to Missouri, there was another hope for them; and Californians generally inclined to the Los Angeles way, because it gave them a double chance to reach New York, both by New Orleans and by St. Louis.
But it must be borne in mind that though eastward of the Mississippi the land is gridironed with telegraphs, they are all in the hands and under the control of only eight companies. These companies are mammoth concerns that pay large dividends, serve the public well, and make the public pay roundly for being so served. A league binds all the companies into one grand confederation, known as the "North American Telegraph Association," of which Amos Kendall is President, which determines the tariff of rates, legislates on all questions of conflicting interests, and—so said Mr. Burnett of Kentucky, over and over again in Congress—arranges to crush out lines that may be built to compete with any of those already in existence.
In the lingo of the confederation the eight companies or consolidations of companies are known as "Nations," and their territory as a general rule follows the course of the rivers and of the coast.
1. The American company has its lines stretching along all the Atlantic border from Maine to New Orleans.
2. The Ohio and Mississippi Company has its field of operations in the line of States that stretch from Cincinnati to New Orleans.
3. The Western Union Company reaches from Buffalo to St. Louis.
4. The Consolidated Pennsylvania Company takes in most of the lines within the Quaker State.
5. The New York, Albany and Buffalo Companies embrace most of the lines within the interior of the Empire State.
6. The Missouri Telegraph Company controls the lines within Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.
7. The Seventh Nation includes Judge Caton's lines—Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota.
8. The 8th, we believe, takes in Texas and Arkansas.
The reader will see at a glance that if California has any hope that its lines should ever effect a junction with the wires of the East it must be by consolidating all the Pacific companies into a Ninth Nation, accepting a seat and a share in the Great Telegraphic Confederation, and in return be governed by the tariffs and rules that it might vouchsafe. The "Nations'' were all powerful by virtue of their agreement mutually to respect each others rights, to protect each other jointly from competing lines, and—in case a desirable line should be erected by outsiders, to give it no support, but if necessary to erect an opposition line between the same points and starve the interloper into a lease or abandonment.
So it has come to pass that whoever has built a telegraph at the East, the "Nation" through whose territory it runs either leases or own it. The Nations have no competitors. They are a swinging great monopoly against which State Legislatures and Congress have bucked in vain, and company after company formed to break it up, on seeing and feeling its power have succumbed—pocketing its losses as gracefully as possible.
The practicable friends of a Pacific Telegraph saw that the only means of accomplishing their object was to throw themselves upon the graces of the North American Association. It was now easy to see why the Broderick bill of 1853, for a direct telegraph by Salt Lake City, never flourished. The American Company—Nation No. 1—had a scheme in its head for a line by New Orleans, San Antonio, Fort Yuma and Los Angeles, which would pour all the Pacific news over their wires, and it was clear, too, that the natural allies of a central route were Nations No 1 and 3. Hiram Sibley, of Nation No. 3, labored lustily for the central route, Cyrus W. Field, though of Nation No 1, gave his valuable aid in the same direction, and fortunately President [Amos] Kendall took the same view. So it was agreed in the North American Association, at its convention in the summer of 1859, that the central route should be adopted. After this it was tolerably plain sailing. The telegraphic gods had agreed upon the policy that they would allow—now nothing but the Congressional giants were to be appeased and moved.
Early in the session of 1860 several Pacific Telegraph bills were introduced into the United States Senate. Mr. Green submitted one which gave to James M. Hughes and J. J. Mudd the right of way for a telegraph through Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Los Angeles. This was referred to the Committee on Public Lands, and was not heard of afterward. Dr. Gwin introduced one which empowered the Postmaster-General to contract with the Placerville, Humboldt and Salt Lake Telegraph Company for the use of a line for ten years from Washington to San Francisco. This was referred to the Committee on Postoffices and Roads, by them greatly altered, and by dint of hard work, finally passed—Senators Latham, Wilson, Seward and Benjamin quietly favoring it; Jeff. Davis of course, voting against it.
This bill named nine corporators as follows: Zenas Barnum, Thomas R. Walker, John H. Berryhill, Hiram Sibley, Norvin Green, John D. Caton, Frederick A. Bee, Charles M. Stebbins and James S. Graham, most of whom represent great telegraphic Companies, and the last probably inserted under the impression that he was a representative of the western end of the line that was proposed to follow the Butterfield Bend. It gave to the corporators $50,000 subsidy annually for ten years, a right of way, the use of land for the stations, and authorized the charge of $4 for every message of ten words, in which, by the way, the date and name of place never were dreamed of being included. Mr. Colfax, Chairman of the Committee on Postoffices and Roads, secured certain amendments reducing the tariff of rates and diminishing the subsidy, and from the day that the bill came into his possession faithfully labored to pass it. Finally, between the House and Committee, it was altered to limit the subsidy to $40,000 a year, the charge for a message of 10 words between the ends of the line to be but $3, the corporators' names to be left out, and the Secretary of the Treasury was authorized to advertise the work, and give out the contract to the lowest bidder. Thus altered—and improved—the bill passed the House. In the Senate, Gwin put in the corporators' names again, and refused to concur in the House's other amendments except they would yield that first. After playing battledore and shuttlecock between the Houses for some time, the Lower House won, and the bill, as amended, became a law on the 10th of June, 1860. It was in substance as follows:
The Secretary of the Treasury was directed to advertise for sealed proposals, to be received for sixty days after the passage of the Act, for the use by the Government of a line or lines to be constructed within two years from July 31, 1860, from some point on the west line of Missouri, by any route the contractor might select, to San Francisco, for a period of ten years; and to award the contract to the lowest bidder, provided he did not require more than $40,000 a year. Permission was granted to the successful bidder to use for ten years such unoccupied public lands of the United States as may be necessary for the right of way and for the purpose of establishing stations for repairs, not exceeding, at any one station, one quarter section, and not to exceed one in fifteen miles on the average of the whole distance. No preemption right to the lands was granted. The contract was not to be made until the line was in actual operation. The Government was always to have a priority of use of the line, and free, until, at the ordinary rate of charges for private messages, it reaches the $40,000 a year, when the excess shall be certified to Congress by the Secretary of the Treasury. The Coast Survey, Smithsonian Institution and National Observatory for scientific purposes, are always to have free use of the Iine. The Government is to reserve the privilege of connecting the line with any of its military posts. If it needs any of the lands used for stations, it can take them, on giving an equal amount of land elsewhere, in its stead. The contractor has the right to connect with the Oregon lines, with the same privileges over the public land for stations and right of way. The charge shall not exceed $3, for ten words, (between the Missouri line and San Francisco,) "with the usual proportionate deductions upon despatches of greater length," and excepting for Government despatches messages must be transmitted in the order of their reception. The act, moreover, definitely affirms that no exclusive right is given to the contractor for the construction of a Pacific telegraph, and that the Government is not by it debarred from granting a similar franchise to other parties.
Meanwhile the Missouri Company had run their line west to Fort Smith, on the Butterfield route, and the direct line was through to St. Joseph.
Within the appointed time the Secretary of the Treasury advertised for proposals. The Grand Confederated North American Association held a Convention at New York, and agreed that as the Western Union Company had more at stake than any other Eastern company, to refer the whole matter to it and to the Placerville and St. Joseph's Company. The Western Union Company resolved to put in a bid at the maximum price fixed by Congress, the bid to go in Hiram Sibley's name, but if successful all the California lines to share the benefits of it so far as they chose. On opening the bids they were found to be four: Hiram Sibley, $40,000 a year; B. F. Ficklin, $35,000; Theodore Adams, $29,000; Harmon & Clark, $25,000. But before the time for giving the bonds rolled round, all parties except the highest bidder had withdrawn— so Secretary Cobb gave the job to Sibley.
The parties whom Sibley represented met at Rochester, N.Y., and agreed if all the California telegraph lines would consolidate, they should, under the Overland Telegraph Company, with a capital of $1,250,000, have the construction of the line from Salt Lake to the Pacific connection, while the Western Union Company, under the style of the "Pacific Telegraph Company," chartered by the Nebraska Legislature, with $1,000,000 capital, should build it from Salt Lake to the Eastern connection, and the California and General Government subsidies and the tariff should be divided equitably between them. J. H. Wade and Major Bee were to proceed at once to San Francisco, and first of all secure the consolidation of the California lines.
The consolidation of the California Companies was effected in March 1861, as per the Rochester arrangement, H. W. Carpentier being elected President of the Consolidation and of the new "Overland" Company. This accomplished, the work of construction commenced.
From St. Joseph to Salt Lake, Edward Creighton was the constructer under the direction of Mr. Wade of the Pacific Company. From Placerville to Fort Churchill the line was reconstructed; from that point west [sic] to Salt Lake the work was new. It all rapidly went under the management of President Carpentier, James Street, J. M. Hubbard and James Gamble. It is represented to us that the best materials were used across the plains, the cedar posts being sometimes hauled a distance of 75 miles. The wire used is No. 9 and No. 10, annealed. The insulators on the other side are those known as "Wade's"—on this side those that stand next in repute, it being impossible to get a supply of Wade's laid down in time. There need be little fear that in the haste standing trees have been used in lieu of cedar posts, as along much of the route standing trees are not a native production. If we are truly informed, the work has been substantially performed, and if so we may expect fewer breaks than along the Atlantic routes, where storms of great violence are of much more frequent occurrence. As to the interference of hostile Indians, we anticipate nothing of the sort The route is that which the Pony now, alas ! no more, a passing cheer to his memory ! —was wont to take, except that he used to cut direct from St. Joseph to Fort Kearney, while the telegraph sweeps around by Omaha City, in Nebraska. From Fort Kearney it stretches to Julesburg, to Fort Laramie, to Fort Bridger, to Great Salt Lake City—which is the Government road, the mail route, and the great emigrant highway. From Great Salt Lake City it pushes over the Simpson route to Ruby Valley, to Fort Churchill, Carson City, Genoa, Placerville and Sacramento. Of the whole distance, full 2,000 miles may pass for a genuine wilderness. The two crowded on their work with an energy worthy of the magnitude of the enterprise, the Eastern people reaching at Salt Lake a few days ahead, and on the 24th of October, 1861, the wires were connected and the first message transmitted from Washington to San Francisco.
The cost of construction is not, we suppose, a public fact; but "they say" that $200,000 will cover the cost from Carson Valley to Salt Lake City, and the same figure must have put it through from that point eastward to the connection. In return they have, without any question, a guarantee in the California State subsidy, and the Congressional grant, of ten per cent of the cost yearly, for ten years, to say nothing of the use for 10 years, of the land for stations, where a ten years' use conveys substantially a vested right forever. If the tariffs will pay the expenses of maintaining the wire in working order now, it must yield a handsome profit as soon as the people have fully awaken to the advantages its use affords them.
It was the original intention to make St. Louis the Eastern terminus or distributing point of the Pacific news, but the rebel disturbances in Missouri have made it necessary to take it from Omaha City across Iowa and upper Illinois to Chicago. While St. Louis was intended as the distributing point, the expectation was to reach New York by Cincinnati, Wheeling and Harrisburg; or if that line were out of order, by Chicago, Cleaveland or Buffalo; or, if that, too, were down, by New Orleans and Richmond. With Chicago as the terminus, the route will generally be either by Pittsburg, or be Cleaveland and Buffalo.
There have been before now messages sent direct and instantaneously from St. Paul, in Minnesota, to New York a circuit of 1,500 miles. Telegraphers believe that with the lines in perfect connection, the atmosphere clear and dry and the batteries in full force, a message might clear the Continent at one bound from New York to San Francisco; but the atmospheric conditions seldom are sufficiently favorable over the whole 3,000 miles to allow of such a feat, and the "connections" never are perfect, and what we have said above about the "Nations" will show why, practically, that can never be done—except by way of experiment—even if the powers of the air were willing. Each "Nation," for the sake of securing its share of the tariffs, has its wires separated from those of each other, so that a message must pause at the centre of each to be placed upon the wires of the next—and meanwhile the lightning baits [sic] at the batteries. Hence a message sent from New York to San Francisco is expected to be repeated four times on the way—at Pittsburgh, Chicago, Omaha City and Salt Lake City. Yet the rapidity with which these repetitions are effected by experienced operators is so astonishing that it is scarcely necessary to modify the term that we usually apply to the through transmission of "instantaneous."
