[Newspaper]
Publication: The Gleaner: And Northumberland, Kent Gloucester and Restigouche Commercial and Agricultural Journal
Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada
vol. 10 New Series, no. 25, p. 9, col. 1-3
HEAD QUARTERS OFFICE,
Fredericton, April 19, 1851
The following Communication was received to the issue of the last HEAD QUARTERS, but our columns were is such a crouded [sic] crowded state we were obliged to defer its publication. It is now published, in its present form, at the instance of parties concerned: —
[FOR THE HEAD QUARTERS.]
The following is a brief summary of the proceedings had between the people of Miramichi and Richibucto, relating to establishing a line of Telegraph from the Bend to Miramichi: —
Some time in November last Messrs. Weldon and DesBrisay, being at Miramichi, the subject of a line of Electric Telegraph from Miramichi to the Bend of Petitcodiac was discussed with George Kerr, Esquire, and it was agreed that lists should be handed round in Miramichi and Richibucto, to ascertain what stock would be taken. The list, accordingly in Chatham, was headed in the following words. —
"The subscribers being impressed with the importance of having a line of Electro-Magnetic Telegraph, to connect the Northumberland section of the Province with the line of Telegraph passing through the Bend of Petitcodiac, agree to pay the sums set opposite their respective names, in such Proportions and at such times as the Directors hereafter to be elected may determine, for the purpose of erecting a line of Telegraph from Richibucto to Chatham — it being expected that the line will be brought from the Bend to Richibucto. The subscriptions hereto not to be called in till such amount as will complete the line from Chatham to the Bend be subscribed, either as one direct line or as that Part of the line between Chatham and Richibucto, as the Directors to be chosen may determine upon. The stockholders to be formed into a company, by act of incorporation. The amount of stock to be £1000 between Chatham and Richibucto. When half that sum is subscribed a meeting of subscribers and others to be called."
And the Richibucto list headed as follows: —
Whereas it is proposed to erect a Telegraph line of communication from the Bend of Petitcodiac to Chatham, and that a company be formed to erect the line from the Bend to Richibucto, We, therefore, the undersigned, being desirous of seeing a communication, so desirable, established, do hereby agree to take stock in the same, in shares of ten pounds each, and so soon as a sufficient number of shares are subscribed (say seventy shares) a meeting of the stockholders to be called, to devise the best steps to be taken to procure an act of incorporation, and to have the line built as early in the ensuing summer as practicable.
"Richibucto, December 9, 1850."
On the 14th December a communication from Messrs. J. M. Johnson, Jr., M'Cully and Fraser. behalf of the Miramichi stockholders, was addressed to Messrs. Weldon and DesBrisay, recommending the extension of the line beyond Miramichi, and to commence opperation [sic] operation at once. To this Messrs. Weldon and DesBrisay objected, and declined to do more than to contract for the posts until the parties were incorporated. So the matter rested until the third of February, when Messrs. Johnson and Mackie on behalf of the Miramichi stockholders, met Messrs. DesBrisay and Wark, at Richbucto, when the following preliminaries were agreed upon: —
1. That there should be one company for the whole line from Chatham to the Bend.
2. A scale by which stockholders were to vote, number of directors, and place of meetings.
3. Power to extend the line to the Northward.
4. Messrs. Weldon and J. M. Johnson, Jr., to prepare the bill of incorporation.
Mr. Weldon, being in Fredericton, prepared a bill, which he placed in the hands of Mr. Johnson, and the same has passed into a law.
It was further agreed, that the getting of the posts, Hackmatack or Cedar, should be by tenders, and tenders to be received till February 22d. The size of the posts to be 25 feet long by 6 inches diameter at the top, free of bark — 30 to the mile.
Upon this agreement public notice was given, and tenders for the posts from the Bend to Richibucto to be sent to the Committee at Richibucto; and for the posts between Richibucto and Chatham, to the Committee at Miramichi. Tenders were made for the posts from the Bend of Petitcodiac to Richibucto, at one shilling per post, and accepted.
A correspondence then took place between Mr, Johnson, on behalf of the Miramichi, and Mr. Weldon, on behalf of the Richibucto subscribers, which are as follow: —
[No. 1.] Richibucto, 20th February, 1851.
MESSRS. JOHNSON & MACKIE,
When at Fredericton, last week, I was recommended by the Presidents of the different Electric Telegraph lines to send an order to the Quenagamond Iron Wire Works, at Worcester, Mass., for wire for our line, as it is necessary orders should be in some three or four months before the wire is required. The wire for the line between Saint John and Fredericton being from these works is very much superior to that between Saint John and Nova Scotia line. The price is 7 1/2 cents per pound. I wrote Mr. Washborn to say, that we should erect a line the ensuing spring 90 miles in length, and that upon my return home would, probably, send him an order for the whole or part of the wire. My object in addressing you is, to ascertain your views upon the subject, and whether it would be advisable to order the whole, so as to have it here by June. If we defer doing so the delay in getting wire will retard the progress of the work until late in the summer.
The bill will not become law to enable us to organize before the end of March, but if we expect to get wire here by June no time should be lost in giving the order. Mr. Wark concurs with me, and I hope you may, so that an order may be sent at once.
I had a conversation with several members, and feel quite confident we shall get a grant of £250 to assist us in our work.
I am,
Your obedient servant,
J. W. WELDON.
[No. 2.] Miramichi, 25th February, 1851
J. W. WELDON, ESQ.,
Sir, — I m in receipt of your favor of the 20th instant, to Mr. Mackie and myself, respecting the Electric Telegraph matters, and the former suggested the propriety of my informing you that the Committee purpose being out at Dickens’ on Thursday first, at 12, m., in order to let at auction, to the lowest bidder, the furnishing of posts for the line from Richibucto to this, — where, probably, your Committee would meet us, and where we could consider all matters connected with the undertaking.
Your Tenders were very high, averaging over 64s. per mile, and otherwise very loose and vague in their nature.
Some of the stockholders think the line would be best let at auction (and I am inclined to agree with them), and say, if we were to import the wire &c. they can be got cheapest in Britain — the wire at 1 1/2d per pound — which, if correct, would enable it to be laid down here at 2 1/2d to 3d per pound at most. The glass and other materials, no doubt, may also be get fully as cheap in Britain as the States.
Mr. King's suggestion, as mentioned by Mr. Wark, to dispense with iron altogether and to drive the glass tubes into a post in lieu, is well worth consideration.
We have called in 10 per cent. of our stock, which is pretty well paid up. How are you progressing?
Have you had any communications with the directors of the Halifax and Saint John Telegraph line, respecting the terms upon which our contemplated line would be allowed to send on &c. &c., and what? If not, it is highly requisite we should ascertain at once. Will you please say, by return, if you do not conclude upon meeting us.
What did your posts cost, and are you supplied for the line to the Bend? We should like very much to have a copy of the intended act of incorporation. Can you furnish us with one? If not, the terms of it?
I am rejoiced to hear that you are so confident we shall obtain a grant of £250 from the Legislature.
Hoping to have the pleasure of meeting you at Dickens’
Believe me to be,
Yours respeetfully,
JOHN M. JOHNSON.
[No. 3.] Richibucto, 27th February, 1851.
J. M. JOHNSON, ESQ.
DEAR SIR, — In reply to your’s of the 25th ult., I regret you have not been successful, regarding your posts. Ours are taken for one shilling the highest — not barked; it is found to be unnecessary as the bark falls off in three years.
We do not think letting the line by auction will be found to answer. If a contract be taken we must employ some one to superintend it, and we should not deem it advisable to let anyone have it who is not somewhat acquainted with the subject. The best criterion for us to go by is, the line from Saint John to Fredericton. The latest improvements have been made and the best materials used. In regard to wire, the Presidents of the companies at Saint John and Fredericton strongly recommend Worcester wire, of the best quality, 7 1/2 cents. per pound in Worcester, which would make the line cost about £18 to £20 per mile. We consider safe to adhere to that course which experience has proved to be the best, rather than strike out in a new mode, which, in the first instance may be cheaper, but in time much the dearest.
I have had no particular communication with the Directors of the Saint John line, as to the terms we are to join. There are certain rules, I believe, laid down in countries where the Telegraph is established, and I apprehend the Saint John office will be governed by these. I am quite certain a liberal spirit will be manifiested [sic] manifested by these lines. I do not feel authorized to make terms. This is done by the directors when appointed under the act. I have no copy of the act. It is similar to the Saint John act.
We do not think it advisable to have English wire ordered for our line. It has been found not to answer, and the Worcester wire is used both in Canada and the United States, in preference to English. If English wire be ordered and found not to answer, it will be a loss, while, procuring it from Worcester, we can get what we want, and if we pay a little more we are certain of it answering the purpose intended. If we get a line constructed from untried materials we run a risk of having line which may work but imperfectly, and constantly getting out of order.
We shall adhere to ordering wire from Worcester, for the line from the Bend to Richibucto.
I am,
Yours &c.
J. W. WELDON
[No. 4.] Miramichi 1st March, 1851.
DEAR SIR, — I have just received your favor of the 27th ult., and have merely time to say that we regret you did not meet us at Dickens’, where we remained till 5 p. m., and where these matters could have been fully canvassed over. We are sorry to differ with you in opinion, but the wire used in England for Telegraph purposes must surely be as good as that used in the Union, and will not cost us here more than half the price.
We let the getting of our posts all cedar, 21 feet long, 4 1/2 inches diameter at the small end, at less than 9d. per post. The whole line from our to your Post Office will not cost more than £58 for posts.
We approve of the principle of letting the insulators into the posts, and we strongly recommend also, cedar for posts. We have one 10 per cent. all paid in but £9.
I send you copies of our notice, where you will perceive a meeting of our stockholders will take place in Chatham, on Monday next, at 4 p. m.
Believe me to be,
Most respectfully yours,
JOHN M. JOHNSON.
[No. 5.] Miramichi March 5, 1851.
J. W. WELDON, ESQ.,
DEAR SIR, — At the meeting of the stockholders here, on the 3d instant, the committee submitted your letters to them, and their report suggesting the following enquiries for their consideration: —
1. If they wished the Telegraph to go in operation in the spring ?
2. If they intended to erect it themselves, or let it by contract ?
3. Whether they thought it advisable to import the materials, and from where ?
4. If they approved of the plan of letting the insulators into the posts ?
In answer to these enquiries a resolution was passed, "That the committee order the wire insulators &c. from Britain, to be out in the spring, and on receipt of invoice to call in sufficient instalment [sic] installment to meet the payment of it."
The committee recommended its being let by contract, stating they felt perfectly satisfied they could get it erected in a substantial manner, and put in good working order for £500, that is £12 16s. 5d. per mile.
The stockholders prefer the line being let by contract, but do not wish to do more than is absolutely necessary until incorporated, and Directors appointed, and have only come to this conclusion to save time.
They all concur in opinion, that it can be got as good in Great Britain, and much cheaper than elsewhere, and wished you to be made acquainted with their resolution.
We contemplate the posts being cut on two sides to 4 inches, the insulators to be 3 inches long, by 1 1/4 inch diameter, the bore or hole of the insulator 2/3 or 3/8 inch, and put in the post. The wire, No. 9. If the whole line could be erected at the same rate as we can contract for the one from Richibucto to be built for, say 1150, I think it would not fail to be a paying line the first year.
As we have ample stock subscribed to build the whole line, I should not think it advisable to let in any other stockholders, but to leave it for the board to decide when fully incorporated.
It is intended the order shall go home for the wire &c. next mail. Will you please say if we should provide one or two batteries.
Believe me to be,
Yours respectfully,
JOHN M. JOHNSON.
P. S. All wire will be galvanised as soon as the battery is applied to it.
[No. 6.] Richibucto, March 6, 1851.
J. M. JOHNSON, ESQ.
DEAR SIR, — I am in receipt of your favor of yesterday. A meeting of our stockholders took place on Monday last, when the correspondence which had passed between us was submitted to them.
We feel anxious to have the line in operation as early in July as practical, but we regret that seeing the wide difference which exist between your views and ours, the act of incorporation had not been for each line to be kept separate, and separate companies for Miramichi and Richibucto. We entertain no hope of getting a good substantial working line for a less sum than £18 per mile, and to be guided by the experience of those companies who have built lines within the Province. We cannot believe that if the wire from England was equal to that manufactured in the United States, but that the St. John and Fredericton Companies would have adopted it, particularly if it could be obtained for one half the price. Nor do we consider that the posts 21 feet by 4 1/2 inches will answer. We consider that although the line may be more expensive in the first instance, yet, the annual repairs will be much less than one constituted as you mention, and that in the end the cheap line will be the dearest. We are forced to this conclusion from the information we have obtained from those who are engaged in the lines now erecting through the Province.
Under these impressions, we shall apply for a separate act of incorporation. It will prevent further difficulty in taking care of each line. We intend procuring all our batteries from the States. They will be more conveniently obtained and probably quite as cheap.
I am,
Yours,
JOHN W. WELDON
The first deviation from the agreement is the insulators and posts, and that on the part of the Miramichi committee; wire ordered and everything done without regard to the views or wishes of the stockholders in Richibucto. When was it agreed that the stockholders in each district should build their respective sections? It was agreed that one company should be formed, and the committees to superintend the carrying out of the work at each end of the line, but it was never contemplated that different posts, wire &c. were to be used at each end of the line; a uniformity was to be preserved, and it was under this impression that the subscribers of stock in Richibucto agreed to have the line under one management, and by one act of incorporation. But when they discovered that the Miramichi committee undertook to alter the size of the posts, order wire, and adopt glass insulators, which is new and an experiment, without the committee in Richibucto being consulted on the matter, they saw a separate act was sbsolutely [sic] absolutely necessary.
Under these circumstances the stockholders at Richibucto feeling they were not to be consulted in the matter, determined if they had to erect their own part of the line, it had better be under their own management and control. The contract for posts from the Bend to Richibucto was taken according to the mutual undertanding [sic] understanding and express agreement of the joint committees, when they met on February 3d, so that the first infringment of the compact for a joint stock company commenced on the part of the Miramichi committee, by Tenders for posts of an inferior size, and sending orders for wire and glass materials, without the concurrence of the Richibucto committee.
After the communication from Mr. Weldon to Mr. Johnson, of the 16th March, and which was posted at Richibucto for Miramich on the 8th, no steps were taken by the stockholders at Richibucto until the 18th, when, no reply having been received, they forwarded to the members of the County a petition and bill for a separate act of incorporation. It is quite true, as discovered by a learned member from Northumberland, that both bills were in the hand writing of Mr. Weldon, but we are not aware that that militates against us.
We observe that it is stated by the honorable opponents of the bill, that each section is to build their part of the line; if that is the case, how are they to proceed under one act of incorporation? One part of the stockholders to build 54 miles from the Bend to Richibucto, and the other portion 39 miles from Richibucto to Chatham. The lines totally different as regards posts, wire, &c, and an experiment as regards the glass insulators. We are quite aware that a great proportion of the wire hitherto used on this continent is manufactured in Great Britain, but at the same time we are also of opinion that a superior article for Telegraphic purposes may be and is manufactured in the United States.
We have not had vanity enough to come to a conclusion without obtaining the best information upon the subject, and learn from the experience of others; nor do we prefer "paying the high price" and call upon the Miramichi stockholders for a contribution. We are willing the Miramichi stockholders shall have all the benefit of their experiment, but unwilling to run the risk of incurring the expense of failure.
We regret that we are compelled thus to come before the public, but the manner in which the subscribers for stock, at Richibucto, have been brought before the public, in the debates upon the rejection of the bill to incorporate the Richibucto Electric Telegraph Company, leaves no other alternative.
J. W. WELDON, Committee of
DANID WARK, }Richibucto
JOHN PALLEN, Stockholders.
Richibucto, April 8,1851
