IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) Y // {/ feT #? ^ //,,. ^^< f/. 1.0 I.I i.25 «- ilia •^ llllitt c 1^ jM 2.2 I4£ IIM 1.8 \A. Ill 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation \ ^^ ^9) V ^^ :\ \ v\^ 'f.- ;\ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^\^ ^ f/u :/. i CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques >M t""' A ei* ^^ Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The CO to the The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. □ Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ D Couverture endommagde Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur^e at/ou pellicul^e □ Cover title missing/ Le tit D D D D D itre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I — I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Raiii avec d'autres documents Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along interior margin/ Lareliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge intdrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela itait possible, ces pages n'ont pas ixi filmees. L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a ete possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-^tre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m^thode normale de filmage sont indiqu^s ci-dessous. n n E n n n Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagees Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurdes et/ou pelticul^es Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages ddcolorees, tachetees ou piquees Pages detached/ Pages d^tachees Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of print varies/ Quality in^gale de {'impression Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel supplementaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc.. have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., cnt 4td film^es d nouveau de facon a obtenir la meilleure image possible. The Im possib of the filminf Origia beginr the lai •ion, f other first Pi •ion, f or illut The la shall ( TINUE which Maps, diffen entire beglni right i requir metht Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplementaires; This copy is a photoreproduction. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmd au taux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmad here he* been reproduced thenks to the generoeity of: University of British Columbia Library L'exempleire film* fut reproduit grAce A le gAnArositA de: University of British Columbia Library The imeges eppeering here ere the best quelity possible considering the condition end legibility of the originel copy end in lieeping with the filming contrect specif icstions. Originel copies in printed psper covers ere filmed beginning with the front cover end ending on the lest pege with s printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — ^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les images suivantes ont 6tA reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition at de la netteti de I'exemplaire film*, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimis sont film6s en commengant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmds en commenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, seion le cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symboie V signifie "FIN ". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s A des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film* A partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 'sVErT? TO TIIK STOCKllOLDKlIS OF TlIM \VKS/-gitK UN'IOX (AND ^Js iiussiAN KXTKNsioN) TKuaniA'i^i-i |(;b:!BiW\RY ■\ STATEM OK TlIK (7^ ,'-"1 'V or TIIK \imm mm eit sssim, Callis!^' €)t?ei;kint^ '£mt VIA BEHRHIfi STRAIT AND ASIATIC RUSSIA TO EUROPE, t'ULLATi:i) AM) I'KKl'AKKI) I'KOM 01'I'M«I AI, DOCUMENTS ON FILE IN THH '"itussiAX i;ui:kai:" of tiih wkstkun union TKl.KOIlAIMl ("OMl'ANY, BY OUDKli OK TlIK nOAlCl) OK DlIlliiTOUS.- j:oc/icsU-i; y. v., Man, J SCO. 0. H. PALMER, Secretary. 'KVKNKNd KM'UK^H lliiiih AMi .lOJl J>lll.NTl>(i OKKK.'K. :0 '^■^ •■' "S^' nuci .-%■!. ij.M, W; [iriiiAM Si G. ir. .All D. A. W lIsAA(; Bu lEzKA Coi Anson S'j jiToiix ]>u' ROSNVKI.L L*KUIiV Xl Samuel A rRKi) Dji H. II. .Ale ^VlLMAM ,f. II. Wa ^VlM.IAM j). II. Ta; |\nson S'l Li. W. IL' ...4«i-i;yl ■ife'. ■^iA V7 /H ;,». :>./:;i,>v ■'■ ■'-1' ■ i - "V /i. .■ . fif r ■ ;/? • ■' .■;!;•■ 4 1" NAMES AND RESIDENCES OF TUE Hrcdars ujtb |)Sccrs -♦-♦- of tliz DIRECTORS. J. H. Waj)K, - ^ %, firiKAM SlltLKY, - IG. II. ]\rUMFOJil>, [D. A. Wa'ISOX, - I IISAA(; BuiTS, - • h [EZUA CoKNKI.L, Anson Staiji-Ji:, [rTonx ]>u'n"i:iiKiKLi), ROSWKLL S. IJuiJIiUWS, I'euky XlcT). Collins, Ha.'^iuel Wilpeu, rRKl> DkLaXO, n. l\. iMcALriXK, ^VlLLIAM OliTOX, OFFICERS. r. II. Wadio, rrcsidcitt^ - . . . jkViM.iAM OuTOx, vice Preside/it, [). ir. pALMiai, Scrrctitri/ and Trcaim}'e)\ .xsox Staoeu, Gcncnd Siqto'hilcndeut^ Lr. W. Balcii, Assistant Superintendent. Clcveliuul, O. lloclicstcr, "N". Y, KoclK'ster, N. Y. Itocliostcr, N. Y. Kofliestor, N. Y. Itliuc'ii, X. Y. ' Clcvc'latul, O. Ivochestor, N". Y. Utica, N. Y. Albion, N. Y. New York, liochestor, N. Y. liochoster, N. Y. KoclR'stcr, N. Y. Xew York. ClevclaiKl, O. New York, liochester, N. Y. C'levelund, (). Uochestcr, N. Y. -♦••- CAPJiTAEL, - 028,000,000. „a,; A A A A B m B CI c (; c ill Ca (V CI K V. II H li .1: K L -C 1 > 1 i 1 1 1 > t f 1 1 , 1 <:^^''^o^ '/?, LIBRARY I K^. 0\ I ]Sr I> E 2S^^PH c/ -♦•♦- I'tgn A^rcomont with Prussian Telegraph Department 'j-* Abusu, Sorgo, roiito of lino in Siberia r**"nrt m Authorities, local, to co-operate ^''^i ^^l„. Anossotf, Major Paul, commissioner Bulkley, C. S., to O. H. Palmar *' '• Local Authoriti(!s " " Keport construction of line « " Expedition <* *' Engineor-in-Chief ; |; IJritish Columhia, laws in regard to telegraph ^^^'i ||'| !!!!"!""!!Z! ut lot liii 11 ;> it (1 (1 special Ports of (iiitry. Materials free of duty. Burton, lion. A. A., U. S. Minister at Bogota, letter, etc 1^2 Congress, If. S. Steamer detailed ^•'j, «< .Hon. John Cochrano's report .' n it it rep Hon. M. S. Latham's report. S\irvey of North Pacific ' ji P. McD, Collins, petition to y Collins, P. McD., lecture ^^ •' " Memorial to Senate ^\ *< " (Jrants 54, r.7, W' " *« Transfer '■> «« " Letter to Xarsackoft*. ^^} Capital Stock W. U. T. Co - " " Extension j] China li-lograph linos IT), 1:50, l-jl, \'"'~ Cfutrul Anu;rica tele!;;rai)h lines ^^) ^'"'i ,,*• , I>1 7.*". 40 m 8(i z„ ^>< I (( t( Cli.'fkin, H. E., to Mr. Collins Chandler, Hon. Z., to Sec'y Seward ('ertificate, formation of Company (^onslantine, H. I. H., (iraiid Duke, national vos.sel Clay, Gon. C. M., U. S. Minister Kx tension liine, organization " Earnings 1'' Telegraph to China U^O, i;il, lo2 ' " South America 1=|'5 Crants— Russia, England, United States o4, 57, DO Hudson Bay (Jomjiany, ai Karsaekolf, H. K., Gov. Gen. Eastern Siberia, to Mr. Collins... 104 Local autiiorities HV), iiO, 01 X2'2S9'i I I ' Lcotiiro 01 -Mors*., i'r JiliU'.'i-iiil.s ^Mi'lnikotr, , 2s'nvul vcs: ■■■1 PaluuT, O li (< jPl;in, dhw J " 01 i " Lc aliussiun A; >fliiili'.s and |SiHTi'tary ( |Stat,'ci', (Jc; u "utli Anio ^tcanu'i's, r 1 bibloy, H., n tt Pol^toy, 11. «♦' (( <( i( t'nitcd .Stilt ^'fSScIs in Si " Owi " Kus . " Del; IVad.', J. H u j 4 [Lcoturo on ov<'rljuul telo^Tftph, Collins i"l*l 2iroxiv;o, toK'<,'rai.h in \"r"v\'i i lo :^lors(.. Pn.tossor, to Mr. Collins ".'.'.' ' ' nr [MnV.'nnU I'or t-on.siniction '[[]'[ 1,V iMos^llLJCS, Villlio'of 1^ IMi-lnikoti; llus>iun grant ..'.'.'.'.'.'..'.'. i^ LNaval vessels ^"^ joiruors w. u. T. cV)!Z/r.vz///.3;.v";; ^i " Kxli-n.sion, land and sea..,]....'. ,7 Ori,^ani/ali()n and terms of tninsiVr. 7 iPaimer, o ii., Secy, to (jratui i>ukj c^n^ianun;:::::::::;:;:::::: go liinkloy ' g., I' '' " J^nl^ti of Somerset. ..**.". , ,. ; _" Minister Clay „o Plan, direction of line • . iKiwsia, grant to Collins.....'.".*.*! t'l " ofsioamor ■.*.'.*. ', ^^ " Oiruvr sent on line ,^'' '; Looal Anthorities ,*.'.'.' uV" a r 7 lllussiaii Ameriean Co to Col 'T^nl'l"V>V.'"*'V ,* "'"^i ^^' ''^ Kules and liegulatif Xuvv dct''ii*i'r'.'f "T"*v;"urv, <' (( ^"1 |Stager, (Jeneral An.on, to Bulklov... ' «- |.Vward, Uon. W. 11., to Senate^Conunitt!.;' ]' ?onth Amerieui telo.^r;'']';:' •',;'"" ''' '^'^^^^'^^'^^ ia South Ame;ica::: l;54 kcamors, river and "coast servic'e ^^' !$ Lni " ,,^'^^"ill-'J h- ^'- S- and ku's*si*a.*. .*.■.*; 14 f>Jbley, II., to .^Ir. Collins ;; U r.i f'l ir r)^'^''"'''''''*''*'' ^^'''^' ^'^i'>-^iHn'C(n*e*r*m^^^^^ m ij, il.^ J.., to JVh. Collins, Jlussian Commissioner 105 « « ,, ' I^i'tail of Steamer y>ian Telegraph j).'i::.nme;;t::::::::::;:::;::::: j^ LV '^^;"'7'''>\l'-«-andKu>si:. Jl ^Vade, J. if., i're>ident ■'^ '« 1! !,' J" l'/'*!"'^ ^^"'^'^ ^'u''«tHntTne.'.'.".'.*.'*.!!.*.*.'!'.".]"*'.'' 80 „ „ I'O l>uk(; of Somerset 93 Chinese Telegraph '^^''^m^in^ 132 \ I I' 1 * I! f', ili I^t If'i i 'I *'cD. Collins, in respect tTSeR^. An?n,^"5 ^"V't^ S"''""^' ^*^" ^ telegraph line connecting the reSutbnT;^^;1 '^'''"^'" '^'''^ '^' ^'""^^"° I'^'^-^"^^^^ ^'^^ Brllw'i;^ F^^^^"l' P^Viotor of the Russian and bnt,.h grants for a tolc-raph line connecting the American and oLuropean systonis of tolegrai)bs by the^vay of BoS ti^n^- 'n nf I'^^'-T^ -^o/^V\^onipany1t propoiion fm he ti3,,uci' of his rights and privileges under said -rants, to this Company, m the words and %u?es following, to w?t : JO the r/estcrn Union » ^ •». Tclcyraph Com2xini/ : EuroDO Ifinrl ^r^^r..^^^ ' %• ^^^^Ing just rctumcd frottl i^o^T; Ji • V ^ '"? i" ^""''^'^^ ^^ ^^'"^w» ^s I J^^^^ prom. • "f 1' T^y ^"«"^^^ proposition dated London, 2yth Septe nber IS.o in regard to the Overland North Pacific Teleo^raph ' I have now al that can be required in order t"o connect tne American with the European system of tele-ranhs-both . the Russian and British grants. ^ wie^raphs-both \\ I sha; wlik'h V stances interest of tlio p active o All A ini,' out ever for under tl I iiav( Xorth ] Knioii '1 may ])c hnation ( the We: jknowled Tliou^ hiot recju i iiavt LsutHcienl (answer i mee of t [•any, l)u services : Ineutione ?nter|»ris >elleviMositi( transfer ( ileL;-()tiati' OLliei'wist and will ] tion (»f ill 8to(-k for [1><)U and The \)i-i < -a th(! nu tlie 1( lasis of s of tlie lin I shall notvnrymy ]>roposit;on oxoopt in ono p.artlculur, whu')i will 1)0 Ibuiul ill the aLh cluiiso. The imiu-ovod circum- stances of the c:iso justifies im- in this, in iv<{uirin^' a lar^^cr Hitoivst in the nndcrtiikinn:, under :i more juM-lcct mili/.at'ion oi the plan. It is now all that can be desired, as the l)asis of active orgjinization. _ All future ex])enses in and about tlui ])roin()ll()n and carry- ni.i,' out the enteri)rise, to he paid hy the Association, in what- ever lonn It may take, either as :m independent C\)mi>any, or under the tx^'neral iH)wers of the Western Union Company. 1 have thought that it would he better to construct tlu^ North Pacitie Line under tlie organization of the Western tniou Telegraph Company for many reasons; among wliii-li 'may be stated: time and money saved incidental to "the for- niation of a new Company— the exj.erience, faith and credit of the Uestern Union, ])roinptness of action, and a thorough knowledge of what is requisite in sucli an enter])rise. I Though I desire to come to a iiual understanding, yet I do not recjuire action without all due consideration on'^-our ]>art. I ijiave thought that lifteen or twenty days would give Isutlieieat time for deliberation, yet I would suggest tliat^ an lanswer in ten days would be ])etter for all concenicd. P. Mrl). CX)LL1NS. And ir}tc)-('((s: This Company, imjn-essed with the import- mce ot the enterprise thus olfered to it, not oidy to this (Jom- lany, but to the whole commercial Avorhl, and ajipreciating tlie #ervices rendered by ]\Ir. Collins in securing the grants above Jiu'iitioned, which have only been (d)tained'by Ids labors and Enterprise through a series of years in both hemispheres, and f>elieviug that the terms ])roposed by Mr. CVllius to this Com- |)auy are ns liberal as justice to himself will peiinit: It is I JU\^ Hochciitcr^ N. K, March 24, 18G4. j Westekx IFxroN TKi.Et;isArn Co., Jioci To the Htov.kholdcra of the Western Uuiox, 7elef/ra2)h Coinpuny : The grand enlerpriso of uniting Europe and America l)y overland Telegraphic comnuinication by way of lieliring Strait, has been inaugurated under the auspic(!H of tliis Coni^ jKiny. The great importance of the imdertaking, if succetss- fully aecomplislied, as it is believed it will bo, not only to this Comi)any but to the commerce and civilization of the world, can hardly be over-estimated. For the last ei<,dit years Peiiuy jNIcD. Coltjxs. Esq., Ignited States Commercial Agent for the Amoor lliver, Asiatic Rus- sia, and late Acting Consul at St. Petersburg, IJussia,has been pressing the subject assiduously and indeiatigably upon the attejition of the Russian Government, and has finally obtained its favorable consideration, and has secured from that (Jov- ernment, as well as from the ]>ritish Government, highly favorable grants and ])rivileges. These valuable grantsTand l)rivilegos have been made over to your Company. I cannot, within the bi-ief limits of a circular, give a de- tailed statement of the rights secured, or of the terms of the transfer to this Company. I'he liussian (Government undertakes to construct a line from St. IVterslnirg to tl»e nunith of the Amoor Kiver, in Kastern Asia, a distance of about seven thousand iniles; and It has.already built the line as far as Irkoutsk, on Lake Baikal, nearly three-fourths of the distance. It is to be taken uj) by this C<)mpany at the mouth of the Amoor, .and continued by way of Hehring Strait, till it shall intersect the juvsent liiu's ol the Company .at sonu* point between Cliicago and the I'acitio Coast. The .action of tlie JJritish Government in respect to IJritisli Columbia, has been liberal and lionorable. The grants and concessit>ns from the Uussian (Joveniment are exclusive lor thirty-three years. Mr. C'oF.i.r.vs retains the right to onc-tcnth i>art of tlie new stock created for the construction of the line, free from call or assessment, as paid-ui> «ton the same footing as other subscribers. He is also to receive as compensation for his services and exptMises during the ci;(lit years engaged In Hocurin- tlic i; grants, the sum of one hundred Uiousand doll ars, which will ] J .„:.. S lu'^v i ' 9 as i\': fl wouh ^B 'I '^ m the 111 9 oil til fl hitioi fl deuoi 9 ^tnic 9 the 11 9 iieiit> 1 ,1,0^ 9 ness 9 I'oeei 1 \\Vsi 9 venie a upon 9 ot'siu 9 ot'sai 9 ^vhh m he (li tllU SI #- 8 l)c :i cluirLj;*^ uiK)n Iho fuml urlsIiiLj iVoni the creation of tlic lU'W or ICxtcusion Stock. Tlu'Si' tonus were Relieved ]»y iho Board of Directors to l)e as reasoiial)le on the part oi'-Mr. Collins as justice to himself would warrant. For the jjurpose of accomplishing the object aimed at in the most speedy and efficient manner, the IJoard of ])irectors OR tlie 18th day of 3Iarch instant, as authorized by tlio Charter of the Company, unanimously adopted the following reso- lutions : 1. 7iV,W/vlr((7, That all persons who shall be sl\areholders in the AVesiorn I'nion Telegraj)!! Company at tlie close of busi- ness on the sixteenth day of May, isut, sliall be entitled to receive of tlic stock hereby created, an amount e(|ual to fifty per cent, of the stock then held by them res])ecli\ cly in the Western I'nion Telegraph Com{)any (excluding for the <'on- venieut'c of distiibntion and to avoid trad ions, all ovld shari'S,) Uj)on the i)aymcnt by them to this Com]»any of tlu^ ])ar value ot' such stock, as hereinafti'r })rovided : — That twenty thousaiul of said special shares be set apart for ]*i:uuv i\b;l). Collins, Es(i., in ]>ursuance of the agU'cment made by this Company with said Ctu.LiNs, one-liall' of which is to be subject to no further ])aynu'nt or call; and that the residue of said shares l»e tlistrilnited to such ]K'rsons and in such atnounts as in tlie judgment of this IJoard shall seem ))est calculated to advance the substantial interest of this Company. ;{. Jicsuli'tily That tlic special stock hereby created, shall be entitled to no interest or dividend until the completion of said contem])lated line, and until a dividend shall be earneil thereon, aiul that the holders of said stoi^k shall have no right to vote thereon, at any eh^ction oi' ollicers of this Company, until the same shall have been paid up in lidl, or otlierwisc de- clared full stock, and shall liavc been made and declared to bo s In h^ at H t| If i lioinoMi'iK'ous ^viLh iho gc'iicral stock vi' thin Company as liciviiiatlcr })rovulcil. •I. Jiesolra/^ Tlial upon tlio conjplelion oftliosaid iu'W line, a s('[»arate and distinct accomit sliall l>c kept of tlic receipts anon all through mes- sages, passing over the contemplated new line; and that while said niiW line is in j)rocess of construction, and until tlu; same is completed, the same rebate upon the messages passing over such portions of the new line as shall be finished, shall be credited to the said s})ecial stock, and accounted lor as ])art of the revenue of said new line. 0. lu'.'iolci'd, That the Secretary be directed to give notice by a printed circular to the shareholders of this (Jomi>any, of the right and privileges secured to them respectively, of tak- ing their ]>roportion of the said special stock; anon the nominal or par value of the stock assigned to him, and shall reci^lve a certitlcate for said s^Kicial stock, showing the ni'inber of shares, the amount ])aid thereon, the s[>ecial character of the stock, and stating that the unpaid balance of said sliares shall be subject to call at the pleasure of this Board. 2 : i- .1 C'Ol ilc( tlu Cc Cc 111) til' t)V he iiil sii ;is on !y in • 10 8. Jimdocd, Tliat ill case any of the i)anios talun.c? such special .stock hliall neglect or retiiso to ])ay the said live per cent., or any suhsc(iuent instalment that may hereatler bo calU'd in, lor a period of thirty days after the same shall he- come due and payable, this JJoard shall have the n<;ht to tleelare such nni)aid stock to be Ibrteitcd, >vith all previous l)ayments made thereon, (if any,) and may sell and dispose of the same at its discretion. 0. iiV.s'o/m?, That the moneys to be paid to rKiiiiV McD. Collins, Ks(p, under the contract made with him by this Company for the transfer of his tyrants, be charged upon the fund arising from the new stock hereby created. I give the resolutions entire as best calculated to impart the information sought to be given by this circular. As a matter of 'interest to the stockholders, I would also menlion thai in view of the contemplated construction of the overland Kuroi)ean line of Telegraph, connecting the two liemisnheres, the stock of the Pacitlc Telegrai)h Company not owned by the Western Union Company has been merged into the stock of this Company, so that we_ now have but a single interest between the Atlantic and racifu; Oceans. Although the Ulth of May is the time fixed for determining as to the 'distribution of the new stock, yet I shall be glad to receive as early notice of the election to take or not to take on the part of the stockholders as may be practicable. Uespectfully, ifcc, O. II. PALxMEll, JScc'ij, The Extension Stock created by the Western ITnion C^om- pany for the construction of the Overland Line was all prompt- ly subscribed, and immediate steps taken to ])crfect the work- ing organization, and for a vigorous prosecution of the enter- prizc. 11 3 O 12, C3- -^ 3iTI 2: JL T I O I^ OF THE EXPEDITION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WESTERN UNION EXTENSION, COLLINS' OVERLAND TELEGRAPH. -♦••♦- OFFICEas O F THE EXPEDITION. The following is a list of tiic oflicers of the expedition :— CiiAiiLEs S; KuLKT.KY, Engineer-in-Chiof. Ijand Senncc. FrAXK X. WiCKKR, Ciiicf. Hkxuy 1\ FisiiKii, Surgcon-in-Clnef. Srorr S. CiiArrEL, Chief Quartermaster. (4ko. M. Wiac.iiT, Adjutant and Secretary. .Ton\ K Lkwis, Chief Drauglitsnian. FrwEDiournc Wiiymi-eij, Artist. Kl'okxk K. LAuouoir, Cliicf Interpreter. Lawukxck Coxux, Chief Carpenter. American Division, KoMuxD CoxwAv, Chief. J. W. PiTFiKr.n, Agent at Xew Westminster, B. C. K A. A. ]Jirj.ixr.s, Assistant Quartermaster. IIexry Klt.ioit, Clerk. FuAxic L. PoPK, Chief of Explorations British America. .T. TiiiMiiLK KoTiiROCK, First Assistant. .Tames L. Buti.er, Second Assistant and Quartermaster. Ralimi W. 1>ope, Clerk and Operator. Ror/r. Kexxicutt, Chief of Explorations Russian America. VVm. If. KxNis, First Assistant. TiroAfAs C. ])i.:xxisox, Quartermaster. Lkv/ir F. «reex, Engineer in charge of steamer Lizzie ilorner. ]m V'- 12 Skuck AiiASA, Chief. (iiio. Kkxnox, (iiiaiaormastor and Secretary. J. A. .ArAiioois Chief of Kxi)loratii)us Lower Siberia. RicirAKi) J. Bi'sii, Secretary .'ukI (Jnarlermaster. Cou.ivs 1.. MAcitAK, Chief of Kxi>h.rations T'i,|,er Siberia. A. S. Ai:.voi.i., (^larternmster. Alk.v. IIaudkx, Interpreter. ^nnv'^,?[^^''''^".''''H'"''''^ ^'=^^'^ ^'^^" "'1J'<^ ^''^itea states A ,Vl W-T''"' '" »t imsitions (lurin-the lal*. war. C lone Wicker eatercd the nnny in May, Isr.T, as a lienti.,^ iosM^viron ' r-'"''' "•-"'•^^ <>n!<-<'rs, Avhicli l>raneh <.f lo serv .1 w i'''''''V ^^'•'^•\'."c<»n>orat<.,l in the re-nhar arn.v. Vi' .'i' i\ I V; • T'^\'''':^'\ ^I'-'^'-.U-J^ -^^'veral c.-unpaii.n.s in C^^oU^^^^ '']-/'' the hattl(^s of Winchester, Antietan,, eon i .Mr ' =;i'<\/^/;tt.VshMri,, an.I .vas nu,re than onc^ '!'""': ;^^ * '" '""''^ '•>' ^--.nnK-unlino- ..-enerals for <- Snhse<,nentlv h<. was un 1 ^ r ^^'■'•' '^^'I^'-l-''^''^^' toinstn.ct tlie .M-ississI,.,.! c' Z-i ;,•';;'■'''" '^'^^*'^' signals, and was on Adnnnl ' del ; n '! '" ^''^^ ;!">P--^>U-'» on the Tennessee river, whl.-h V^cl^i ir"''""^'^^^^^ 1'^' ^•^^^■"•'^"1 in linn, to •in I i' . r ^IT^'^^>''^ ■•'.^'••ii"-^t M<>l>ile. Dr. I'isher was • in s V f ;„^^ ^^ '''-''' ^^'^^-^ li<"ntenant of artillerv ; Cou- <• Tev s n >, •" ' ^"?^" '''■^'•' ^''^''^^'Murntiy seven years <.n - n n , f""^^"''\'?'l'^ ^ "-^^^^ y^".-^'-s in the late war, havino- now -w.M hileir:, Massachnsetts renin.ent at Hanover .1, nc- s .;;/:. =^1V;:^^'^^^ -li<.ntenantin the Third Massachn- i.Mvf nr n> »•.->'' '•I niK. (oips, j ittieM Ava^ m the same corns ami l,"u'<';.j''''" <-""""^""l«-». wore com„u.n,lo.l Ibi- i.'atriotisn, Til,. ..nlii-c work is ii, ,.I,..„-s-,. of Col,>ncI Charles S I!u1H,.v " ry 'rs';,A'i:'"" '■;'"""^ ;•"••""; ''"•^'""■' =^ - -'•■'"■iV - - I 13 fif When Colonel r.ukloy, then cai)tain In the nrmy, ^vas cillod ako connr.:uu of this oxpoaition as CM,^.in<>o r-'in-chicr in ISG he was m c-har-c of the military tclo-rapli svstcMn in th Southwest, iu.dor connnand of MajoK^enel-d^ a^k Un^ • ™1t^:^^ iH^T,''^-^' VV--^ SuperintJnaii^r of in t o mosf .nt? ; . ^'^ iok-raphs, his duties were dischai-ed ni tlic juo^t satisfactory manner, and by his ino-cnuitv untinnr. perseverance and con.plete knowIed\,e oriZnS^^^ Greatest periectron was attained in this In-amU "of o m-' war vo^k'wi 1 'ar"' '' "^'"^ y^;'-' ^'^'' -' ^-- ^-^ hold of ^,?; sl.ccess! ''''"^^^' '"'^ ^^^-^'l^^owledo-c which promised On t],e loth of Doocmher, Lsni, (^olonel IJulkley accomna- nu by a numlKM- of the members of tlio expedition' IcT\ w ^oi-k, arrivmn: ni San Francisco Januarv I t i^-- nn {>;ut- attached to the expedition i:!^ a'i^ed^.^^^bi.W and hu been actu.o- under the instrn<.,tions tlu-y had re -eive ?^ . 'co 'on.;:'.'.^^ ^^:^^ Westndnster and ietm'u:?^ S i M urn r'o I >','.' •*^--''^''!'.^'''-'\^'<^ ^>^m Xew York sul,se. ^J.'HHtly, to join tne exj.ed.tuvn when it sailed f>-om San l^^-an- Captain C. ]\r. ScAAfNrov IT S V \\ f'];.r r ^T • \Wi?j;^|"' ^^- ■^' ^f'^'^^''-^, ^-onimnndiii- steamer (;eoi-^eS. A. 3r. (.\>vi.:uT, llnr/movv. Ca|!win m"!^ ^^' '^''^"' ^'^"^'"^"-^i"^ bark (lara Hell. j^^|^;M;Um MArrnKw Axmkusov, .<.onnnandin.,. bark II. L. /■aptaiuTiioArAsC. TrAm,iN<; r>adi;-er. C" I. C , commandlnt,^ schooner >[illnn c f > ^ ■^''"'' ^'""^'»'=^"<1'"^ ^^^'-I^ Palmetto. CH, tain'^^ ^^ '''''''^"''' '-"""••^'xJini,- (Golden (Jato. v..i])iani . ^ co7nmanany in the achievement of ti'.v.i- ielograi)li. The Russian Telegrai.h I)oi>artment has forw.arded tVom Jlamburg all the materials and two river steamers for the constnu-tiou of the Amoor Junction Telegraph, which com- pletes tlie line continuously to St. l^etersbirrg from the point ot junction witli the (V^mjtauy's line. In this service there .are lour vessels, vi/. : The Viflage Rell, Australia, San Fran- cisco, and Victoria. Insulators, brackets, instruments, tools, carts, wagons, etc., etc., a^nd twelve liundred miles of M'ire, were shipped from Ae\v York during isci and lS(;r>; subsistence and stores are furnished from San Francisco. 'Julius there are now in the service of the Com])any, .ind the Russian Telegraph Depart- nicjit, twenty-four sti-amers and vessels, as designated above, cillier engaged in active service or destined to''(to-operate in the achievement of tlie works for the com]>letion of a contin- uous Telegrai>h from the I'nitod States to I'hirope. 'I'he j.olcs for tlie line on ]»othsides of Rehring Strait have l>reM provided at, Fugi-t's Sound. They are of s^wed j-edar or red wood, aner ]>oiiits early this year. Oil the general route of the line, timber lor ]>oles will be found near at hand, or trans]>orted on M'ater courses to availa- ■a 15 •i 'i Accoi-ain- to the most rocont surveys, the whole G00 to ^>^oo Colonel VniMcy lias instrnctions to construct tlie line uttiie hc\uity-ei,i,rht (l,h) miles, and the scc()n( section across the W of Anadyr two liundred and nine (2()!)) miIc^s With the means and ibrces now emnloved, and posltivo ;,.. sti-uc ,<>ns to our ^:n.^^neer-in-Chiei• to ,L]i\1k. works on t, comp et.on witli tlie o,vatcst ene.-y an.l witliout d elay it is conhdont y expected that the line will be open and rSv W the re.j^ailar transmission of messages durin-.. the ycVr 1«G7 at larthest-probably duriii^- the year KsoG. " ^ '' and in While this Coinj)any is at work connectin.v Furone -i America throngli Asia,''teIeo-raph lines are be n^. ; ;?. .'^.t in s nterest,to connect China and Janan upon he' us • luc^iah system s now connecled wilh India throuo-]i l*,.,,;., and with the ^vh(,le system of Kuropcan teloo-rai-h; Con 'c ' Muenty, wlien tlio Kxtension line o " this Con nv^lrdrm -..]> oted, the eonimerce of the .hole of Km;^ "Ivj h' ,'^ A iTOiwsition to unite tiio whole ofSoutli Amo-'ioi ('.■ni.-,l •^^K 1 , ' ,-^'"'" '" ^'"^ "'""■•"" of tho i„vsunt ve:ir l.c it lo^ "^ ,"" '";•";, Vr 1''^"' '» '■-'-■'■" ^""i i..ti;..mv n ;. ili.no 1 , • -i^- tn ...v. v,o> vUhiiehts ill ►Soutli America Irive w SS^':?ialii'''^"'' '^"^^ "~ "- ^- '^'i-- X s ■■: ■; 16 Willi tlic i>rolun<;;itioii of u li no siihiuariiu! cubl can 1 c's aro lie .such as the one proposed nccess to >o united hy an ovorhiiul 1 >V(iuii-e.I; Xortliaiitl ,Soutli A li-y or any projected sub nie, and tlius tliore will he TJi u'o]>e. luariiie lines i'wm JSouth Ainei nienca no ica o completion of tlie .Soutli A witli our\ort]i A nicrican system connected •onuiicrce of tlie whole Avorld Jneriean system oftele-i-aplis, will ]>n„.. tl *vholo world ir.nn <]w/^u lV.„'::. v, "« V 10 On :. li. c o Hwo ^v In ,^, '? '''";^'"^ °" '^''" '^'■''•i<-'"'' ■va.4„al,iy"l.e , ,r a ' ;,> V'" V'F '"'■ •' 'Ii»l'-'t>^I> may be o,,o.. iii-lit an,! a'ly " "^'•''■'•""l I.>"<.-," our o/iiccs will cJiluato fo;:\h;\XSl" ''^'^ ^"■'^'?'^ '•^^'■''»' l-" -' over. nuTcial wo -la-to 4v ' " 1 V°'-'''->»l,'0'"l<--nco of tlio ,vI,ole c«,„. .lollars a y'u^^JJt .:„"•''''' '' •""""''' "'• '""o millions ...essac^os a a IV -i, ) «• . n '"A ^^^l"'.alo to five hundrca a l.alA rinio,'s^ol' >lh f l' 'l '' ''"yV * '■^™""" "'• '•^""' ^»J basis ol-two „u|, I , • iiav mo" ' "■'",'" '"'"f'^*' "" " tu;o and a .jaarlor millions of^Ioli:;;?""' " '^^^' '"'^ ''" '""•" t..o .-ocoip'tsMie. lo ;o;vL^;'i"°!nSr'"' ''''^ ""'• ^^"'- "'• l. ,t" various sections of il,.. ,,?^?., ■-•••'■'•' •;■•;■ -''i'Oi'rajiIiy <>( tho 1.;-, and to ^sun^U'thc^l^t r:.^';;:!?,r;;,,^^? -l^'"''"' "'" ciai pomt of view :— ' -"wvii>iibo m a commer- 17 A. HOUSE OF KErKKSKNTATlVKS, :;GT11 CONG., 21),S1-:SS10X. Uki'OKT Mo. 82.— [To accouipiiny JJill II. K. No. li'.KS.] SUKVEY OF THE NUliTlIEllN WATERS, COASTS, A.ND ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, ETC. -♦•♦- FKiJKUAuy 18, 1801. Mr. John Cociikane, from tlio Couimilteo on Coininorci'/ni:uk' tlio Ibllowiui^- iV[)ort: TliQ CoiiuiiUtee on. Coiumcrcc, to v:h(>j,i 7i\fs irfcrrcd the memonal of Pcnxj McD. Collws, dskljuj the aid of Con- , ijress, in order to iiKika a tliovoiojJi cvploratlon dud aaroci/ of the coa,^ts^ L^loxsrs.-hie union ol' Kurope with America^ overland via Asiatic iinssia and liehring's straits." ' ' Can this be .iceomplished V l^et us see: :i 18 :;.u-i„K «,ov/ sto,-ms^t,fJc'uii-f; ?•'•'''" ^■'^■'^'l-''' '""■'•^■"t. Ki.v ,u,i ;,„!„ tdc..n^ .,1 is "' ' , ; ,1 '■-■ ''V^y ;>"•'■ t'"' «'minon c'w..; .aw,>.s;,i,orc., ,a,-c .'So 1 no?, ml T' ■"'"'^.' "■''• "■'"' •' '''y l--<.>rfc- oi-J.c oloctric cmTCut '•''^'"•''''" "-^ "'" !'•'•'« '""1 nipid ;\.;c.«Im,-- to i;o«•o^^^ an.] -o ,, Vn ' ^•^'■'■»'"'% iron. Si. L'^'-v, t:.c„, wo have posWvo n„ ''l ' ^r" '^"r,™''"' l^'tit,.,Ic ^■■.•a-a>T.:,iiity of tele -ru,! ;,^ !l "w/.-a.iia'olo proof of tlio l:uiu:,!os. -^ i"'-='-il'l"o communication in very liij;!, l'- '""^ ''•"« =^ ''on- |i"te.K;tion, so far ai'the in i'u'S'^'f f,'^"'",'"'/ '.'- ''-> pie-So^tro^^;:i/''-^-'o-th:;':^^^^^ i,V'r;;;;:S^f ^!;«S:;;;^.^;.-a^^^^^^ s.ay „.i„tai..e,i |i- .'.ciilc .>,-ean. """ ""■' ™ ^ "••"!^' mountains auj |iS;:nr:r:;^i;7^5;ij;t]:,,j;;;''-Y, '■'"'•'■ >"--■'/ the I "■■■•.■• ViK-relorc^ wo o not' ""' '" '''■"•"'^' "'" ^'"<'ri-.-o. f;:.;i. ' '" '""■ l"-oi>ose to examine them in f ^r-- j^-l cahle should take im'iw;:,;^^" ^''" '"^'^^ "'""""^ |-^^v:e,Xi;j^;;:;4-,-l-i-;- has ,,rove.l that snh- f •■ "•ie-raphic jmrposS! ° " i"'="="™"y o'' "o value 10 Williotit g:oiuredrcessor, the Atlantic cable, ceased to speak. Very recent accounts tell us that, after every effort upon tlie part of the most able and cflicicnt practical telegra])hists, like the Atlantic cable, it has been abandoned to the fishes,' 1* h'asl 20 •ma romains only as another nio-antio monument to tl.c por- in u'orri>r ' '•''"% ''^ '^'? ^'"-^'^^' int and na ion ■ 1. uo.Ls o( puhhc utility and national importance. ■ llius wo ,.civ(;u-e that up to the present time smno ten < sa . m.les of <]ocp-soa subn^ero-od ial,le have ]>een lost or . l;.u < o ed, costmg, m tlie aggregate, not far from ten millions oi ut must mankind, by tlie intervention of tlie Atlantic Wcl/ollcMtr' '"''"' ^'''''' ^^'"^ ••^<^vantages of tliis agent V of n.o ?'!!!'!'^ r''' '1 ^^''''!'' '■'^^"^^"•^trated tlie ]>racticabilitv o il>econstrucMon ot a telegraph line from .Moscow to the f t uT W^'' ^''^'''' ^^^^'•^"- ^f^'»-^' ^'^^ ^^-^^^ oon.pelled to i>a e ii^ ^»<^ porsonal ,uspectu)n and exploration of the proposed -o>Jte tor want ot adequate nu^•lns to cross to the American We perceive, in tracing the route over whicli it is proposed ;;..n.s rue tins hue of telegraph, that there arc manV ele- -■1 nt.^ ot success in it, besules tlie fact tliat no very lar-e bodes ot water ol,struct its pathway. ^ ^ Ihc .uissian o-ovcrnment is now engaged in pushin- for- =^'-usn. miles east of .Moscow, and is to be continued to the 'iKMUU Ot the Amoor. 'I'I'i.s line, with its system of lateral branches, unites the rovinc-es of Russia, Cir- wh^t:.\ '.• 7'7''' T''''' ^'"'^ ^^''''^' ^"'^'•'^' ••^"*"' ^'Ouse<,uently aii'i Afri!-a '"^'"''^ <'onneet.ou may exist between Kuroji IVmlratiiig eastward through tlu. extensive mining dis- til tsol the l.ral, it leai.s from towu to town and city to city ;m ,1( ;nsk is reac.ed,from wlience a l>ranch will penetrate J l.e nnit.er ol Chinese Tartary and Kokan, on thi route of u. gicat central caravan trade, vibrating through that im- (• .se (.cmntry betvveen l>ersia on the west and Manchooria * ' M I'll C- C tlSL* l>:iushig tor a r^sv nminent. at tliis ].oint, wo should take at hast ;i hasty glance of a country which may in a few yearn 21 figure as one of interest. Russia has boon steadily i»us1uii^l,% at lliis point, to tlie soutli until slie lias touched, as it were, ]>ntish India; not tliat slic lias as yet joined territory, but tliat slie lias tapped Indian commerce. ^Turkestan to the Avest, Thibet to the south, i>uchana, Koko-uor, and inner ^Mongolia to the east, all combine to malic th\i\ sou the7'n central wcd^e, driven by liussia into the very licart of Central Asia, a point that must eventnaliy gatlier around it an extended and lucrative commerce. This central (jate of umer Asia, through which the whole commerce of a vast and poi)ulous country uiust How, is re- nowned in history as the pathway of nations— the only prac- ticable ])ass between eastern and western Asia as a (central route. Through this r/ate the Great Mogul, Genghis, led his victorious hosts, under the banners of a thousand chiefs; where Octai and Timour followed, and where Marco l*olo saw an Asiatic Italy, rich in fruits and vines, wines and silks, and all the marks of wealth and luxury. The a})proach of l^ussia to tlie centre of Qiorthern India is really a matter of interest to the civili/ed world, because it will evidently o])en that hitherto sealed country to the knowl- edge of the world and to commerce. It is only a little to the south of the jioint gained by the late Ilussian-Chineso treaty that the great ])ioileer in Asiatic exj)lcration, INIarco Polo, i)assed on his way to the court, of Kublai Khan. Yarkand is about 5° south of the Russian i)0st of Varnoe. Jfarco ]\)lo describes the countries through which he passed on^the line of Casgar, Yarkand, Iloton, and IVin. He says: ''That these countries contain many castles and cities; that the i)eople, besides much merchandise and manufactures, have fine gardens, vineyards, and oi'chards, with a good su])i»ly of silk, and all necessaries in great abundance;' cotton is also grown, and the artisans are inost skillful; they have also many precious stones." In ....'i,^ .Marco Polo's description of the countries ])assed throui^'h, in these central regions, makes them (piite a second Italy in climate and ])roductions. The ])rovince of Hoton alone is estimated to have (now) a population of two millions and a half It is tlirough this country, which is as it were a gate, in consequence' of the a])])roacli of the Altai ch.ain of mountains from the north and the Himalaya from the south, without uniting, that an easy passage is found from eastern to western Asia, and may be compared, physically, in some respects, ns a means of coin- iuunicatioM with tlie Gila route in traversing' our continent. ft I m ■22 ■ rricr AW in ,^« ^'i" T, >"=^ '•^'*^"'' "'"'• fonnidabl.: very readily oo,,,. e v^S tV,e „ , '" ? «t<'.-"nl'oats, one coul.l meroe woul.l of r eo? s v mf 'J^^^^^^^^ T '^ ^'''-o.a.l.t hcco,,,. Suol, i.s tl,e ...e of C^Lliir"""^ '*° "^''^ —'l-n.We. M.^riT'nm^n''';'"?-,''';'''"'^',''''^'''^-^''' i" t'"-" action is in •^ion'jna M„,^;:;^'rfV r" "^■'=" Cabnl ' Xe\i:.t ~ • Induf''-ml ''"""*''''« remcmborod, ia on the waters of the national C- Tl'er^ 'a^ IhS \v°"'v'"'' *° f "P '^ s'^"' sarins into existene'e ^ 'J no-Novgorod would soon posed to"t t'ra'vmS hJf"'^ y«'-y closely ti.e route pro- ve >;eetl,it:.Si^, ^ *''," '"'"" """"^ line of telegraph • reac ^b' frl^""?oscotT *''f ^f ■■" P°^'i"'a caravan°ro,lte ^ Chinese? commeree ^? T •H"' ^'^"^ "'"^ <=«""•" <>f Rn^^o^ to the 0!^° iM-acnta, about four thousand n.iles "o:lS.'s'"lrkoiit3- '^r';-, '^" i'-\Ye,f°™3 '»^ny towns and cities concur tes the Vnn,'"''? ^"'"'™ ^''^«"-''. at whieh point •S ene?l ori;"' "T "«'"''»»'" ••""! the eivifiLuion and .ierec> ho,?res1f !S:„;;r •"'*' ^"'^'^-''' -'• '«'"-! *>- V"n'°in S<;f*.t« J^y^ichta, and from Kyaehta to Pel'nn>hs. This connnerce must naturally lind outlet to the Facitic through tho Amoor, where our merchants nuiy congregate. 24 iiiul wilh thcii- ships distribute it to the iiiarkots of the world. Froni the mouth of tlie Amoor another hiteral line of tele- .icrapji IS i)ro])Osc(l, to extend to Yeddo, the cinital of .Jai):in: this IS acconiphshod ])y crossini,^ to the island of Sak-hah-lin, to .iosso, to ]\ii,hon, upon which Yeddo is situated, with only u.xmt iiily milcH of KubnicrLced (•al>k'. Thus we have })rogressed from iMoscow to the shores of the 1 aoihc ocean v/ithout meeting Willi more than the ordinary i)hyHU'al dillieulties on great lines of telegraj)!), and have, in a very hasty manner, and to a very inconsiderable extent, touched u])on the trade, commerce, population, and resources oi this vast countiy, yet in the mam locked up from the ap})roac]i ot exterior contact and commerce. \\^c have shown Iiow, by its own local and intrinsic merit, fhts route (Utnu'ts and attaches to itself tlie whole European system ot telegrai)hs, and also how naturally the Caucasian, i ersian, and Liduin rations are made tributary to it ; and as we ])rogrcss to the east, other nations, including China and .J a] an, are all, as it were, embraced in its ample iblds. liavmg, therefore, as we conceive, anjicxed Europe, Asia, and Alriea we have yet America to reach, in order to encom- pass tlie wliole earth. From tlie mouth of tlie Amoor, in order to reach America, there are several routes i,roposed. Whichever nniy be the most practicable sliould be most unquestionably selected. \Ve do not propose to enter into any lengthened aro-ument lor or against Jiny of the i)articular routes ; but we hav'e come to the conclusion that, until the route via ]Jehring\s straits sJia 1 be, ui)on lull and fair investigation, pronounced impracti- cable, to be the route to wliich we should first give our atten- tion. ° I liy tliis route ' submarine cables are disi)cnsed with, except at one point--thc crossing of the straits-and then only to ^ the extent ot 40 to 00 miles, which may be divided into shorter ., sections by using islands lying in the straits. _ i lie advantage of this route overall others is so patent, in view ol the necessity ui)on any other line of long submer-a'd cables, that it has only to be stated to be at once fully appro- , ^^'."^ 'I'' "?.^' ^'■?"^ ^^^ t^'O liglit before us, believe tliat tlie ]>iiysical dilhculties in il.e way are of such a nature as to be insuperable, though they may be very great. Our <^reatest .'ipprehension arises from the i>rcsence oi" savage trib?s alon-^ a portion ol the route as you ai)proach Behring's straits ovct 25 whicl, as yet, tao Russian govo„,„>cnt ha. cxeroiscj absolute tdI>osarotobc.c;r.tro;S„ltitho,rt°?o?ct' ""' '"' "''"'•' wortliy of tlio trial aiul un if i 1 "°'™^*i'-, the cause is eontrolloa sufilciont y to no ' i 'tbr,'™ "'''"' "f >" '^•■"'"°' '"= tln-ougi. tlieii- country wo sh H ,. • l""'''='j *?' " "^''■■grai'l' culty ,vill bo e cou uoro 1 .vl ■ r'^'.""'"--''*'' ''i''" mucl,' difli- Cobfmbia; but itiso bo 'o,«a 11 ,;"„•'' 1'°"'"" ^'" J''''^"'' object in view will In.;?,?/ '■■••^' ""^ importance of tl.e diiliculties tTbo o fereon^ ^ot'Tv^ ■''■''' '? ''""'• "l'"" the What arc tl>e pJobab hties an 1 fhTlT "'T" "'•'• , mate sneocss of an ovorl nrl tL "'^ I"'"*!"'"'* of the ulti- America? Lc°t usseo J f^,^^'■^'■''l','' '" """« J^"™!'" "i^'' the conclusion tint if A„ '''*' !''?''''• ■**■<> ''a'-c «"no to is infinite noJrnrfctri.l^Tvf ",''•"''"''' "'^•^' P'^^ it anyotl.erio^rorm^a'^xitsrU'tea^''' "'""^'' ^'■="' ^ o.Si?;;\:?.^;^i-itriri:f,:r^^^^^^^ .Uilitarhu Sf I'itl^T'^r'""'-^'' '^ P"""-^"'- i" " cost, of ,ro'fit ancl^^^roi-llla.'a'n'rctnt" ""'" 'l"""""^ "'' ".cuuitSt^o ulntS;;^'^"''"'' ^'^■■y '>^''i-'y — ^.Uue or in^^ortan^e cln^t bf „t Ur:i"br.r:\ '''''"" ''' bUimhird. i"c.;suica by a mcro money tli worid'lCu uuiTe' S'it'^ ""' f " "?"™»-'--" -tio..s of progress an.l Svlii^^ation "' ""'"'"•»»"»". and donate it to totd"rift:=t:,r'\h: '™'^'r^-?^>-. "- -« thin, panics by all t;e'^:an:it ^'u? eZltS"" '^^ '' ''^ '"■"■"" ln4 "i botl't;rn,u;:.:!"!;''«'>''V ---k <"■ P-ff-ssion is enst^vara a^ros^thcT aH W nMlu. 1 rnirrs^ '"'^ '''"■ ""- HI pushing' to tlio west ov m- t w. /• V ^^^^'''' ''^ *''».^''"i'-r^'Vos ol^lu, l"u i< Thus L r.^'""'"'-"'?"'^''^"^^^'>"^''-' ^ , U..JLH ,.na u.lh^uUies as to the possibility of II m U'le^nq.hic communication ovorluud between America auU TeloLjniphs tcndin- ultimately to unite America witli huiope by the ovcrhiud route, nla Hehrin-'s stmits iin«l AMutic Kuss.a, are m progress or construetiou^on both Kides: i . rnn. *^^^'''f "^'^^,;« i>"''l«l i'cr lin(. to the Amoor, while ihecoutnietmadebyOulonel Uirum Sibley with the United n w fV.f .^'m-''"-^ •'' construct a Hue to California insures a hue Iron, the IMi.ss.ssippi to San rVanciseo. Nor is this all : a hue ,s m course ot construction from (\-ilitornia to Oro-on C ouse ln|hrn,-s straits, sonie two thousand miles, and on the Asiatic thlV u?l t ' «V^^^^^/« the moutli of the' Amoor, some two tuo huuded miles, to complete the circuit of the earth. It would seem a small matter to fill u]) this intervening -ap when we take into consideration tlie immense intcrests'in- .vMr,^.!l;!nn''^''^v^ r" "uiny millions of dollars expended in h H T. ^^^-.'''v }''''^ ^''^"'''' ^'^^^1^^^' "P^^" theiry alone, n o.dei to unite distant continents; it certainly looks to bj uhh tf^'v w ^'?r'7 ""''^ ^^''' P^''^" of conncitim,^ the Ol.l , ! t'7 ^ ""/'^^^ ''^^?" ''''' '^^'^ t^^^^t ^"^'^c^'^ i^ ^•^^i^tain with ^uM.osent knowledge of workin.c. telegraphs, and at a less co.st than was incurred m laying the Atlantic cable. I^our thousand miles of land telegraph is no very great dis- tance, when we see what has been already constructed and in pro.grcs.s ot construction in America and Kuropo. 1 lie Cahtorma overland line will be two thousand* miles long, and will be constructed for about three hundred and M\ty tliousand dollars. In fact,, the ijroposed line from Oregon to the mouth of the Amoor can undoubtedly be built for less than the Atlantic canie cost. Tiicre are now in Kurope some one hundred anroducing a revenue of probably ten millions of dollars Unite all these lines, and make them subsidiary to the -Mvat world-cncir«;liMg telegraph, and it must become one of the most hicrative investments jmssible. it this li!!o Hiiould bo iin:dly constructed, it leaves nothin<' "U)rc lor human enterprise to achieve in tcU-raphic commir. mcation except to iill up gaps and construct lateral lines. It ' V 27 wnl encompass tlie c.irtli over a route formed bv nature and to wlucli there can be no rival ; it accomptlu^ "verni.in ? satis les every mterest, penetrates into k-erv intTon and country, ])crvadcs tlie ^v]lile earth ^ '^"'^ ^ Ar,Kle from telograpliic communication, there are other ^^^^r''' '' "^^^^^^y ^-^«^ed b;?tire^!;::;: ThoAmoor is now open to free trade ; a number of Amerl can ships and mcrcliants liave been attracted there ale^v 1 n^rmrbunt^ tl^ ^^"^7 S' steamers ';^"^;S;::!^^^ iKuc occn built m the Lnited States, eitlicr for commoiviil 1-poscs or connected with its rising ibrtuill^s'^^s'riS;::! twtirs.;/^,';'''- ""^ "^'^^^^l^y^^^^ steam communication be- tw ecu ban In-ancisco and China by way of Japan ]ril-oi?ll.eoue'nl''^o^''^^'"^ ^^'''' ^^ '^'^'^'^^ "^^^'^ *^^^" ^ ^^""-e'l Paci^c^lnnl V ' ^^^^^-^/-^^fote coast and waters of tlic Xorth moDoJ^d si; ''""fy ^.^"^fitted by suclx survey as tlie one ie?m'f-n;. f'T'^'^F^^ ^^"^^ ^<^ss of lite would be lessened bv a iTnece s^^^^^^ tliose waters, wliich consideration sliould, It necessai y, argue m favor of tlie proposed survey. (bec'usVorth'!! r'-'''^ ^'"^' ^^"^^^'" '^ ^'"- ^'ommerce &>anv nf i I ti^'^ ^^ ^^'' ^^'''''^'' American J^ompany of Its trade and commerce, internal and evtennl) heretofore, we are likely, on tlie expirktion of their gi-ant in akol. ],rYf ''' f "^'>^^>-^<^ ^^^0 in that direction, when it will ktl ,.t^ f advantageous to liave a better knowledge of Its (oasts and waters. Under all the circumstances of the case, and in view ol' lier benefits to be derived irom tlie exploration and s n- ey aden,?;"'"^ ^'^' ^'''-- ^^^f ''"' ^''^ ^^onindttee recommend ?ui ^u . 'ii^'];"''^^'''^^'^" }'y ^^".^'^^"ss in order to c.irry out m or 1 V^'' ''''''' ''^ '^''- P^'titioner, and for that )n.rpose Fkiiri. Mr. J. A in: nort strai the . in / Ik fill' 1 1 iifty t 1)0, :i trcasi DKikh of tlii _c::rai)li river, Amor tlio ] vessel ot' lh( out tl The ( tnci (Ju, Orci Kit 28 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. -♦♦- FrwiiRUAnv 18, 18Gl.~llei\d twice, committed to the Committco of the Whole on the state of the Union, jvnd ordered to bo printed. •-♦••- Ml*. J. CocnnAXK, from llu; Coinmittce on Commerce, reported the foUoNvIni^ bill : A UIIiL to appropriulo fifty thousand dollar.- for the fuirvoy of the nortlu'rn waters, coasts nnd islands of tin; Pacilic ocean and liehring's straits, in view of teU^^'raphie communication laitwoen the mouth of the Amoor river, in Asia, and the confines of the Kussian po.ssessions in America. lie it enacted hy the, ^enaic and IToui^c of lleprcscntativc^ of the Uuiti'd /St((fes of At/ierlra in. (JoiKjrcmi asse)/dilcd^ That ilfty thousand dollars, or so much of it as may be iiecossary, ho, and is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the treasury not otlierwise appropriated, for the purpose of makino^ a survey of the northern waters, coasts, and islands of tlie Pacific ocean and Behring's straits, in view of tclc- grapliic communication between \he mouth of the Amoor river, in Asia, and the conlines of tlio Russian possessions in America. Said money to ))e ex])ended muler the direction of the Pre.-ident of the United States; and that two small vessels, ])ropellers if possible, be furnislicd by the Secretary of the Navy, under the direction of the l*rcsident, to carry out the intention of this act. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. -*-♦- Fkuuuary 17, 1802.— Ordered to bo printed. Mr. TiATiiAM made the following report : The Couwiittee on 3filitari/ AJj'airs^ to ichont vuts referred the /neniorial of Mr. l*ernj 3l'cD. Collins^ asking the aid of ie with i J 1 V •a 29 That it appears fi-om tlio memorial, tlio aocomi^anyiiK' pa- pers, and other infonnaiion on file in the ])epartmont ol* fetate, tliatlie personally undertDok and aecom])li.slic(l a voy- age overland from St. Petersljurc., in Kui-opean lius.sia, to the mouth ot the Amoor river, on the Pacific ocean, Avith a view ot provmp^ to the commercial world the value and i)ractica- bihty of nearer relations Avith the hitherto unknown and une.vj:.lored regions of Siberia, the great Amoor i-iver, and of lartary. ]VIr. Collins performed his task in a most commend- able and satisfactory manner. He being the fn*st American wlio penetrated those regions, from liim wc have reliable information in regard thereto? Accompanying these explorations, si)ecial attention was paid to the subject of immediate steam and telegraphic con- nection with them and our i)resent l*aciHc possessions. He found a practicable and highly-favored route ali-eady existing for the construction of an overland telegra})!!, uniting us with those Chinese and Ja])aneso ports where, even now, is con- centrated the great bulk of commerce. At the time of this gentleman's first visit to that country the teleuTaj)!! had not extended cast of ^Moscow, in Russia, nor west of St. Louis, in the United States. The original plan, therefore, com])rised an intormcdialo space of 14,000 miles; a portion of this distance, 4,000 miles at least, nearly due east from INfoscow, being along the route traversed by the great Husso-Chineso caravans to Kvachta, on the frontier of Chinese IMongolia; the whole route, from city to city, and from village to village, protC(!ted from inter- rui)tion by the vigilance of governn'icnt and good order of society as safely as in any portion of our own States. Aside from governmental considerations, the two great centres of Husso-Asiatic commerce, Kyachta and Nijne-Nov- gorod, Avould be; brought in telegra])hic union," and the whole ' of Siberia in ])ractical contact with Europe. Froni Kyachta the route proj^osed would cross the ^'ablonoi niountains, reaching at once the headwaters of the Amoor at Chetah, the seat of government for the ])rovince of Trans- ]>aikal, eastern Siberia ; thence along its main course to tli(» strait and coast of Tartary, upon the Paciiict. Wlicn fn-st pro})osed, the latter portion of the above route, from the head of the Amoor to tlu; sea, was considered very diilicult; but recently Russia, having obtained by treaty with China the sovereignty of this river and coimtry to tlu' north, lias extended over it the same system of Cossack settlements and post stations which secure and render communication all i'...v;v.'.:ii SiI>v-.-'v. so orclai'ly and sale; moreover, lias alreauv * ',>l;iOca u iiuinber of stoaiuers successfuUy on the navi^^aoie ^/O.'iion ot'llie rivc". '.''.. o o:4iy rv^.v.aiuinf^' poiiit is to reach satisfactonly the shores oi' Aiucu-ica, ]>oi"tioiiS of vuo country ronainiuijj still i;.;o::j)loivt]. Tlic proposed route is to ])roceed from tlie ir.ouui of the Anioor up and aloni;- the coast of the Okliotsk sc-a, from the head of the Gulf of Penjinsk across the lieau of iho -ie'.riusahx at Kamtchatka to the Anadir river; thejice to a pohit under tlie leaofl^ast ca]>e, crossini^ J>ehrini^'s strait to the south of the (iodenow ishands, and reaching the AnuTi- cau coast south of Ca])e IVmce of Wales. '/vovA t'as point or. the American continent proceed south- erly:o Siika, the capital of Ivuasian America; tl'.encc^ throuu;}i \\i^ iiritish possessions to Vancouver, and thence to San Fran- cisco. Kushians, Avho have giveri tliis suLject any attention, f:ivor il'.e route from the Anioor to Petropaulovski, crossing eitlicr irie 0-;li0tsk sea or following the island of Sak-liah-lin and tlie iCurile islands uatil Kamtchatka is reached. From Kan\l- chaika to Behring's and Copper islands; thence, following tiie Alcatian islands to Aliaska, on the American main-land. This last mode of reaching America, liowever, involves a verv considerable extent of submerL^ed cable. By either of t.ao Lwo routes more tlum two thousand miles ol submerged cabh; :. .v:Ouired, divided, to be sure, into sections of greater or k^ss length. For insiance, if the Okhotsk sea were crossed from opposite vl:e mouth of the Amoor river, one cable of 550 to OOo miles vvoidd be required to reach Kamtcliatka ; and again, fron\ ivamtchatka to America, sections of from 50 to 300 miles to reach from island to island. If the route by Sak-luih-lin and the Kurile islands were followed, the sections would be less; in no case, howevtT, could less tlian 2,000 miles of oablc be dis[)ensed with, while t'.ie whole Hue, land and submerged, would be greater than ilic. greatest nortliern land route by Ik-hring's strait. ^l.v. Collins indicated tvro oiher routes, viz: by the way of Cuioutorskoy to Gore's and Nunivack islands, or by Oa})e Xavarin and St. Lawrence island to Cape llonuin/AKf ; either i/f which would not involve more than one-l'ourtli of the exti'iit <»f i'abhi ]»ro])OHed ]>y the jvurile and Aleutian islands. Sinc'C th;:> subject was first a « * « « "The proposed execution of the telcgrapliic line from Kaxan to the Anioor is divided into two sections, 1st. From Kazan to Irkoutsk. 'Jd. From Irkoutsk to the mouth of the Amoor river. The telegraph from Kazan is in course of construction tliroiigh Perm, Ekaterinburg, and Tumeu to Omsk; .ond the intention is to carry it forward through Tomsk and Kras- noiarsk to Irkoutsk. TIic line is finished already to I'erm, and in the beginning of next year will be opened from l*erni to Omsk. "The construction of the line will not be finished to Irk- outsk before the year 1863. "The line from Irkoutsk to the mouth of the Amoor river is projioscd to be made through Vcrchne Udinsk, Clietah, IJlagovestcliensk, Ilabarovka, .at the mouth of the river Tsuri, and tlirough Sofinsk to Kicolavisky, at the mouth of the Anioor. ^ " Branches will be carried from Verchne Tdinsk towards Kyachtn, and from Uabarovka, by the moutli of the Songots- ch:i, to the port of Novgorod, on the Gulf of Peter the Great. ''The execution of tliis line of telegraph will be carried out under tlie supervision and control of the governor general of eastern Siberia and the minister of the navy. "Steps have already been taken to expedite the building of lliese lines with the greatest dispatch, as m'cU as the branches from Nieolavisky to llabarovka, and from iSotinsk to the Gulf of l)e Castries. *' As to the execution of the line of telegra))!! from Xc\v York to San Francisco, for the purpose of joining California to ihi; Atlantic, I learned from you, with the greatest personal satisj'ae,! Ion, and afterwards by rcjiding to the same ellect in the newsj)apers. "liidoed, the union of the Old World with the New World we nnist ex})ect to see executed and obtained through the Pacitic, which will soon a])pcar to be only practicable, and ■il ' :i;! 0.7 ;;^i ' .ri V i r^r'^'r'" "T''^ ^ ^i^'^»y inauccmonts, in my ' «'|'ii..< ., .*y It., vast systua oi wor!:ii l,u.r,i„ and to be carriwl -i ua.out mtcTunsMon, hot); in l^ussiaSna Sibcr a. lu^^J '-.•;:••.'. >M..cuMo.sot tolegraphsiu a shorter the th u wai o.,v,.uhyiuU.n. UKM^ are niany niorc to be construct<^ to d Ub !^t ''Accent, ily aiier exciting tl;e enthusiasm of U e v^Hd has '- .t:^^'^?" ^"^H tho great Ilea Sea and iu ?td^ ,-...-.'.1 (Mibiuer-cd m sections from Sue/, to Babelmandcl and ^■^...cao crossing tlie Gulf of i^ersia to Kuracher Ina f \Vc name these facts, «till not without hope that seiei.oo •^.^mty, and mdomuablo will, may yet miles, and tlie strenLCth much augmented over similar ones, the size of the conducting metal ([uadrupled,) it is to be hoi)ed it may render its working a permajusnt succ(!ss. The tele- graph under consideration, altliough of greater length, meets with fewer local obstructions than any of tliosc named, short «listanccs only of submerged cable being found necessary. The -wliole of Asia would be ])ractically annexed to Kurope, and, tlirough the line we propose, to America, being to us as a political and commercial nation a subject of great and grow- ing magnitude. We hold the ])all of the earth in our liand, and wind upon it a network of living and thinking wire, till the whole is held togetlier and bound with the same wishes, projects, and interests. As tliis Asiatic system penetrates to the east, we may speculate n])on probable I'outes ad hiji)i'itiiiii. At Kn/an wliich is considered by Jiussia as the initial point I'nnu wlience the Russian Vaeific telegrajih shall be extended, a line may run south througli the Astrakhan, Circassian, and (Jeorgian provinces to Teheran, the ca]>ital of IVrsia; and thence, uniting the cities along tlie Kuphrates and the Persian (Julf, connect with the Knglish-Indian line at Knrachce, ai' lint', ivaching Kyachta, on t!u' bor- ders of Mongolia, can be tap))ed by a Literal one over t,hc route traversed by the tea caravans to l*ekin ; thence to Shanghai, Amoy, and llong Kong; thus C'hina becomes trib- utary to the '"'"(jratul trunk'''' line. From the Chinese coast to the island of Formosa a line may be projected to Luzon, Manila, the capital of S])anish India; thence from island to island until Australia (Melbourne) is reached, embracing the princi})al centres of trade in that won- derful, rich, and extensive (piarter of the globe. Pursuing our way along the main course of the Amoor, we have seen what Comniander Chefkin proposes in regard to branches to the dilferent points ni)On the sea of Japan, as fai* south as 42** north latitude, even to the northern limits of Corea. o ^( 34 At thiH point, ^vltIlout ;iiiy teloacific, we have m-ospcctivcly connected the whole of northern Asia, India, Cliina, Japan, Australia, and the islands of the sea. ^V e now have come to the ])lain point of the report-thc pnicticabihty ot the O^crkuid llussian- American Tdearaph Union. ^ ^ irnder tlie autiiority from the Kussian government, Mr. Col- ms proposes a survey ot the waters, coasts, and islands of the north Pacihc, and m'C tliink it full v worthy the aid and assistance ot our own government ' _ Tlie waters of the north Pacific, which would come un \>r inspections the general plan, are much visited by our ships, more particularly the Pacific whaling tloct; while the opin- ing ot Japan and tlie Amoor has also attracted, within a verv lew yeaixs a large number of our merchant vessels. ..atterly, American vessels having entered this river, the ivussiau government has also had constructed several yea--o- mg and_ river steamers in the United States and in Kun.po, »or service Ijere and in the north Pacific, to all of which pri- vate enterprise has made an addition of six merchant steamers. American commerce has then already made its entrance into no'theastern Asia; several American commercial estab- lishments have found permanent place within tlie Amoor at the seat, of government, Nicohivisky; American eno-ineers are employed m this so recently unexplored reo-ion ; American steam engines saw mills, and machine shops have also lound 111 the wilds ot Tartary a new field of practical occupa- tion. ^ ^ Thus, inde])endent of the consideration of tele.v,-aphic com- munication, the }>roposed survey of the north Pacific would I'c oi much value to commerce in those regions ; our whale- men ami merchant shi))s v/ould be guided l)y certain and reliable mlonmaion ; safe anchorage ground wou'ld be revealed ; depots and dei)osits of coal, new bays and harbors, would 1)0 sought and sounded, and generally much information obtained serviceable and interesting alike to commerce and science. i; K '' J,- 1 1 i !; I i 35 Acfain, in vicnv of tlic contein)»latcd steam postal comjunni- cation Letwoeii San Francisco, Ciiina, and Japan, this nortli- cni coninierco must incroaso ; and whatever tlieiv may bo in tiiG waters, forests, or mines, be made available by the enter- ju'ise of our i)eoplc. Coal is known to abound in tlie nortli i*acific, and with steam communication the quality, locality, means and manner of obtaining it, would be valualjje ami profital)le. Entering so largely into our economic life, and addmg so greatly as it does to the power of a nation in these days of steam, railroads, and manufactures, information in its regard inust be of the highest interest. ^ ^ The distance from San Francisco to the Amoor river, r'm I>ehring's strait-— the largest and most northern land lint — is estimated at a])Out 5,000 miles. Tlic crossing at tlie strait, ; bemg the only ])ortion of the ocean lying in the track of the : proposed telegraph, is but 40 miles wide, which is all tlie sub- merged cable that will be required on the whole route. In fact, from Xaw Yoi-k to l*aris, i>y the Emsian-Ainerinn, line, wc have but tliis one ex])ansc of water where submei-u-ed cable will be reer mile— will^ cost in all Imt one milfion iive hundred thous- and dollars. Tlius this connecting link, uniting all the sub- sisting lines over three continents, costs but "a small sum, estimating its value. Mvperienced and able men, engaged in the construction of long lines, think it can be done for even less. The highest northern ])oint reached by this route Avill be within GG^' north latitude. The two other highest northern routes would be Ga^Miorth latitude and GO^ north latitude. The highest point touched via the Aleutian islands route, keeping the land to Aliaska, will be G2« north latitude on the Americaii coast, and within 54*^ north latitude on the Asiatic side, while the Kuroi)ean lines at present in operation reach considerably above (iO^' both in liussia and Swe.len. The climate has ])resi!nted no imj)edlment in their working. In lact, a (!old dry atmos})here is favor:d)!e to insulation; so that this, though of great length, would work much moiU' surely and rapidly than shorterlincs in lower latitudes. , 3G he Aniom-an soyornnicnt lins alroiidj i,nvon its aid to tho At iantio oahlo and tiic I>a(-inc teio-mph. Tl.o Ilrltisli o-ovcrn- mi'ut .s consta.aly nidln.o- tc-k-raph i.rojoots, and l>ut rcccMitlv -av(> the uso ot a pubiic vessel to assist in the survey of their nor h I acta;, route, /vVK;rcenlaud and Iceland; ccmscnientlv, l.avc sulhcient precedent, if that were necessary, to justiiV n askn.i^ aid lor tins i>roiH)scd survey, and we instance lu'.e tacts merely to show that the ])lan is not one of a wild cmnencal character; not only practicable and feasible, l>u already almost acconjplished. .Mr Collins lias f()r several years ]>ursued with indefati-able A'ai, the constructu.n of this overland tele-raph, not'oidv »*''';;v h)re)^n ^ovennnents, but in arousin- the public mind to the possdnhty of ultin.ate success, lie has at his own .xpc use pushed tins i>roject as far as individual enterprise can ..'o and ho now asks the assistance^ of his own Government to '; i»yt a survey and reconncisancc, with the authority of the a ^Zn^J'-T"'''"-'^' '" 'Tr' ^''^^''>^ :ii"-'«^^or :Morse to Mr. C^ollins, r' 1 ^'' ^^'^' ''Vinmittee, on the subject of overland tele- .uftaplue communication, will allbrd maiter of interest: "2sl;w ^ ouw, SVorc}i)ber 20, ISC)]. w-ir,. -n,.,, ^ ., "Xo. 5 West Tiix'nti/-,^iro)idii(i'eet. :;'\ »'''Y^ '^''^•' ^ ^"1- c'onununication of Xovend)er -7 is Vc on'ol "\r^^^^^ ^vouhn,rietIy .say,iirst in ovneral terms, viv of t •\^"' '-'''] ''^ ^r!'''""'^"^"^'^^ dilhculties in thJ vestv m'i <• <"-^'i' tek-rapluc c-onununication with Europe Uo,tu. ud irom .San kraucisco. Tliat diliieultics of a peculiar ^ '•;;' • r^^';-.^\'=}>: J^^^ve to be encountered, I do not doubt. ^^ * I he liabihty to be injured by climatic chan-es, such as n,; V -;^'^'' ''''"' '"^ ^^' to require less frequent and H<.id U^[^7(\^"'''^^\'^''^'^^'^ answer,! know no reason why tnyy (telec^raphs) should not be maintained and worked in Mi^ii northern latitudes as well as in lower; an"ly ^^"«^ver from the scanty means X have of judging of the i>cculiar obstacles that each • ir lU ,. I ^Jk 37 of the Uvo routes prcsonta. In ordiimiy circninstances, tlic less suoin;inne commuiucation tlie better; but there may bo obstacles to a land route, such as liostile uncivilized tribes, or marsliy borders, that would tlirow the advantac,^' on tlie side ot a longer tiubniariue line. _ "This point, therefore, can better be determined by the intelligent observation of those who have visited the re'^ions of the proposed line, and no one that I know is more "apable of giving a more intelligent opinion than yourself. "P. McD. Colli xs, Esq. »> " SAM'L F. B. MORSK. We also give an extract from a letter written by ITiram Sibley, Ehq., of Kochester, who has been as largely en<'aged in the construction of lines of telegrai)h as any man in the country : "WiiSTunx Uxiox Tklkgrai»ii Company. ,,^ ''Secrciari/'s Ojjice, Jtocliester, Oct. IG, 18G1. "DKAii Siu: ***** .K H( * 1 can say, however, by way of encouragement to you, tiiat the contemplated dimculties vanished as we api)roa(thed thein. '' Tlie cost of the line will not exceed one-half tlie lowest estimate made wluni tlie contract was awarded to me ; and our men arc pressing me hard to let them go on to IJehrino-'s strait next summer, and (as you say to me) ' if I had tlie money ' I would go on and comidete the line, and talk about It atterwards. "If tlie Ivussian government will meet us at l>ehrin«''s two years, and strait, and give the right of way, etc., through their territory ou the i*acific, we will complete the line in ])robably in one. "Tiie work is not more difficult than that we have already accomplished over the llocky mountains and plains to Califor- nia; and, in my opinion, the whole thing is entirely practica- ble, and that, too, in much less time \and with much less expense^ than is generally supposed by those most hopeful. -No work costing so little money was ever accomplished by man tliat will be so important in its results. The beneti't resulting to tlie world will \)^y, ^^^^ entire cost of the line every year after completion while tlie world continues to be inhabited by civilized man ; and it is to me a matter of sur- prise th.at any intelligeat person, at all familiar witli buildin"- ! '■ I \r ■ \- i 38 r...v'i Yv'ovking 'tolc'ca-apli linos in tlio west, should t ilw pnicticability of the suffcssa;! v;orking, iii'ter built, of a lino 10 I>chnnt, the government will save to itself more than ten times this pre.sciit year. Lot this not he called an impro})er time to prcsciit' this subject to Congress, because we are engaged in :i w.ir for our national existence, and because we are already taxing the whole encrgiets and resources of the nation in a tin\c of great ])ci-il ; let us rather say that the T'nited States is not only able to su])press rebellion at home, but able also to extend lier great commercial and seientiiic power over tlu» earth. Such an enterprise as tliis telegrapli from San Francisco to A:iiatic ilussia will only strengthen our power as a great com- mercial nation, and evidence to the world that we siuTeiuler notlung to the circumstances of tlie hour, but go steadily, iio])efuily, and bravely foward in the patli of duty^ that while iliere are so ma,ny tho\isands actively engaged in the strife and hazard of war, there are yet many" more thousands e([ually active and zealous in all the arts of ])eace. If aidcil and countenanced by government, it would be most readily and ([uickly undertaken and carried foward. Thousands of our merchants and ship owners, having been driven from old time lior.ored and beaten paths, want new avenues for expansion arid exteiusion of trade ; and the open- ing up of this new source of power will reflect honor upon ihe comiiutn-e anectfully submitted witli an accompany- t 'I ' ig biih ;u» IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. ■♦♦" FEliKUARY 17, 1862. Mr. Latham, from the Committee on Military AtlUirs ami the ZJIihti.'v, .sul>jnittcd a report, (Xo. la,) accomi>uniea by tlie ibl lowing bill; which was read and passed to a t.econa reading ; A liILL to .-xcthorizo the «urvcy of a route for tclcpfrttphi*- «(»mnninica- tion between the city of Sua I'Vancisco, ia the SUW of California, and llic Aiuoor river, in Eastern Asia. Ini it Ciuuttcil l\f the Senate and Jlouse of Ilcjn'cscntatli'c.^ o/ t/ie United tStata of Anicriva in Comjrcss (issenMcdy Tliat the President ot* tlic United States be, .and Ijo is lu-reby, authoi-i/ed ;ind cnijiowcred to appoint a suitable i)Cr.son as enu'ineer, eitlier as an oillccr of the cor])s of topo,L,'raphical, I'M- hit'ers or otluTwise, as he may deem best suited for the puri)ose, anractie.ible aiul eeonomieal route for a IfloLjraphir! eommunication between San Francisco, in the stale of I'alilbnna, by way of Belirini^j's straits, and the Amoor river, in Kastern 'Asia; and that, "for tiie purpose of carry inij: this ael into elleet, the sum of one liundred thousanllars be, and t lie same is lu-reby, approj»rialed, out of any mi)ut>y in the treasury not otherwise ai»pn)prlatc(l. Si:»r. i>. AinlUit furtJut' cnititid^ TJjat autlunity is htri'l»v -ivcM, and the Secretary of tlie Navy directed and required', to *letai!, for the use of the survey a»itliori/.cd by the preced- ing section of this act, one small steam or sailini; vessel, in his discretion, to assist in tlie said survey ; and that the persons employed in saitl survey, whether of the army, navy, or of uie civil service, shall be (-ri^anized as the en;j;ineer herein authori/ed to ])e ai)])ointe(l may advise and direct; and that l\w. report of >aid survey shall be j)resented to Compress on or Ix'lbre the lirst Monday in January, eighteen hundreil ami >i\ty-three. ■1 ! ol A SI Ll ll 40 Communication <»k Hon-. William II. Seward, Slickktauy Ol'' Static, I'l'ON TlIK SUIUlCCr of an iNTEUCONTINliNTAL TKLKUliAlMI CONNKCTING THE EaSTKUN AND WeSTEKN llKMlSIMIKiiKS UV WAV OF liEIlKINt;'s StUAIT, IN RKIM.Y TO Hon. 7a. ChiANi»i,i:r., Cuaiuua.v of the Co^•^^rn•EE ON COMMKUCE OF THE Un1TEI> StATES SeNATE, TO WHICH WAS liEFEltUEl) THE MeMOIHAL OF PeUUY McDoNOUOH Collins. -♦♦- SEXATE CIIAMBEU, Apnl 14, IbUK lioN. William II. Sewauo, Secretary of State. Siu: I liavu tho honor to transmit hcrcwitli, ;i printed copy oftlie nioniori:il of Perry ]\[cD. Collins, representing that he h:is obtained iVoni the government of Uussia a grant of the privilege to constrnct a telegraph from the montli of the Amoor river to the llussian possessions in America, and a similar grant from the British government in British Colum- bia, and i)raying the co-operation of the government of the United States to enable iiim to complete liis enterprise. The Connnittce on Commerce of the U. S. Senate, to whom this memorial lias been referred, Avill be glad to receive from you such information upon the subject as may be in the pos- session of the Department, together with your views upon the e\[)ediency of granting the prayer of the memorialist. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, Chalmum of CouDnlttcc on Com))icrcc oftlic United States Senate. 'i '. 41 Idcmorial of Ferry lilr.D. Colli), s, rq;re>n^'/' the LniUxl States if America in Conijre.^fi (t.ssi nd>h d : The inciuorial of W Mel). Collins, a citizen of the I'nitetl Miites of Anieriea, and a re.sident of the htatc of California, most respectfully represents: That lie lias obtained from the Jinperial government of liussia privile^-e to ct)nstruct a line of telegra])h frcai the month of the Amoor rivci*, in Asiatic Kitssia, to the frontiers of the Ihissian jiossessions in Aniei-ica. adjoining the possessions of Cireat JJritain. In connection Avith the grant from Uussia, the Kussian government stipulate, upon certain conditions, to construct a co:;Linuous line of telegraph connecting the European system with the Pacitic ocean, about eight thousand live hundred miles cast of London, aiul on thti route of a line which may be ju-ojectcd to Tekin and the great commercial cities of China. ^ Your memorialist also represents, that after having obtained the Kussian grant, and U]K)H a rej)resentation of tlTe stale..)!" the case and the facts lo the government of her Majesty, tliat ho has been authori/ed by the British government to construct a line of telegraph across the intervening territory of Hritish Columbia. Thus the grants from liu.ssia and Kngland authorize tlu- couHtruction of a continuous line of telegraidi which is to a. 42 f ouncct Em-opo ^'ith tiic United States across tlic whole of AsKi ana the northwest coast of the i*acific. 'pi<3 ^yholc country, except a portion of the route in British Cohnnbia over which this i)ropose(i line must pass, is sparsely iiiuabited, and presents no local inducement for the construc- tion of a telcp,-raph. The sole inducement to the construction of a tele^-ipiih over tins great extent of country is the union of Asia and>:uro];e With tae American system of telegraph lines, and by as nearly as^is pliysically possible an overland route. Tlie great progrc.N nf telegraphs both in Asia and America since tlie i)ropcsition was originally made to induce a trial of (his northern overiand route, in order to unite Kurope and America, has cleared away from tiie path of tliis cnten.rise many apparent dn'riculties suggested in the cariy stao-es of the undertakmir. Ir Kussia has extended her telcgraj.h from St. Petersburo- to •Koutsk, a distance of four thousand miles to tlie east;\anlc to us as a nation in a commercial point of view, aside from the ST)ecial interest particularly involvcil. Our Pacllic whaling ilcet resort in considerable force to the seai;, uays, and ^.ouudM, not only of the Pacific, but of the Arctic; in one year more than seventy yVmerioan vessels have i\\' 4a |jr.S2cdthrour^jh Ecl:rin;:j's citrr.it, and l.aro-ely over one hundred iiavo visited the wr.ters adjacent, and the Oldiots!: sea. Tlio commerce of Japan and of the Amoor region, increan- in^ from year to year, makes it requisite that ^vc should liavo a more perfect knowledge of these interostini,^ regions of tl»e north Pacillc. In viov/ of the premises and furtherance of American com- merce and enterprise, and tlio vast and incalculable benefits to result to us as a great commercial nation out of the aciiicve- ment of tciegrapLic communication wlach shall not only unite Europe to America, but add the whole of Asia, including: Japan, Ciuna, and India, your petitioner most respectfully asks the flivorable consideration of Congress, and that aid for a survey of tlie proposed tclegrapli, and a sulisidy, in the form of a contract, for the dispatch of governmenu messages, bo accorded, so as to meet the concessions of Ilussia and Great. Britain in a co-operative internationai spirit, and for the general intelligence of all nations. And, as in duty bound, your petitioner will ever pray. PERRY McD. COLIJXS. I. -;l'i. aaSO-*«*-C2sa Department of State. Was/ihif/toii, May M, 1804. To the Hon. ZACiiAiiv CiiAxnLEn, CJiaimuoi of the. Conu)iUtcc on Coituncrcc, in tJie Senate of the United Stat' s : Siu : I have the honor to rei)ly to your letter of the luli of April last, upon tlie subject of the memorir.' which lias ]>0('n submitted to Congress by Yiw Perry McDu., .ugii Cv-.llins. Mr. Collins is an Aracrican citi/en, residing in California. lie has been, since 185G, commercial agent of tnis government for the Anioor river. The public archives, as well as the re- cord.s of Congress, furnish satisfactory evidence that iho country could not have a JUure enlightcaed, assiduous, and faithful re]>resentutive. Tlie project which he submits for the consideration of Con- gress is the constr..s tlu' l)onlor of the Unltccl St.ates and t!rrou?;h Ii;-I-i;;h vV.Iiup.bir. and i^a:■',^ian Ar.iorica to (.'ape ]!^-inco of Wales; iIuT.co ac.-.-oss lieV.rlng's Fti-ait toKastCapc; andthenco by an nuand route around the Sea of Okhotsk to tlie ir.outh of the A moor river. 'i'ho telcgrapii lino thus propo>;ed is intended, jn-imarily, to i'oinu'ot at t;ie la.^t-namcd ])kicc Avilh a hue to be extended i.-onithcnoe to Irkoutsk, the capital of Eastern Siberia. At t iiat important town a line of tek-ccraph becjlns, which stretches :nr(,uu-h Tonisk and Omsk, in Western Siberia, Katliorinburg on the Asiatic European frontier, ]*irm, Kasan, Xijne-Xov(> .i;-orod, and Moscow, to St. Petorsliur.:^, the capital of the .ir.ssian Enipnv. The lino j)rojeeted Ijy Mr. C^olllns, from tlic Paeitic Tcle- .:;-raph to Amoor rivor, witli its anticii)ated extension by tlio r:nssian governnient to I'rkouisk, would be tlie one link now I ' ■ . --...^...v..i, ..v.u^r, LUC- cusiLTu una Avesiern continents ana tlie .'••iCiVic ocean to Cape Clear, in Ireland, the westernmost ])ro- joction of Euro])e. "Wlieu a subnnirine cable shall be successfully laid between ( :ip'een the parallels of fortv-two de->-rees and si\'t3^-nve de^!:;Tees of norvii iaiitude. ' "^ 'Jnrec questions arise from yir. Collins' memorial, namely : rirst. Is the enterprise feasible? Secondly. Would it be liseful ? ilurdly. Has it a just claim on tlic 'government to tlio patronao^e which he solicits ? i^shall examine these points in tlieir order. ^ l'r/>i. The feasibility of the enterprise. ' The difficulties to ^.v surmounted inay be classified— physical, political, and tiuancial. _ Tlu; most ]>rominent ]thysical difficulty is the extent of ter- :-.;rory to be traversed. Tlie startin.;^ point must be chosen in ^;iu!er Xobraska, Ivansas, Colorado, Utah, :vrontana, Idaho, Oiyi^'on, or^A^asluno-ton. Tiience the distance to ^,lio lino of 4>ntish Columbia would be about one thousand miles; tlio 'distance to be traversed throuf^h British America, to the lir.o ''•' Alussian America, about six hundred mdcs; the distanco throurrh Iiiussian America to Gupe Prince of Wales, about nineteen liundred rniles ; the length of a submarine cable across Ueliring's atrait would be forty ndlcs ; and the distance X , 4"j iioni j.r.st Cr.;)c', ],y -m hihuul ]):issa;vo .-irouiid tho sou ol' u..aots.:, rwui tliron.crli tho .scttlomcnts oi'Okliotsk, Ay.in, an lines have already been strotehe.l over Btoppes, in both continents, rimilar to those thus described. ihc Paciiic telegraph line, in crossing tlio Sierra Xovada, rises to an elevation greater than that which is to be surmounted on the line now under examination. VVlth tho exception of timber, all the materials of a telo- gr^ph hno are light and portable. Metallic wire sufiicient for ■\\\ I'h M M milo 01 telegraph, together with the iiiatenalH for iusulation, weigiis not more Cicin lour hundred poundo. Sulllcicnt tim- Ih'V fivaits tlic uuil^or along the route tlu-out^h tlic United htr;tt.s and Britisix Cohimbia. Timber ia also Ibund on thosu >rtion.s of tno projected line which lie within the liussiun A.^Q, Cither oy sea or Ironi the fore;st-eovcred .shores of navi v^iiolc rivers. X ho temperature of the region tlirough wliieh the nortliern part of che line would pass is very low/ Xevertlieless, winlcM- is less severe than it is between the same parallels of latitude ,„■> o -x-— ;; — — ..""^^'. i-'--.>'.-.j aiuuiiu Uie VjrUil 01 liOinnUi . u connects bt. I^ctorsburgh with To.-nea, are maintained Im o X'.ation without diniculcy, rdtliougli tliev eroijs as high ])ar- ■ii^els ol latituac as tJiose which lie in the 'way of Mr. C'ollins' . Tiio waters of Behrlng's strait arc about one liundred and ' t'lg.ay leet ciccp, and they are fro/.en through one-half of the >ear; out tne congealed mass, wlien broken, generally takes uic xorm ot ancnor ice, and not tliat of icebei-gs. Thus, cli- ^_^ri.c seems to ol/cr no serious obstacle to the onterpi'iso ; ^J'.'/'^f IS not entirely unworthy of consideration that in cold u..Ludcs tmioer used m any necessary structure is less perish- -oio than timber used in warm latitudes, while less of insulating material is demanded in high latitudes than is HNj Hired in more genial climates. , '''!"-;'\>ly political dinicuHy in tlio wav of llu' «'nt•< tl.'.J .< n'.juu-.':, ro,u-.M;«>d :,id {\Wn lluro s .-.ay, •;u-ui:d hborah y luwan is llie irnited .States, mado ail the c .ice>,sions winoli were demanded. Therefore, if Congress =j.uil grant the application of Mr. Collins, no political obstaeh- J remain. to -luat portion of our own country in which the enterprise is _.iO carried on, is so well known as liardly to require a des- c. ipaou moro nunute tlian I liavo already g^ven. It is newly .uia as yet thmly settled. The case is tlie same in British A^ohanbia. Inuian triocs arc found along the American T^art o^ cue rouio, Out tuey nave been so well subjected to the in- nuonces of society and goycrnmcnt, through the operations ';«.^-':v^ Al ^Ti IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 JfrlllM 125 1^ IIIM ^ i^ IIIIIM 1= U III 1.6 V] <^ /J / ^3 '^ #.^ ^y/_^^/ ''<^^' ^^. /J. Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^%■' ^^ \ :\ \ lv 6^ rv .^^ '%^ 47 Sr^T^rohcS' T?' "\"T^>"« '''''''''''' ^'^^"^ thorn need no appiclienacd. lj,c inhabitants of Asiatic KusKia wlm dwcU mlaud arc nomadi^v^ «'ttlcd into .1 f^^f '''''''^- ""^ M ''''''''''y «^' ^^^<^ts tlius far made is that ; there are no insuperable obstacles, eitiier physical, poliUoal or «omI, m the >vay of t]ie projected line oAeir.';aT ' • to'JJlS^^:? cJt^?'''''' ^''"h '' '^^"^^^^' ^ ^^" '^ ^^ -«"^-n^ lo uici tae Committee oi the Senate to the estimates wliich va'h ':-:\;to "^"'^' ^^^ ''^•- ?^""^^- ^^^y h-'o been mad ^onPv< fn '''"'? '^"' l'"''"''^^^ •'^^"^•^^'« an advance of the moneys to be expended, and at tlie same time to obtain from tne governments of Great Ik-itain, Russia, and the Un te fir .\ ^^l'':''''''^''y political aid. 'it may be assumed tlero fore, that tliey were prepared honestly and cautiouslV -md with as near approach to accuracv as Is possible n rc-i'rl o .'i design in which so much tliat i:s to be done must iTe done nnder conditions never before tried. Mr. Collinres in atcs tlic wliole cost at five millions of dollars. A just le^ slat ivc oaution would probably induce Congress to di.ble'ba e i- m;ue. I understand rhat an association is already torn cd vith a capital of ten millions to be devoted to the eAternri^c I njn, therefore, of opinion that it is entirely feasible ^ l>.lnJr^f^.V' '" ^l'"' "^'^'^ i'^^^^' ^^ ^'«"«i^^^>^ the probable usc- luiness ot the enterprise. .J^ I' ""^n"^^''^ ^^''^ ^"^ •'^"'^^'"^^ ^^'''^ the lino of tele-raph pro- rWsri^' ^^^^^^^^^<\ i'^^«^?^^iately from Amool- i?i ^'to irkoutsk so as to complete tiie telegraphic chain over the d^dri'S^ioiS'^ ^^^^^^^^" ""'''^'-^ ^-- - ^'^^■ It is quite too late at this day to debate the abstract mies- -.on ot the usetulncss of the magnetic telograj^h. It would , ni-r 1^^^ ?"-^'"^^-'^« ?^ commerce, in social intercourse or n political a lan-s, as it would be to forego the use of thi telegraph. To be without it, is to be isolatfd. Otl 'r coi di- tions being equal, the county that has the largest evten io , and the most thorough radiation of the telegraph wire eniov" the most active and proiitablc system ?f LZZl ^^^ I I, liierce. .'om- ic tio foi ])r( C.'U wii rc^i as roi tio; cnj o\v am tl of tel( wit oil be roc( mac to All and ac^c of a ami tioii l^iw S( fhai o rt] ^or (kih Men (;an laml ill d: prod oi" Ji land lU'cS lion: 48 ^ Of the seventy thousand miles of telegraph now in ooera- tiou on the Araoncan continent, dxty thousand niiles arc founu within the United States, and the remainder in the j>rovinces of Lntish America. But commerce on tlie Ameri. can contmeiit delios i)ohtical restraint and centralizes itself within our own country. For ]>ractical i>ur]>oses, we may regard the whole telegraph system of the American continent as our own. but internal commerce i:nparts life to and re- ceives new hte in return from, foreign commerce. In propor- tion to the extent and variety of its resources, the nation that enjoys the most prosperous foreign commerce exhibits the greatest industrial activity and domestic happiness within its own Dorders. ihe vigor which commerce has already attained among us, while we continue to hold our communications with the eastern contment by navigation only, is justly a subject o. national congratulation. Can there be a doubt that if our telegraph system should be connected by a trans-oceanic line with the one that is now performing its equally isolated part . y ,i,. n,., irr,; —.''—' -^i^^ ^.uic.aituug exertions which are made by enlightened men m Kuroi)e a,:uL lor ine over- and ti-amc between Russia and Japan and the mineral treas- u-csol ^erchmsk; with luachta, the center of the intenia- tional commerce ot Uussia and China ; with Irkoutsk, Moscow t I 40 olMll /; r' '"'^'l ''^^ ^''*' ^^^'^^« of Western Kuropo, in- cl. aing Constantinople ; with the cities of Alcxandria/oiiro, cither continent, now m telcgrapliic connection with the sovoral marts of trade wliich ha"ve\)con onunieratca. Ij^vcry one knows, liowcver, tliat neither the American nor ,mM.r"n^'''''"-'^f' "' ^'^' yet attained to its nltimate develoo- nu t. iransiont wars now delay the establinhment of wiris ^rlr'tf'' ^'"'T""' '^an Juan, Panama, Quito, Lima, Val! mrai.0, Buenos Ayres, Montevideo, Kio Janeiro, Sur nam Cai-accas and .Mexico, and tlic incorporating of them, "vitli all their local ramitications, into one American telc-raph sys- tem. On the cubtera continent neither the domestic distur- bances nor the rivalries of States, nor their occasional collis- ions, px event a continual expansion of the telegraphic gysteni. The tele.^raph construction of Russia at thTs clny, like her system oi railroads, presents the frame-work of an imposing stiucturc, the dimensions of whicli arc boldy outlined, while n? ZTf.""'"' '^''f extensions yet remahi imperfect and un- uus.icd. It iu.s been already mentioned that the Emperor has bound himselt to extend the main eastern and weltcrn ln»e iiom IrkouLsk to the mouth of the Amoor river Thi-^ extension is nou' rapidly advancing. But this is only i siu-le and not_ very prominent part of the work which the Empe?or ot Ivussia has begun. His design embraces nothing less than tile following stupendous works, namely: A telegraT.h wire, with tlie necessary submarine cables, from the mouth of thj Amoor river across the straits of Tartary, over the island of .Niklialm, across the straits of La Perouse, over the islaml of Jesso, through llakodadi, and across the straits of San-ar to Veado, the capital of Jaj)an. Secondly. A telegraph wire from the confluence of tlio Lsuri witli the Amoor, whiclr confluence is seven hundred miles above the niouth of the latter; thence southward, on tlu. bank ot the L sun, to lake Kingka; and thence to the port "!• n ^;'^^Vv^^^^^'' ?'' the coast of Tartary, opposite to the port id llakodadi on the eastern coast of the Japanese sea. Vladi Vostok IS selected by tlic Emperor for his naval statiou on the racific coast. Thirdly. A telegraph wire from Irkoutsk, before described as the capital ot ii:tstern Siberia, through Kiachta, now the entrepot oi European and Chinese overland commerce, throu-h the vastterritory of the 3Iongols to the gate in the Chin "se wall at Yahol, and thence to Pekiu, the capitol of the Chinese Empire. American citizens temporarily residin'^- in that covtn- I' .1 "■: I .. 4', I ' •h 50 M, try nro now solicltinf^, with good prospect of kucccss, permis- won from tlio Chinese govorjur^ent to extend this last mention- r.fl line overland through China, to terminate with the needful branches at the ports of Nankin, Shanghai, Amoy, and Canton, on tho Pacific coast, opposite to California. Tlicrc arc already in operation twelve thousand miles of telegraph vrirc in the contnicnt of Australia. This Australian talegraph system, which now is so purely local and isolated, is ncvci'thelcss expected to bo brought into combination by alternating submarine and island wires with the Chineso and Russian wires last desciibcd. I'^ourtlily. . A telegraph wire from a station on the main continental Russian line at Omsk, near the southern boundary of Asiatic Kussia ; thence passhig through Mongolia and en- tering, China at Hue, sometimes called Illy ; thence crossing Turkestan, Bokhara, and i3alk, to Cabool, in Afghanistan; thence to ca))ital points in the Punjaub, where it will meet the telegraphic system of India, :ind tlius become a medium of communication between London and tho colonial depen- dencies of Groat Britain, the Netherlands, Sy)ain and Portu- gal, on tlie shores and islands of tlie Great Indian ocean. Fifildy. A telegraph wire from Kazan, on the main cen- tral Russian lino, through Georgia and Circassia, along the western shore of tlie Caspian sea, to Teheran, the capital of Persia ; thence to the Ku])hratcs, at Bagdad ; thence, descend- ing along the banks of that historical river to its mouth, at the head of the Persian gulf, there to be connected with the Oriental telegraph system of India last before nientioucd. Wlien we take into consideration the fact that Russia has «.lroady brought all her chief inland markets and mines, as well as her principal ports on the coasts of the Arctic ocean, into telegraphic communication M'ith her capit:il, it is readily perceived that, l)y olfering to co-operate with \is in giving oflect to ?if!r. Collins' design, Russia actually invites us to put forth our national energy from every i)oint within our bor- Jicrs whore industry of any kind dwells, and especially from our nortlnv^cstern and western States, and aj)ply that energy in the great work of renewing and restoring the long lan- guishing civilization of the regions wliore our race iirst im- pressed its dominion upon the globe appointed for its rosidenec. Certainly it cannot bo necessary to say that such efibrts be- long to the class of human labors which are pronounced to be doubly blessed, because they bless equally those who are the hubjects and those who arc tlio performers of them. It seems impossible to over-estimate the direct effect of this new appli- I- I 'i 51 cation oi' the natlonul energy in i>ro(liicing a rapM and yet permanent acveloinncnt oi' the aartmont of State, uud a knowlodr^o ot that laot lias not boon witlihcld from Contrrcss °' I tliink it may bo rogardocct, coniidcnce, and .tcood will abroad, and so secure peace with forei.irn States, without usinc? the magnetic telograpli when it is possible; and that the United States eannot even hope to i)reserve peace and order at liome, much CSS to maintam a military and naval ])olice on their inland nontiers and around their ocean coast, without availing them- sel\es ol all feasiole telegrapldc communications ^ iMiially, It seems to me that in extending dominion over inland mountam regions, and setting up the national Hag on ine I acific coast, the American people, however inconsTder- "^IfluZT.f ''l%'^''\y ,-'' aitlLirlg'an equal ciSion througl^out the wliolo ot tlic great country whieli they thus .neluded withm their borders.^ Xor would it be wise t^ shut out Irom our tJioughts the consideration which neccssarilv results from contemplating calmly the positions and the iv- sources ot our new north-western and Western States. It becomes our duty to act upon the conviction that, from this me liencciorth, those States are to ]>erform an important part .n a great work wliioh shall make the shores of the Tacilic ocean the homo of communities that shall bo as busv as rJhnl^?'; •'/'''' ^' e"%^^tened, as powerful, and as hlppv as those which now cluster upon the Atlantic shores. The Ailaiuic States, by their intermarriage with those of the I ac.iic, have come under an obligaiion to favor this -reat development. t •->.-,•*. ui What :\Ir. Collins asks of Congress is the grant of a ri-ht of mX,T.l!'' "" P^^l^^.^^^^^^^, ^vitii the right to take theix-from materials necessary lor constructing the line; the use of a vl; ^'-Ind^n'' 'r'^'^^'V^ ""^r'"^ ^"^^ equipped, to make sur- 1} m -J , .....*. ^j,, ^ .^(-ijjuiaicu compensation lor tiie v'ouVlt ^^' l^^^'^'^^^^ i<^ -^^^^li ^>o constructed. "If the rri ;!> s^^^^^itted are just, tliis demand for patronage is ?;? f^.^^T'?'-'"'^.''^^ unreasonable. Wo could not with- and ft-Io ^'liv'' '^?'^\"- ''' 7'''''^ oi'-'^PPi-eciation of the liberality wio 1 -J^ '' v/hicii have been manifested towards the United States by Russia and Great Britain in the proccedin-s they liave adopted towards the same enterprise I do not know 53 .'iny one object lying witliin the scope of our ibrei-n relations more arrectly uuportunt than tlie preservation of peace an 1 tnenclship ^vith those t^vo great and enliglUenod PowerK A or can 1 conceive of any one measure of national ■)olicv that would more eilectually tend to secure that -real obiect tlnn the construction of thfs proposed interconti.rental tc^c^'raph 1 lorbear to urge the project in competition with the pro- posed hue across tlio Atlantic from Cape Clear to Cape liace Nvlnc , notwithstanding past difficulties, I yet ho],. to 'e^ speedi y completed The two lines would naturally aid and mUtb 'i^r'^''^'- If^^fy^J^ould even come into com- Tiih: Knithd Statks ok Amkui<;a, ok thh Uigh'i' ok Way ani> Aii» TO PkUUV MSV. Petcrshurq. May 2n, 18U;). \ lo -Major Collins: III consequence of your petition of *24tli December, 1802, bj which you boUcit i)ennission to form a company projected by yourself for the establishment of a teleo-raph from America to the moutli of the Amoor river, upon the basis stated in your petition, I have the honor to inform you tliat this atfair lias been examined by the oliicer performing the duty of Governor General of Eastern Siberia, and It ha^s been laid afterwards before the Siberian committee. ' Accordi..g to ihe decision of the said committee, confirmed on the 15th day of May of this year by Ids Majesty the Em])cror, it has been decided to inform you as follows : Tile choice of the most advantageous direction for con- structing the telegraph line by your projected company can be left without the least impediment, to the option and uiiuutcst consideration of the undertakerp. • I, I; I I • ; 55 The coiupany will luivc the ri^vlil to establish alone; the tc'IcG:raph lino i)ropcr und safe stations, convenient roads lor surveys and repairs of the line, and likewise ports at those places where larqc stations upon the coasts will be appointed to be erected — considering at the same time tliat the stations near Jk'hrint^'s strait ought to be constructed in sucli manner as to be able to defend them against the natives in case ol" attack. For the defence of these stations, armed men are to be kei)t for account of the comi)any, consisting of Russians, in no large but sutlicicnt numbers, and who coiild be changed every two years. However, as the successful operation of the tclegrai>li, and consequently the advantage of the com- pany, depends upon the fulfillment of the above condition, this clause is not made an imperative duty of the company, under consideration that the Ilussian government does not take upon itself any obligation of paying annually any money to the company for damages after achiovcmcnt of the telc- gra]ih. The company's proposition of establishing along the tele- graph line villa.ges, and of ])eopling them with exiled cul])rits, appears to be inconvenient, according to the opinion of the otHcer perfonijing the duty of (Tovernor General of Eastern Siberia, for the reason that a large portion of the land alone: which the line will be constructed is but little or not at all convenient for colonization, and further, because the rough climate of the above tract of land may have a deleterious intiuence upon the exiles brought there from other ]>rovinccs or countries having a more salubrious climate. According to the o})inion of the same officer, acting as Gov- ernor (Tcneral of Ivastern Siberia, all workmen, andli portion of the servants^ on duty along the projected telegraph line, .should be ]{ussian subjects; and as many as possible ought to be married men, with their families. This will likew'isc bo important to the company in an economical point of view, as well as in regard to its relations with the Russian govern- ment. The term r*olicited by the eoni puny, viz. : five years in wliich to establish the telegraph, and thirty-three years for exclusivo privilege of the same, can be granted, under condition that if, m the course of the tinst two years, no beginning should bo made, or if, after tlic cxjjiration of live years, the whole line should not be achieved and put in operation, then the privi- IvjXv. is to eeas(«. The company cannot be allowed to exercise any right or power iu the Rubsiau dominions throtigh which the telegraph S I* ■iH'i, r \V1 to Co Ri; of ol' CO] roc 1 CO. oo: foi an tbl of wi at ail be wo an tio foi CO po At lc\ no till up iiu sai Ai Ih l>y cu th 56 ',» will pa,s>s ; wor is tlicrc any necessity to subordinate the natives to the control of the company, v/ho live from the frontiers of , (^clonics in Asiatic Russia to the frontiers of settlements in luussian America, theso natives beinj^ already under eontroi of ccovcrnmcnt established by law — of native and other chiefs. As far as concerns, however, the friendly free-will contracts of the natives with the company, of hirinc( for work and for iiiua-i'ding the telegraph, the local authorities, guarding, ac- cording to their means, will control the fultiUment of tlieir reciprocal agreements. The governnient considers it inconvenient to grant to the company the full possession of territories for exploring and constructing the telegraph, but the company can be allowed, for unimpeded construction and repair of the telegraph line, niid for the erection of houses for stations, dwelling-houses for workmen, and for service people during the whole period of privilege, to make use of the necessary land, and to employ, without taxes for above purposes, timber, wood and materials at the places appointed by government. The expedition and tariff of dispatches must be in accord- ance with tiie rules generally adopted for telegraphs, and therefore the government dispatches must liave preference of private dispatches, as agj'ced upon by telegraph conveiitions between Russia and the neighboring' European powers; and, upon ihc whole, the order of transmission and tariff nnist be arranged according to tlic example of international conven- tions concluded between Russia and other powers. There- fore, before the achievement of the undertaking of the com- yiany, and before the beginning of operations of its line, the company must send to St. Tctersburg a deputy, with full powers for said special agreement upon the aforesaid basis. At all events, the tariff, by which permission will be given to levy payment for dispatches transmitted by their line, nuiKt not exceed the tariff adopted in Russia. For the encouragement of the undertaking of the comj»any, the government can allow a deduction (rebate) of 40 })er cen*t. upon the not profits of dispatches transmitted along the Rus- sian telegraph lines solely to America and back ; but finds it inconvenient to pay an annual subsidy of one hundred thou- sand rubles, because the mercantile intercourse of Rus>ia with America is not very considerable. The principal benefits of the telegraph line })rojectcd by the company will be derived by America, England and France, and by the great conuuer- cial cities of Holland and the north of Germany, with whom the com]-)any should make an agreement to obtain from thcin the subsidy required. f' .1,- i ' I. I I ' I t ' I • I . I. I \ 57 Verclino Oredinsk "to'a l^^(Z:S^7^:t^J::^ Tw throcfTr'^'l ^^^^^^^-^P^^'i" join ours, aXL e ^f about three thousand vcrsts 2,000 miles,) requiring an cx- SXs.) '' "^"' ^'"^^'"^^ '^^"^•'^"^ ^^^^^« r^'v'^0 To leave the construction of the intormcaiate line to vou ^'lUZ ^ T?'P^ '?"^^^^'"^ '' <^^"«i^ered inconvenient.^ .,ii'^r;y-./Ji".^>^^f'^^^ Government will not be^^in the cc i.i'1^.r^r^.^r .^"u^.^c oi us snares, lor at least ono-hair oi the mmmium cost of your projected telc^ranli -nd thn production ofa plan of the'directionof thelinSfe Jec d and approved by your company. ^ Bciecica . Fulfilling the duty of director-in-chief of ways of commu- nication and public buildings, > j- "^ coniinu IHELNIKOFF, I^lcutenant' General of JSnqi7ieers. Ikcislon of Jlcr .Majesty's Government oranting aid and yhi of way for cstaUisJdnrj a Telegraph across Her Mlajesty's dominions on the li^ortk Pacific, in connection with a line across Asiatic liussia aiui America, connecting Europe xoith the United States. Offics of tue Secretaey of Stater . rOR THE COLOXIES, > Uoicmny Street, London, Febniarg 0, 18C4. j Sii: : I ani directed by the Duke of l^cwcastlc to couvcv to you tac decision of Iler ^.lajesty's Government with reference to . he proposal submitted by you in previous correspondenco vl?.S^^l\'^i",? "" ^^"^P'''- ' to construct a telegraph across I t ■ 8 .08 'ncnt, stalinir the terms n., .!! ; .k \* 'i"^ -V^ '^"•^•^i''^" ^^overi). works no;;. V to Z;;.rio ''f- ^'^^^VT""^*">^ ^^ ^'"^^' ^^^O^sl^s G^;^!^^,^ ^,t t^;^ '^ '^-- >•-« that Ilor the iK-cissaiy n^o htfo hVi?]^^^ p.vparod, in case British Columhia hci^'urLt^^'^y ^^'--"^-^ i" ^^■^•nrc to the proposed cU r.nv i, "^ -Inmiary, 1 807, to I'oMs, and other requisite u-ort J '' ^' '?^'^-^'^>V'^'''' y yow, in coi.certNvitir t ,C^Z^{' r' '^ ^'" ^^-tennineor}H,od of the lei. "^ I ^''' •*"''^ "^^^"^'^ ^*» tlie nei-li- ••-n -'-icrstood t],at the ri'^t'oruse" o ly' ' tl^f ' ^r-"^""' ^^^ :-^- the purpose of tl>e1elec,^ra) h • ?t ^hc n I ^'"^^ •' -''^'^'^'^^ "J ilie croAvn. "" ^ ' '^^ ^'^^ ^<^'' '•^Jnanis veste''1'">" ■-"Oh ciuurrics or fecst Kn 1 's n v'. '""I""''"'.V '•■O'n sal. iiJst DC also «n- dorstood that, in case ol* cniorgciicv, unv block-liousu or iU- lensiulo post may bo tukon possession of Ly the Gov(,rijment. -a. ihe Crovvriunent wlU <,'ruiit or allow tlio company sucli nglUs oi way, ui connection with tlic tele<'ruT>h lino as uix- neeessary ior its construction and maintenance. * •'Id. Ihe com])any will ho allowed to fence and oeoupv a a certain inimber oi' lots of cultivatable gronnd in the noi'^h- borhood ot tliou- stations or block-houses for the su),])ort'^or their servants. '■ •itlj. Tiic Colonial l.e^^-islature will bo recommenue.l to allow all supplies, materials, stores and elothinir intendc^d for the use of tlie com])anyV, service or for the construction of the line, to be admitted free of duty until tlie })criod fixed f.r the completion of the telenrraph line, provided it be found that tins pnvilegc can bo accorded without fiscal inconvenience. oth. IJie company will also be allowed, on some ]>art of the coast to be selected by themselves, subject to the ai)proval ot the Government, landing; places as ample and convenient as the localities \vill allbrd for importincj the above stores and materials. (3th. On the other Jiaiid, it is to be understood tluat all tlie.-e privile.ues arc to cense on the first day of J.anuary, 1870, un- less helore that dale the telegraph line is comi,Ieted and com- munication established between the Amoor and the T'nitCil states, in connection with the east coast of America; that the working ol tlic telegraph and the proceedings of the compauv m J^ritish Columbia will be subject to such gener.al laws as may be passed for the regulation of telco-raphic communica- tion, wluch will i)robably i)rovide that in the colony of Hritlsji Co uinbia messages to be sent on beh.alf of the imperial <.r Colonial Government will take precedence of all others, and that the Government may take possession of the telegraph tor its own pur{)Oses in case of emergency, subject, of course, to reasonable compensation. Lastly, it must be clearly secured, as a condition of the whole arrangement, tliat the general arrangements of the telegrapli shall be such as to place English, Russian, and American messages u])On an e(iual footing in rc-ard to the use of the line. ^ ""' Her jMajestv's Government do not doubt that these niat- ten^ can be satisfactorily arranged on the basis suggested bv the Russian Government in the^following extract from General JMelnlkoii's letter of the 23d of May, 18G3 : "The expedition and tariff of dispatches must be in accordance with the rules generally adopted for telcfrraplis, Tliercforo the Government I , T or J 10 t bet Art n h s ^8t A n \\\ ii:ive rnit oloct the 1 lic'hr bot the t inter ( i(,vc const lo uii ject.e( l'^nit( a Un( aiHiKitchcs must liavo prococlonoe over ])nv:ao aispatchoH as :i-2voa ui.::i l,y toloo-nipli convention botu'ocn J^isii.i and tlio r.c.-i-al,onn- ituropean Powors; and, upon tlio wholo, Uu^ oruor oi tninsmission and tariir must bo an-ano-cd aocordino- o the example ol mtcrnational oonv(Mition.s oonclndod hyand betwoon tho difiorent Powers concornod." I am, sir, your oLcdiont servant, }> xr..i) r' V '^- FKKD'K KLLIOT. i . Mrl). C 01.1,1 \s, Esq. !• I yict^ of Congress of the United States of AmmWf, ynmthuj <''UMofwa>/- nitei national ana commercial intercourse; and whereas the -.v.rnment of liu.sia, in i\a-therance ol" that ol,ic^.t, i. 01 . ructing a line of teleo-rapli throu.^li its Asiatic terJ IS now itory to unjte, at the mouth of tiie Ainoor river, with the lino pro- rSed LS^^ ?'-^"''^' and whereas the Government of\lie Ch-cuBHAn .•?';'>'''' T'^Y}^' '^ ^'^-^P^'^-'-^^^ ^vith Russia and ^inonAf V'^^'^^^^-i^^^^^'''^"^ ^"^^ maintenance of sucli a ime of communication: Xow, therefore Vi 61 of the I'uci ic.c^o :S o™2>^t^,r'"' "'• ''"'"'" "" "'"■ ''"'■ of C'onrr,v,^o „", •■^'•■l'"'i'""'''™«t<-''l in mirsuanoe ol tlio act ;.rr Asa's- "■■ "E ==Si:.3''uS loncs. And lor the purposes aforcs'iid thc^ «nM r^^ir i- ...aintaini. i; fail liner -„dt,-'^.'?r'" "' '■st^'l'lisluns anj forty acres for cacli ^l\^.n .^.nf '^^ v ^ stations, not exccoain- publio lan^rnVth?!' ^- ^ S^^""^ ^^ ^'"° constructed across tl.« SP. V;^f -1^ ^■'''''^^ ^^''^^^s. «<> lo"£r as the same mav be tlie Uiiita stf /' ^'^ A^Mcr .;.«cra7, Tliat tlie Govermnent of 'M I , &2 I ;):tcd States, aud to iisi» tl>o »!.,,,». i *'v.. ^ ' \v.l in .»n^,.,. »• nu ^St pli mr sp. St. dr ]in I , >o Certificate o.- Finak Fon.uAno.v o.- a Compan-y fou Con- sTKurK,^in, P^^^Vn\^i^^ ^^? cightcentli day of March, 18G4, Major leiiyl^.ciX Colnns Amencan Commercial Agent and latc acting Consul at St. l>et.rs],urg, Uussia, made over, tra a^ (erred .-uul conyeyed to this Company, all the grants ri-htn n.t ••''"' "''''") f'^^'^^^^'y^t^ i-clating to tlie establish- meut o a elegraph line connecting Europe M'ith the United States by tne way of the Xortli l>acific Ocean aud AsiSc That in consideration thereof, and for the purpose of acconi'- phshmg the object aimed at, in tlie most speedy and eJiicient manner, his Company as autliori.ed by its cliarter, created a spec.al stock 01 this Comv,any, denominated tlio Extension .Hock consisting oi one liundred thousand shares of one lum- dred dolhirs each, ior the construction of a new tcle-ranh line Irom some convenient point on the present liue«^ of ♦hi- i'l 64 Coiapuny, M-est ot v.hic.'i-o, to the mouth of the Amoor river, m eastern Asm and connecting the tcle-rapli systems of the ivastcrn and Western Continents by the way of Behrin^'s That of the ten millions of dollars of stock so created, eicrlit mi hons lour hundred and thirty.four tliousand six Im'ndm < oHars or ci-lity-four thousand three liundred and fortv-siv honahdc stocklioders-more than tv/o-thirds of whom arc ^tocknoldors m this Company-and the first call of five per v-.;^--r^ ^^T^^? this Company. That tlie balance of sich e.vcension stock is held by this Company, and has not been vervli^^^ That the stocLo'issued is held at u n?. ^-n ''^^"^ premium, and considerable sales liave been maae at advances of from thirty to sixty dollars a share. .nU ed '" Xn w\^'^ '^ ^"^^' '''/'' >'^^'^- ''''^ -^ -^ tntitlcd,_ An Act to encourage and facilitate telec.raphic communication between the Eastern and Western Conth e ts '' ^-as passed by the Congress of the United States ot" Amer ci auu a]>proved bythc President of the United States -rant „'' and assin-xng the right^ to construct and maintain Sch he Jr mies ot tcle-raph to the boundaries of British America with ■J'lh - ^^^^' -'"'"'^ ^^'"^ ""'-^^ ^^ take timber and stone lor con.«,truction purposes, and the use of forty acres of hi d or each hiteen miles of line constructed aJro^ the PubHc lands of the United States. Also in order to en^uri^r a, d nine in tod States, authorizing the Secretary of the Yaw o uetail lor the use of the sun'Cys and soundh o-s and for tho transportation of materials, and tor such as tahcVas^^^^^^ 00 ueemed best calculated to secure the successfurp^onotbn -c^ccictaiy oi War to direct tue commanders of militoi-v ---^. ...^ .,^,..^. a.iiau una Company is now actively en^^a'^ed mimrchasmg and providing miterfal for the constnictfon of ;' nn ' r^ "' orgamylns ^'^cl fitting out parties for explor .uions and surveys ; and it has entire confidence in it. abi itv a.id believes it will complete the construction and ^ out le^t c^^idlinc within thej^eriod of the five years as renu rid -Liiat^iajori^n-ryMcO. Collins is one of the directors of this Company, and has been constituted a mana<^in^d rector h ■i I 65 for tho conrstnirtion of Kaid Extension Line, with authority to act in behalf of thifj Company in respect thereto. In witness whcrcof^^ the President and the Secretary have subscribed their namea and caused the coi-j^orate 8cal of the Company to be afaxed hereto. HIRAM SIBLEY, Prcs'l. [l. S.J O. H. PALMER, Sec'y. • Dated at Itochcstcr tlic '6\st ) cknj of Atfr/uaiy 1SQ4. f Bank op Nortu Amkuica. Mw Yorhy IScpt. 5, 1864. ^I am well acquainted with the oflicers of the Western Union Telegraph Co., and familiar with the affairs of the company, and believe the within statement to be true in every particular. JOHN P. YELVERTON, I'rcsU. 'I I Wc arc and have been acquainted with the ofuccrs of the Western Union Telegraph Co. for a long time, and have full confidence that the foregoing statement is reliable in every particular. m^o York, Sept. 5, 1SG4. VERMILYE &> CO. From enquiries tliat wc have made, wc believe the within statement is correct and reliable. BROWN BROTHERS & CO. Ncio York, Sent. 5, ISO 4. I state with pleasure that I have full confidence in the siandincf and responsibility o£ the ofuccrs of the Western iruion Telegraph Co. to carry out all their engagements, and that the utmost reliance can be placed in their statement. Mio Yoyl\ Sept. 7, 1SC4. 9 AUGUST BELMONT. tidei is 01 .\ pros inon vhut New A do 1 TclC; .0 I't: r 17 XL respc the 1; I^ 66 Wc have personal acour.isitariuc with Mr. Hiram Sibley, rrcsiJcul of Cm Western Uai on TcIo;-.;raph Co., and have con- lideacc iu^ any statement ho may malcc. Tho Company itself is ono of'iho most prosperous and responsible in this country. .Vcw yod\ ioratc bof.y under the laws of this state, with undoubted responsibihty and liability to carry out its contracts under tnc kiw. In witness v/hereof, I have hereunto set ray hand and afib:cd the privy seal of the State at the city of \ ^'^ 'I Albany, this 13th day of September, in tlie year -, siiAL - ot our Lord one thousand eight hundred and — ' — ^ sixty-four. ,, . , ^ HORATIO SEYMOUR, by the Governor. D. WiLLEKs, Jr., J'rlcatc JScc'i/. I «T 0:«GI.N-AL Pr..VN- or TH:. D,P.K,.Tro.v OK ..„, KOfTK O.- •,■„. TELKGltAPn AS >«:Q,,-ir.ED «v THE TKP.^S OK T„K ..-.Ksr Rf^SIAN OEAXT, .SL-B1„1TK,. TO I„B CoMMASDKH-.V. Un.K 0. P..UC WAV.,, II..S Ex-c.,.,.K.ov. I.KrrK.VAV. ^EXKKAL MkLXIIvOFP. -^*- '0 -p. XcD. Colhm, dcacd &. Paor^Tmrg, May 23etjoctand secu.. tlu. constructio.r'of a .^Suo^ ^f^^ K.apli lion, tne i nilcd States to connect bv means of ha Uussian Asuitic telegraph with all th« States of Kui^^^p, ^ !■ I ''I •ll- i|i \ V n luissi consii of t;i Six at iiv oIq c the c, is 6 GS Fiilb. The accompanying map entitled, " P. McD. Collins* ])ropose(l overland telegraph ma Belning's strait and Asiatic Ivussia to Europe, under RuEsian and British grants," may be considered as covering substantially the plan of tlie direction of the line finally selected and approved by the company. Sixth. The minimum cost of the proposed line is estimated at five maiions of dollars ; but in order to cover every possi- ble contingency, and to provide necessary auxiliary lines, the cajiital has been fixed at ten millions of dollars. In witness "vyhcrcof, the President and Secretary have subscribed their names, and caused the corporate seal of the Company to be auixed hereto. IIIRAil SIBLEY, Presklent. , -^-^^ ) O. 11. Palme K, Sccrct(mj. - S12AL [■ ^. — P. MoD. CoLLixs, Managing Director. Dated, Hochestcr, the 3l$t i da]/ of A'ugzisty ISM. j 69 C0LLEC:i02{ 0? LA\YS AKD REGULATIOiXS OF THE IMPERIAL RUSSLIN GOVERNMENT, PUBLISHED BY THE SEBJE. -♦• .. y tlis submciiija telc^TiipIl C02 . . 2. The choic ;^.i;.'cu to tliu con; ■-iC'Vs.c to tlio nun ' ^ ^ ■ . -1 ^ i<.'.i. Wiciioiit :iny i Ouiisideratioii ot tli .^3, The right "ioi:o; the telegrup; J'oads lor tlie survc "'0:s(; places on tii •'^i"uct<'d iu Miicli ;i >•'» 'dioso stations, ^■•v|jC'nse, witli the U.HhUonsstipu'MUd between the Jiuselau Tdem-mh Depart- .net and Mram SilU,j, Es^a,-c, flcmpotentlary of the .imcncau V.estcrn U,aon Tdcjruph Company, for the. i.alhsh,ne,U of a telegraphic communicotio,, 'letvee,, ^ ^2 1 SSI a and America. j^ 1. Exclusive right is granted to tlio Company : ^'W/y. To construct nt its own oxDeiiso i tolno-ro, i.; . ■■o?s to tho'iT-^t*^" ^'^T"''.' ^'^^ Kussian-American posset- -.0 .. oo tl.o juncion point w.th the American Telo-raph,^- .- ^f y^f^^ •■Z?,^?* f ^ tolcgra:.h during a period of tlurty- An:^^?'r.-.,F;:° °°^F^7 23 pcmiittca, in establishing --__>.„, 3 TTiU 00 joana Eocc;;2ry in order to eeou-e the te.o-,Tapi. commtmio^iion between Bu=da and A^e^of ■.\x^: iTll "'''"''''^ °^ *^ ""'' advantagcons direction to be ;-^us lor tlie surveying of tlio line, rina al.so landing? hoes n 00 ^t^ :;;::? ^;;,,^^- --^^«-^> ^^--•e those st:ai^^ ?n W u.i acted. l},e stations near Jk'liring\s .Strait must be oon- : -S'il? .:?!!!. -^ "^— ' 0^^^ ^^ ^^bl^to defend themsel^ cuciio fct^tions, tiio Company js bound to keei> at it^ oxvn -vpense, witli the consent and subject to the control of the 11 71 loc:u cliicf authonties, un armed force, coiiaiating of Russians, ill no large, but sufficient nuniLers, v/hicli might Lc relieved every tVv'O years. Ilov/cver, as the iiuccessful Vorking of tl'c telegraph and cont;equcntly the advantage of the Company denenda upon the fullilment of the above, the keeping of a military force is not made an imperative duty for the Com- pany. The Russian Government does not take upon itself any responsibility, cither duiing or afler the construction of the telegraph, for any injuries which may be caused to it. this will be found possible without turning prejudicial to the enterprise. g-^. For completing all the works for the construction of the Russian-American telegraph, a term of live years is fixed from the day of the coniirmation of the present agreement, with the condition, that if in the course of the first two years no beginning of the construction should be made, or after expiration of live years tlie whole line should not be achieved, or the telegraph sjiould not l)e opened upon tlie whole extent of the line, then the Company shall forfeit the present exclu- sive grant and the right to the allowance of 40 j)er cent, upon tlic net produce. But the Company will retain the right to term of five years an additional term of one year will be given to the Company for the completion of the telegraph. §t). The present grant does not invest the Company with any autliority over the Russian possessions, tlirough which the telegrapli shall pass, nor does it give the Company any right to claim submission from the natives inhabiting the /:. iiitic ])Ossessions of Russia or Russian America. As far as concerns the voluntary agreements of the natives with the Company, relative to the hiring of Avorkmen and guarding the telegraph, the fullillment of such mutual agreements and contracts may be placed under tlic inspection of the local authorities, as far as tlieir means reach thereto. ^ any property riic present grant docs not c6nccde to the Company >orty title to the lands through which the line will ill .. *i nui ; but the < rcp:ii!* of tlic t Ljuai'd houses occU}>y and m: W'^<\ of tlio nc within ccrtiiin local ;iut]ioriti( ]i'.ir}»oses, limb ;ipi)oiute(l by wlicucc the Cc ilk' ])ropci'ty o :< s. The li icinporarily th !o!i'jrin tin)e ol' e.\'i 'ii>;i;iLclit's, as \ v,( I'll Russia .'1 '•i':i.iy, all the "i-iiU'li U!» <,\\ Viie tarlir by -w ;)aLches must n^ cigii corrcspoHi 72 nni; but the Company is r.llovv'cd for the construction and repiiir of the telegraph lino, and the erection of stations and •j^nwvd houses (and uuildings) for workmen and agents, to occupy and make use, during the v/hole period of the privi- \r^(\ of the necessary lands belonging to the Government, within certain boundaries, wliich will ""be determined by tlic local autliorities, and to draAV v/ithout payment, for the above j»;Lri)Oses, timber and other building materials from the places appohited by Government, provided the lands and forests whence the Com])any will draw materials for building remain ihc ])roperty of the Government. Tlie liussian Government can in case of need occu[)y loi ;< s. Tlie liussian Government can in case of need occu[)) ?;nporarily the houses, block-houses and posts of defence, bo ingiug to tlie Company in the possessions of Russia. ;^ i'. Tlie Company is not allowed to transfer without the knowledge and consent of the Russian Government its rights 01" obligations with regard to the telegraph in the possession of l\ussiato any other Com})any, person or to whomsoever it 1)0 ; uor is it allowed to stipulate directly in its own name any :ilo2,'raphic conventions with any other Governments, com- jiauies or })ersons, relative to the transmission of common dis- icitclics, newspaper intelligences, etc. The junction point of the Company's telegra])h with •ernment telegraph in the city of Xicolaievsk must be J 10. ■.lie Govi ai the Government ^Station in said city, where the necessary conirol board for the mutual accounts shall be established. jLcjiKirk. In case of necessity the Controling Station may in accordance with local circumstances be established at another point. ^11. TliC transmission and tarifls of dispatches must be iv'j;ulated in accordance with the rules generally adopted for ;>'k-gr;ip]is, and therefore Government dispatches, with regard ;w liinc of expedition, must liave precedency over private i.i>;i:il.ch('s, as agreed \ipon by Telegniphic Conventions bc- i.',? 17. In order to cncourar.-c tlic nn.lr.rf.ii-;., , *i /. .neat grants to tlic Con.i.ai.yTin llow- nee ^ 7. ' ^'^'''■"■ the not produce of dis ..tJl.s ;^!:?^.;^^.d'l>; ^ ' S:iS;; (government tek-rapl) lines to and from AmJiL JlH _ Considering tluit tlie annual net profit of all tlie lines 01 i.uss a cannot he detennined beibre tlio enf t i It ,?f vear ot the iollou.n.g year, the setlkwuent of tl.e a eeu n ii* the (.o.npany and the p;iyment of tlie ahove s\ L o 40 per cent, will notS/e ellected belbro L^ '^ u"^;^;^:^ t!ie ensuujg year. '-"^ '^i- August ot ,n ^ /?• '^y, ^P^'^'V^^'^y i-^ l^ouiul on domand of the (iover- nieiit to estabush now telegra]>h stations, witlu.,.t • nv ren n' nerat.onJor the same, at sueh /owns and ph^ce^ aJ^ng ^l^lh le 1': of wli t]u tlic Co Co prvi CO! WO Co to tlu tVo oln Til LO the ari rie V s, t UK Oc tio; oi' api etc Ml'* (Til l.U- ;i;u in;] I Hi'; lUlt u of iho C'oin])any's tclcpjrai)li witlila tlio posscKsions of Uus«iji, Y/iiei-c tlio Government will judge it necessary. Moreover, tlic Government lias the right to suspend v/ires of its own for the exclusive transmission of Government dispatches on the Compaiiy's telegraph posts, as also to join its own lines to the Company's telegraph and place its apparatuses at the Com- pany's stations. v< 20. The Com]uny is bound to keep its telegraph line in good order, so as to secure to the (iovennnent'the constant orderly transmission of dispatches ; in conse(iucnce, if afier completion of the construction and oi>c'ning of the line, the working of the telcgraj)!! should from an}? cause cease' the Company is bound to take the nu)st active jneasures in (Jrder to re-estabhsh without delay the communication; and should the working not be re-established within one year and a half troiu the day of stoppage, then the Company forfeits its e.\. c.usive privilege and its right to the allowance of 40 per cent, i ae privilege hhall not be forfeited, if the injurv occasioned lo the telegraph and the stoppage of the correspondence thpreby produced for more than one year and a half, should anse Ironi an insurrection or war operations on those territo- ries, where the Company's line runs. § 21. The Company is allowed, during the construction of tne telogra])h and three years after iis com])letion, to import live ot duty from abroad, through the ])orts of the Pacilic Ocean, all tiie materials and tools necessary for the construc- tion and maiuLcnance of the line, as ;dso victuals ami articles 01 clotlung for the people emploved on the Company's tele- graph hue within the possessions of Russia. >> 22. The CJovermnent reserves to itself the right at any tmie to survey and inspect, through such persons^as it may appoint, the construction of tlie Company's telegraph, as also, after its completion, the telegra}>h line witli all tiie stations, etc., within the J iussian possessions. s^ 2;>. Ill order to contribute; as miu^h a« possibh; lo the M. -i-ess of th(! present Undertaking of public utility, the (lov- • •luMient will adoj)t, iu accordance with the views of the chief local authorilies. t! U! measures necessary los 'i;up iring the C'oni- y s telegraph from being maliciously injured l)y tlu' local i)v-pulation; but at the same time the Covernment refuses to take u])On itself any resj)onsibiIity for such injuries of anv nature whatever. I • 75 (iovcnunonf nwl f]w /v -""^vi;iiicnL oi ooiii lines the tumptod transnnssion of the corrcspondcnco of tl.c whole i^ 2.'. () llie C will. n ox]n oni nition of the tliirly-tlirce years, for whicl p.'iny s ex(.hi.sive privilege is r^ruiUed, the ( lis It judges convenient, grant a'l I , the (lovennncnt urtlier term for a deter- 10 ana enter a new agreement with tl le mined period' of tin l>.'iny sjiall ])resorve tl will 1 ,::i!;^^';! *''''-'»«-,.). wm ^•k;i:r:.,i^,i:urcr >ave beeii allotted to it. O use of the Government land s, wine of the term of tl no men privile< I and of tlie Oomi)any will meet _ year before the expiraiio: e, riejiipotentiaries of the Govern order to stipulat § 2r>. AH diir a new agreement. at St. Peterslmr: in ally erences, snits and claims, whicli may eventn- arise in inlxm^ from the sfijiidations of tl le ])resent a£:ree- to the lawsoi tlie Kussian Kmpire. ''^'-"^'^ ^'y IIIUAM Sir,LEV, p. Mrjx roi/Lixs. '/» T/ir « M/rr/j I Sfla. ADDITIOXAL (^LAFSIO. nc oo^omon. .Ilj.nlaled on the 0th March, l^,o, hct^nccu th. Lass.nr m.p-aph Jj,part„cnt and llhau, Slhl,,, llnuiu.lnahm, of the An,er!can Western Union Tele- t/raj.h (Unni.unj, for the estahlUhnent of a tdeqraphic oouunmuealton Inta^cen Russia, and America. iruX'^a ^;f:;"'^^''':^ "f ^l;^ '^' \r -"^- Htipulatod in the 17rh aituU., a >t,:,t<.m(.nf shall ho unts oi tlio 'I\>Io_l;t;\1)1i Dopannicni, iri'; nficr Uclucliii-- from the total i^i-oss prodnco tlie lot:il ol nil the cxiu'iiscs in uvncrai, that havo lu'cn omploycl 1<""1'>^' i^'h'-rni.h Drpartmcul. TIumi tlio <4ross produce of Mio (iisiutchcs trniisinittcd ])>- the liussiau ^clc-raph lines exchisivc'ly to an.l fr., ni AuKM-ien, will ho detenuiiied, and tiwn tins sum will l>e deducted, proportionally to the relation oi tlie ,i4:oneral net ])ro(luee to the i^'eneral rrross income, the nunil)er ^vlneh constitutes the net produce'of the American (li.s])ateiies, out of Avhich an allowance of 40 i)cr (X'ut. is made over to the Company. Later, durin<,- tlic construction of the telec,n-aphic lino or whe:; it shn.ll he o])ened for use, the (;oveniment and the Company, it they Imd it convenient, can l)y mutual consent compensate tlic allowed to per cent, from net produce by a proportionate abatement from the o-ross jiroduce. Tills additional clause is ol)ligatory to l)oth parts as well as the conditions. Sirjned hv iriK'AM Sir.LKV, I*. M<1). C^OLIJXS. 77 OfoIHiij)' ©urdan^I ^deriipq^It. — •- GENERAL RULES oy ORGAiYKATIOiY AATp GOVERNMENT. — • « ♦- Kn^noor^Corpr .'''" ^'' *^^''^''^ "^'' ^^"'^'"^ ^'^'^'""^ ^"'^ (2.) ^ Tho AVorkino- Divisions, undor tlic direction of a Division N.pornitonnt, will ],o .sul)-aivi,lerL JO the Uuei Foreman. The Chi<>f Forenuan will l.av ' power to d.seliar-(, any cf tl>e employees in Ins party, rei.ort- jn^^ ihe n^^ons torll.eirdisnnssal ti the Diviiion^Suplrin- tenri'in;ui, will ])( Tlu" ('(^inmissarv Itertaiiiiiig to hi.s ;i ('iiicf, who Avill o." llie ox])C'(litio arbitrary, special its use. A oainp guard r.ccossary, (luriiii: !>n)i)ort,y stolon i'\ lies will also !)(• j»] or oduM's not eni;' I^'jlor a])out thc'c uithout ])onnissi ilisci';lino must Li ity will so con(lu( oiicuiencc ot* their "i'ho natives wil r(->nsin, an( work — recoiviu'i" i ijic duties of wn(r '•• ;iio work will 1 siK^ccss, <'<'nlinual j)ront i'v:u-,tiK>ss nnist ])c Ivind. 'I'o avoid infrini:,' '<'i'»!d tradino- coni] i'!;'y<'<'s of t'iic CXI, will take especial | ''"'li the Ifiidsfin's 78 n-ly will be sul.joot, to liis owlov^, IIo I'W rations on l)l:iiiks liiniislu'd Ibi- tl will make rcqiilsitioi 1 1 ,. , , '^"^''1 '<>v that purpose, stntinf»- tlio niiniluM' oimcn and -,'' "o I rations arc rocjiiircd. ii<'Si' .v.iuisilions :iltor rocvivin- the api>roval <,f tlio Chicr ;•,;;'•^■;V=^'^ ^V'" ^h. li .. l.y a.^^cnts in chali. ol\Supply I)cm « V . :u. ( omnussary will ho held rosponsibro for cvirytli n i.t l-crtaining to his department. -vtryuan^ a].- (5.) A camp ^Qjnard will bo kept on duty at ni^ht and when necessary, dunni>- tlie day, 'and ^viIl bo respo siWc' for .H M-oper y stolen from the camp. Workino- ai, I evXin' nar ics will also be properly picketed to prevent sun^ o TiTdKn' :; ; '^'11^^ ^^^"^^r^ nor wilUmployees wand r A-o U ans to itho It i>ermiss,on from tlie Chief Foreman. The strietes (c.) cons;dJr'llor t!!lK'T'^ '''''^' t^-^ utmost kindncs. and • / jor/.; -ood wiJl oV '' ^''^' ''■"'•^"" ^ '•••'>' ••^•'<' 1^'nssian American Co^^^^J^ ""^ 70 (K.) I'orsouH wi.sh'ma: to leave the CoiniunyV M-rviru will i,'ive :il li'.'isi onu inonUi's noLuu«, by subiiiiuiii.u' thi'ir iv.sf<;ii:itio7i to the he:i«lH ol* Dt-purtrnfnts. In cuk-.s " where rjnployt-is in ch:iriartie;> relieving tlieni will make a earefiil inven- tory of pr«)perty ou hand, and iorward it to the I)ivi«sion Sn])erintendent. In casos of death, a report will be made by the Chief Foreman, to tlio Supcriutendent of ])ivision, corn- prisiuLf tlic desei-lptivc roll of the deceased, a statenjcut of his accouuts and cllccts, and the place of hh burial. (0.) Any ])ersou who sliall be^ju), excite, eause, or join in any mutiny in any of tlie workiiij,' or exploriiii; ].a*rlies of the exi>editioii, sjjall l>o disehargeil and turned oCer to llie proper authorities for jHinishment. Any person eonvieted of fi-aud, ihefl, or ai)proi»riation to his own use of any property hehm^i;-- in^c to the Company, shall be discharged and turned over To the legal authorities. (10.) Spjritous and intoxicating li Tklkckaimi Kxi'KiMTuiN, will cause to be made out monthly the following returns: A lioll of Men KnJi>loyed. An .\ceount i'urrent t>f iMoney. An Abstract of Kxj)editures and Vouclierj*. An Abstract of i'urchases and Vouchers. ii' •I I I.. ;;ii CO on 01 vol tiu I)i an cm liiC llio n:a: mil of ] oft 80 A List of Propi'ity, .slu»wiiii,' tl le aiiiumit I'crt'ivi'*! and |)iu*- I'liasf.l, :iiul amount issiu-d and e'xjK-ndc'il jlnrlnn' the niontl. and the amount remaining on hand at the end ol'tiie montlu ' All returns are ti) he maui: out in trinlieate. One oouy ot eaeh to be retained hy the Division Si " ^ copies to be Ibrwavded to the Chief Clerl iperintendent, and other Tlio Abstracts of Kxpemlitures and Pmvhases, with Vouch- ers, and tlie Aeeoiint Curreiil, are to be t Chief Clerk within live days after tl relati ransmitted to the le month to which they (■^.) Pay K'olls, Ke(|uisitions, W.uchers, etc., will be made on the blank lorms furnished; and accounts must be certilied by Division t5Ui)erinteiidents, The employees shall be paid in such a manner iJiat the arrears shall at no time exceed two months, unle>s the cir- eumstances of the case reiuler it unavoidable. (U.) ^ When a receipt on a pay roll or account is not signed by tue hand of the party, the payment mast be witnessed. As l":ir as praclicable, employees are lo c lor- warded with them. (10.) The rolls of men enr.)loyca are to cmbraec all the data nueessary to ensure justice to the employee, and to guide the I aymaster in making liis payments. (n.) No Paymaster, or person having charge of men, shall be interested m the purchase of any ein])loyee's account of ray due, or other claim against the expedition. (12.) 1 ransportation and labor may he paid on the same voucher and accounted for on thu abstract of expenditures. Vouciiers lor j.urchases will be separate and distinct from all other e.\- [>endiLures, and accounted for on its abstract. J- !. The Emi)loyees of tiie ExpediLiou are i'auticulaiii.y ex- .loiNKi) thatTUAi)jN(; or nxKrEmsc. with the Lndia.ns or Xa- Tivi:s,for KUiiS, SKIXS, orany I'o.MMoDrrv whidi constitutes iheir means of trade with the regularly chartered Trading Conqianics of liriLish and Russian America, is Kxi-kkssly I'Vkkiddkx. All Oniccrs of tiic Company are commanded to sec tliat this order is strictly enforced. ■I I c Co: r. ^1 tiut; .111(1 coin nior tlic : mn.a i!np< intoj your aiui : OOJli] CWSSi Iiisto you. sever good 82 0. 11 mi:::ii to col c. s. i^ulkley and iiei>ly. Western ILnion Tklkcuai-ii Co. i ,, . ^KCUlETAliv's OkFICK, C ^ ^ ^^ocJicstcr, N. X, JJecemler IG, 1604. Coi« CiiAiii.EsS. Bulkley: ^-if m. uri*hT?-f''- Y"^'^'','i''"™''^J"'= '''«' yo» «"ooi to ._..u on liio iDtJi mst. I sliould not feel tliat I In.l ^ '^''''''^ ^0^^"^' :^nd severe, con^rs^i^.'^^:;'' your strength and enei^ies^there is this conpu.sation: x on are entering upon a work wliioh if sue- .vssua wdl give you a name and reputation, not only n the ^^ ory 01 lus eountry, but ia that of all the eivilixed^im io s vm rrV''^-r''"''^^ "^^ ^^^^ '^''' -'^^^^ .acritie s e e >ou. I feel conhdent you will find no obstacles wliieh vl^ severance and a determined will cannot overconici li eh v.e ;cnds upon you. You sliall not fail for want of ir-iteria ..lu and nionil su]>port on the part of this Company Alav a good Providence be with and protect ^ou ^ ^* ^ Yours, very truly, O. II. PALMEIJ. ■I •I t 1'' I , 83 The followlmj acl'nowlcJijmcnt of Jtulyc Palmer's letter of Dccemha- IGt/t, vh(s rcccival at .Rochester, May 20th, 18C5. (>. II. Palmi:]:, KsQ., A^au FranckcOy May 2rcciatc tW"?'^'"^^"'"^^' ^>t*^^^G work, and liave calmly wci^^lied the . posed. JViorc courasve was exhibited in the determination of tiiose who said " this shall be done— we will do it," than in requisite m your engineer to accomplish the task. You will 1)0 successful. I am, very respectfully, you ob't ser*t, CH'S S. BULKLEY. 'I I .; ' I 0: Cii. Col. "i)0| in t; 84 Oi^DKus Puo^r Hon. W. P. Fksskxdex, Skcuetakv op thk TuEAsuuv, A^i> IIox. GinKox Wklucs, Secuktauv ok thl: ^avv, IX ui^cxni, to the detail of a vessel to Ain IX THE SUUVEVS FOE THE CoxsTIit'C'T.OX OF THE K>rs- SIAX OVEELAXD TeLEOEAPH, UX1>ER A.T OK Cox<;UESS, • APPROVED July 1st, isG4. -., Collector, /vm, 1SC5. f rci^u'i^ j:«^'^»;;o steamer, Shubrick, .t tl.o disposal of ■V.L ; . ;• ^*""^^^-y, ^'^i- "luety days, wIkmi tlie Xavv peiionn rovcMiue . C, Ff% 13M, 180.".. Cor. ClIAS. S. r>UTartmc)a ^nll direct the senior naval officer at tan IVaif- co to |>rov,ae a vessel for the Collector whenever Yl^or^ J- lcI(,oup]i ,n(! m detail M'hat you require from the Xavv l^^^^t^^^^ni to man equi]>. and' suppl/ the Shuhrick for the 1 ound voyage. Look at all tdcgrami on tins .subject. ANSOX STAGER. Office U. S. Military Telkcrapii, ) Xavy Dki»autmi:nt, > nashiiigton, />. C.^hlUy M, leCJ. ) Cai't. David .ArcDou.iAU., 6'y;y/.\r/! 7\7//7/ 17/;v7, jVrtrc 7s7rwir7, Cal : Is tluMv ;i naval vessel that can possil>ly perform revenue duly or nnu-(,y (;).)) days, whilst th(. st<«umer "Shuhriek" in absent lor the lu.ssi^^m Ti-h-rnph Company ? Jf no, U>t hor iH' dctaded lor I hat duly. (•'^'-'^"•^') (JIDEOX WKLl.KS, Sec' II itf the N1. To T ()V( Sta and nat: ^ \' tloii ni'ci nox'] sion st.ni Asi; fiOn 1)0 () npoi W S(';i( wori souii Aiiu w own. 8C IM.TITIOX TO Ills hrPKRIAL irn.IINESS, TIIK GrAND DuKK CoNSTAXTIXK, KOPw A NaTIOXAI. VksSEL TO AID IN TIfK C\»XHTiiUiTioN «)p THE llcssiAN Ameuican Tei.eorapii. ■♦^ () Western ITniox Telkorapii Co. *^ecir.t((n/s OJJicc^ liochestery Is\ it, Si^j^t. ao, 18Cr>. To Ills hrrr.RiAi. nrr.iixEss, Tjlli (iKAXI» DirivK CONSTANTINE, ('Ciicml Admiral of thc'lm2->cnal liussian Nctvy^ ctc.y etc. TNn'Kui.w. UniitxEss:— For tlic oneonr.iivcmciit of tlio £?roat ViThuul .U-K-r;ipl, wlucli is to unite lliissia and the Unitotl >L:iU'sun /ioc/iciftcr, X v., Oct. , isoo. j ilis KxcKM.KNcv (Jkn'i, C. M. Clav, Eucoj Ki'ti'dordiuari/ axU Minlatci' Plenijiotetitldiu/ of Iha United /Stdics vf Amcflca. I liavc Iho lionoi- of onclosliii;- to your care a iKaiLlou to .us imi.ynal lliglmoss, the (iraiul Duke Coiistantiius askiii-.- ihe services of a sleaiuer Iroiii tlie Imperial lleet, to aid in tli'e pruseeutiou of our -ivat tele^-j:rai>]i Avork. I also enclose a eouy ot the petition lor your oonvenienee. Knowinu" your api.reeiation of the iniportaneo of tlie enterprise, ainT your -er.crous and kuully feelin-- towards us, T take tlie lihurty of asiuiig you to eause tlie petition to he delivered to the CJrand Lyuke, witli sueh suiiahle and eneourai^ini;- recoininendations •as It may be proper and agreeable for you""to make. I have the honor to be, respectl'ully, your ob't ser't, o. 11. pal:\iek, .sccV- Lkgatio.v or THE UxiTi:i) Statks, ] ^St. rdc)\shurL lu laying the International Telegraph line, to^>-c-thcr with a letter of my own in its favor. ' '"^ __Iam Just now in receipt of a very kind letter from my -nend (iencral Crabbe, tlie Minister of tlu« .Marine, sayin-.- that iiis lni)K;ri;ii .Mujesty had onh-red tiie " Varlag,'' a screw .-.(cauiur, of the i'acilic su( an h-Mlic onu-rs your agent, to assist in achieving the tclegranji, and askiii"' you to inform U. E., (ion'l Crabbe, the t aid corvette should ]>e ordered to report to you 1 line and ].lace tlial or service. I: • .1 I , .1- 80 You Will, llu-roloiv, i>le-;t.sc ojvc ii.c ilesircnl iufon.atioi. ... soo.i us possible.. suppose the order will he seia Ihrwanl y(xei Cruhhe, i>y telegniph through Siheria, unci tliei.ce by iH)st to tlie S(pi;i(lr()ii. I am toM tliat tlie vessel is :i iirst-rute one, aiul the hand- soiueaiul prompt maimer m whieh It is o-iven, should ineitc J le Coinpauy to tlie inost vi-orous prosecution of this, one ot the .u'l'eatest enterprises of the a'-'o. Very truly yours, C. M. CLAY. His Kx.Ki.LENcv, I. Tolstov, to Ma.jou P. MH THAT IS TO UNITE A.MEKICA Wnil Kl'UOI'E. •i I.; ■I I !'l -♦■•— ^'^(' J't'tCA-ibmy, jrocejHber'27, 1803. My I)EAu8ui: The recpiest of the American I'nion Tele- -niphCoMipany, soliciting;- as a now --rant the co-on^ ition of one ot the vessels of the Imi.erial navy in the Si.ivevs to he done alon;v the liussian territories, addressed to His fmperial liiganess the (Jrana I)i;ke Constantine, was forwarded for niv approval; and desjrint^- to assist your Company by all the means m my power, 1 gave my immediate conseiit. I have now tlie pleasure to inform you that His Imperial Majesty the ]unperor. has been graciously ])leased to o-ive the order api)ointing one of the ships now on the J*a(ulie'\station the screw corvette, Variag, to assist your Company in the works for the construction of tlie telegraph line that is to unite America with Kuro'pe. 'Phis particular favor is a new pr(H)f of the interest the Im- perial (Jovernment takes in tlie constriu-tion of this important tclegra[.h line, and oi'tlie desire to facilitate :is mmli .-is p(^ssi- ble this g.-eat und(.'rtaking, in order to assist in carrying it to a speedy conclusion. ° f^m-fr. 00 Wishini;' yory ]i;Uurally to know as imicli as ])Ossil)le uhoiiL the |»rocc'i'(lIiigs of llic works, I ])ro(il of this occasion to rc- ])cat niy^ veqiicstof scncliuLj nic all the details and intelligence concerning this interesting suLject. IJelieve me, yours truly, I. TOLSTOY, Minuter of Iiiipa-ial Poda and Tdcjntj'hs. To Major P. McD. Collins. Till! screw corvfttc N'ariag Is two thousand one hundred auii lilty-six tons burden; three hundred and sixty horse- power engines, seventeen guns, and three hundred and six men. Local Author It'ics hi the Itassuui ] Possessions to co-operate in the construction of the Tele(jraph. Ihj supreme S(inctio)i >cror. ^^ His K.xcellency, I. Tolstoy, ^Minister v)!" Tnii)erial Posts and "iVlegrajths, certities to the lofal aulhoritics tiiat tlie Wesd-ni Knbn Telegra})ii Com])any has Lecn authorized to establish a Telegraph through the Kuss'an Possessions on the Pacilie Ocean. I:' !'l 1)1 TRANSLATION. -♦^-♦- MixisTRY OF Posts and Telegraphs. -♦♦- Department or TELEGnAPiis-TEciixrcAL Se ECTION. -^■*- Second Board—.^t. Petershmv/, October Qt/i, 18G5. -**-v— Ko. r>lS.] TKSTDIOXIAL. 15' Vf \>y supivmo sanction of Ilis Im])onal iMnjosty, tlio Amoric-m estorn Tmon Telegraph Co,n|lany .l,.s bce.V ^nV..ovl^Z o^t:U)lisii a teloo-rnnh iron. Anioric.-i aIonT>vs(M.tative of tlu. al.ovc Conij.any, .Major I>erry A < I). ( oU.ns, a r.t./.cn of the |r;ut(..] States' by everV uossihle •o-opera.ion n, llu> achievenuMit of the construction of the said icle_t;-raj>ii. (Sio-ned,) i I 77ie Mhusfi'r ofj'osis (iiul Ti'hv/raphs, I. TOLSTOY. (Countersio-nod,) TJie Director of Tdef/r(iph,<,^ MAJOi; (iENKRAL LUDKKS. ■1 i 1 1 i'' re 02 Ti> till inh<,)ii. f/u'sc /' 'CSCilfK )il'"y-i-^^ iorce and cflbct to t •y n;ii^lo)ier for KccciUluf/ tU Office of Lord JI!logra])]uVally, Ly moans ol'an overland lino of Klootrio TeIo.oTa])h via Jiri'tisli Columbia and tlio Uussian , ])oss<>ssions both in America and Asia, so as to form a eon- tinijous system ironi Xew York to London. Co])ies of tlie gTanis and acts of the tlirec "-reat powers iinmediately interested in a territorial i)oint of view are here- with annexed for furtlier and more speciiic information. A maj) and other }>aj)ors are also inclosctl for reference, construction of tlie "Collins' Overland Telegra])h," Western I 'iiion Extension i^la ]3ehring's Strait; under tiiis organiza- tion the necessary stock iias "been issued for the acliievemcnt of tlic Overland Telegra])]i to Europe. It Avas not until last fail that the Comp.any could set on loot active operations ibr the construction of the line, since whicli time, however, considerable ]n-ogress lias been nuule. Our surveying and exploring parties are ])rogrossi!ig tlirough I'ritish ;md liussian territory on to Jioliring's Strait; ably at this •I . ,'' ' '. I. 1 1 ^, ^% %>. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 ^ I.I 1.25 ^ IIIIM 2.2 1.8 U III 1.6 <^ /}. (TM V] '^M m r*^**, > . # .'^' r *1 '^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 V iV ' o o ^> 6^ t<:'/ t/i fA J in in til as 1)C to lai ill \)Q SO 11 a fU an tlu uii all; hoi 15ri nut r^Ia CO a tele 111 t Vc'l-; WC i will 04 hour .11 IMiring's Strait or nj^on tlio nno n>tormed as to t]>c hest route for the con 10 spriniif, wc sliall and tl alon; uctio)! coast f tl y . . i..v,^,v . points land supplies and materials the^iocc^^'v^d!;?^^^^"^!^''^^^? purchased in London, and h^c^^i^to^^^ ior joinn.o. America Avith Asia wiu'soon ^o^i^^^iZ '-^'^ ''' ^^ondon,and alHvill ])e forwarded 'mt.LMt;^ V ^^i^^^^^^^^^on upon tlie opening of cult umWf\l "'^''.^^^r"'^^ ^^" ^"^- ^^^^^^^n. and mi- ^W^nU^o^^' ^^'.' Government of the United States has 7ntieh)^ o rl '*' ^^?*?^;:-^^"l> ^or .cceneral jun-poses, an J^^enerously and promptly the ( Jovernment^'of (JreaT. > . n h- ^ <;onstantly eome forward to aid .M.terprises of this • . ,to a.k o your(,race the co-oi)erati(.n of your (iov- <^.'n f V^i A-^Y^'>*'^V' "^^^ ^^* "^••^y hereafter be on the tX;?rapl^' "''^'^''^^^^ ^<> ^^<^ i'^ the construction of our l;esides the material advanta-c we would derive from aid riai, I'l '/'"V?'^ ''■' ';'"' '^'' (^ovennnent of Great nvat s ; '■ '"^ •'' "?J'^"''' ^'^^'^'^'^ ^•^'- ''''^' service, would TrVn^ Mrengtlien our ellorts in a hi-lier point of view; -iv- ';.^ our enterprise an international character, and affecting us shall be enabled to raise so lar.-e an amount of capital a ^^ '11 he rcMpured Or the speedy achievement of our telcc^raph. 1 liave the honor to be, ^Vit}lo,•reat res]>ect and consideration, ^'-^ur (trace's very ol)edient servant, For the Co., () TI pAT^rxM> iSccrctar}/. I ■• •I I ■ I 05 C>..KKs,.,,s.,...v..,.: oKx„. (iuv.,:.„. ..,,.,„.,,, .„,„,.„,^^. POKT or New .UcHAN.ia, SlTKA, ) I'lcHt. Col. United State, Arunj^ i^n()lneer-ui- Chief, Ship Gokloi Gate, ITarlor of Sit/ca, of KJtli inst. '^'"^'^^^^" contauiccl m your ostconiocl leUcr Im <'onipliaiu-o witli your rcoucst T ,l,.,ii , I'oard at your hero witl. an ilctiau s i bott ' ^ '''"' ""- ci; a^!" ""=''^'= ""'^ '"^ -->"-• letter; c'o,.o„u„, you.- I am witli great respect, Your most ob'd't, humble servant, ' Acting GocLi'nor of J, L. GAVUISCIIEFJ^; '. . r ii ■ .ilili ■I I .■ i >.Ud{>ian Colo/cics in A tnCricK. u; ai re ov til( ilu ti:i wit Uti TRAi(SLAT10xN, -»••- AcTJNU GoVJilU^' oit or UussiAN Colonics ,n A.mkkka, 7tk August, 18G5. Xo. 242.] . ' ' To the OJJlcers in <^o.unana of the .several .cttlc..a^^^^ auui Colonies in America, line of tdo.. ■, ',c .■ ,; *^"'''i'-'"'y •)'•'•■ going to .-onsti-u.a a a.v nou- sa nl: ^ I'diH^^:- '''"" VJ^^^^^"'^ ^>^- vessels wlud, liussiau AnuM !Va cin^Z^^^^^^^ '" '^^^' ''^'''^'^ AvoHd, the 'v.ulcr their Ihl assist I "^^^^^ co,,sc><|.ientIy resoIvJd to ^>'-^le.va to tlio ot ee^ h ' o^ ' ^ -^pecLtion, and it is Jieroby ^'olonies, waMcve- V;ir'^'rV^ ^"^' ^^'^tlenier>ts in our tlu' c'onunaiulers oftho vp. w i -I. ^'^^'^"^ vequirenients of .U-OO.IS, stores o^n'i.r'^^^^^^ '^ requested to supply any ^iH'r to put at the d >o 1 f 1 'n^",^'"' ''''^^ ^spared and i\l ti:i:-s wiUitlK^ii skirS^l^' tlieiek-rapli Con.pany Aien- ••^c-nt, and pro idcd tl i^K '. ■' '^^T^^' Hot.-witliout their eon- H^-U-^'ntly wa^t tl em f; . T Ameneau Company do not bu^:ines.{ ^' ^^' ^^^^ pi-osccution of their own i>4-:n:^^,r:^;^l;r't;:^r-i';:r ':;^r ''''''^''' ^^^^^ ^-• -th the iirst opportnnit:;^^i:;;;;^^:i>,:;-,-l>orts, ll.r.ard Onrjinal signed hy jUtinu Ooctmor, CAPT. L. GAVULSCJIKFK 111 ., '■I I 07 COillUCSl'ONDKNCE WITH THE IIONOIIABLE IIuDSON's BaY Company in reuaud to the Construction and Main- tenance OF the ''Western Union Extension, Col- lins' Overland Telegraph," through their Set- tlements, Forts, and Trading Stations in British Columbia. l! ■ -♦•-♦- } |V ' « '•I i I'' .• i Wjcsteux Union- Teli:(;kaimi Co. Skckktauy's Offk'k, llochcsta; :\\ Y., Oct. \~)t/t, 1S05. ) KxcKi.i.KNcv : — II most ])rob;il>ly is not unknown to you that the riglits, i^i-ants, :uul i)nvilo.-cs, acquiivd Ly Mujor 1*. 3lfl). Collins for the construction of an Ovcrl.-md Tck'urai.h to unito America Avitii Kuropc across Xortlicrn Asia liaviTboon assiguccUo this Com]>any. Tlie line is now bcin^c coiistructcil undcr^this assio-nmcnt, and is dosii^natod "The Collins' Over- land^ Tcloo-ruph, vt((. Ilehring's Strait, Western I'nion Ex- tension." In order to makc\his line inunediately available, .'., ; J he construction has been commenced at Xew AVestminster,' ';i | Jiritish Columbia, where it unites with tlie J*ncific line already , , in direct communication with .San Francisco and New Yoi^-, .| , so that we are already in receipt of dispatches from Fort St! ' i .lames, on Fraser's river, andour consiructint;- parties are ' • , pushint,' on north by way of Lake IJabine and Stekccn river. .!• Ill constriu'tint; the telen-ra]>h on throu_u;h the IJritish I'os- ,:■ sessions, we shall fre([uently come in contact with the servants '| ot' tlie Honorable Hudson's J>ay Company, with whom we 'i • wish to l;e u])on tlie most friendly terms. The Honorable Com])any's ancient commerce extendini; over !• . those vast iVirion>',, and wliich has been so pre-eminently hu- '• ,' mane and successful wlienever comin -> l=u- cast as the I'elly anmmn v'Tl.'lr"'' '^l^^^'^'-^^y', ^^'. ^^" ^'*^"»*^ a.i;-rceable to yonr u ; '., ; .r-"'; ''''''"'•' ^^" "^•^''V'.^='^'^^ '"^^ ^« ^heir relations .uul the tenns ot nitercourse upon >.vhich they shall act when connu.G: m eontaet with the servants of our Connnnv L tl at cord.ahty and a good nndcrstanding may sulS ^' At Van Couver and in JJritish Cohwnhia, we'iind that vour Z:;'"'T'.-''' ^''T'i^ '' '''^'' "1^«" thcniselve any m S - io fV T'''\ '" '^'' ^^^'''"^" of especial and positive instmc- lions ln)ni headcjuarters. *■ it will be very desirable whenever we meet vour servants to have then, eo-operation and assistance, so iL-^as t nay u' in thou- power, without detriment to your service u„oi iust aiui proper eonipensation. ^ ' ^ ^""^ ^k Iven/ie s river and at Fort Yukon, in the service of the Nnithsoinan Institute, and who is now on his wav- to t e iv^" wHt "'7 ^^ 7^ f ■ ^'^•'^•^^"'^ ^"^'"^^ -^^^ '^^' Kv' tchpick nnv's < /if', ",^^^^^'^^V^^■^"S• communicated with yourd^oni- ]uny^ olneers at \ an Couver, that it would be esi.eciallv dc.u'^A, to have the autlKM-ization of the Honorable Illdson's hay Coinpany directed to the oiKcers of the Companv in the ^cWeim^, nvor ai^trlct to furnish our Company with ay ; lit'-^ T-'Y «p:irc ten.porarily, and to allolv nJ to engag^ n that district such otlicers or servants who may have left or v^ho may leave the Company's service. Also to providJ'nT lunm'rs Zr '^ thewest of the mountains, trained Indian' un CIS ,,1 voyageurs, and to allow us at Fort Yukon the ments 'l '^'T%^-^^'^ ^^ .^^^POl and voyaging CMuip- ment., tools, merchandize, ])rovisions and labor, such ?s miany, upon which their ollicers are now acting, both in siatic Kussia and Kussian America. hi this connection, it may not be uninte resting to state that •I .'I, r ! I'' r ' I, . 90 Mvailuhle ior transportatioii—iiot only the vossol' already for- wimled, but others whenever uud wlierever found advan- ii' your E.vecllcnoy finds these views worthy of eonsidera- t.on wo should he In-hly gratified with a response as early as may he, so that your servants in those distaiit re-ions may act understandnir..jy .^nd as i)rom].tly as ],ossihIe. Our parties are now f.nronte lor the; Yukon and Polly rivers. With sentiments of the hijjjhcst consideration, I am, witli great respect, your K.vcellency's 1, , ,^ Obedient servant, r or the Company, 10 Ills Lxcellcncy, SIR KD^rUXD HEAT), Governor of Hudson's IJay Companj-, etc., etc., etc. ITiiiho7i\^ Bdji J Tome ^ } Lohdoji^ J'Ji If/land. ) I ■• i|. ;l , •I I I'' i::3>-*»»-<25aui IIksOI.UTIOX of TIIK (ioVEUXOR AND CoMMITrKK 01' TIIK Hudson's JJay CoAri-ANv, jx uelatiox to twk rox- sTuucTiox op the Russiax Ameuicax Teleohmm. tiinoroii BiiiTisii Oolumhia. HuDsox ]>AY House, ) London^ October \\\xt^ lS(i">. ) ^ "The Governor and Committee are of oj.inion that it is important to come to such terms with the Teleany, as wdl enable tlu^ Ihulson's iJ.ay Gom],any To nstain the control over the several stations on tJie line. They therefore authorize the IJoard of ^lanagement to <'rms. \V, come to a delini(«' an-angeinenl, on fiir t istration of the line at their ])Osts. The tenns must be'sucii vimin- o ll VA 100 as M-ill allord to tlio Hudson's IJay Company moans for fairlv nMmuKM-atin.-lheirown ollicors for oxtra labor of tl.is kiml and also must imply no liability on tlu- ]art of the Hudson's .ay C^ompany ior d:xma-o or interruption of the line, caused t>y Indians or accident of any kind." Ilrnsox ]iAY irorsK, } London^ Xoi'em/H'r 1//i, iHOrt.^ ^"^'1- i liave the lionor to aclaiowlodo-o your letter of Octo- )orl;,th, iHor,, on behalf of the AV'estern Union Teleo-rai.h V ompany, ^ ^ in reply I ani able to assure you that it is our earnest wish to give every assistance to your Comi)any, and to maintain an understanding of the most friendly kind between that body and ourselves. "^ In ])roof of M-hat I say, I here enclose a coi)y of a resolu- tion which was ])assed i)reviouR to the receipt of your letter. in .addition to the instructions convovcd in that resolution, the (tovernor and Committee will instruct their otHcers to give every assistance and facility to the Telegraph (\^mi)anv wlueli is com]>atible with the m-oper protection of the trade *n two Jlud.soirs JJay C\)mpanv,and the terms of which ouoht to ue (Mubodied m a formal and definite arrangement to'^be made at \ ictoria. I have the honor to ])e, Sir, Your oljedient .serv.ant, ED.Airxi) IIKAl), (ioi^ornoi- of tJie Thulstni'ti 11(111 Conipan,/. O. II. Pai.mkk, Esq., u- N'eio YorJx', i^>. ^ K\'<'KLLENT'V — I liavG conuunnicatod to o\iv Company your Excellency's (losiro to facilitate tlic construction oi* our tclc- nlkU.y .vill OS ahlish soveral ots oi- stations on to As atio ooast, sut!u-iontly niannc.l and provisioned to do nu oh towards tlio construction of the line iK-fore next suninlor \\ o have purdiasod and -oin^i. on s]ui,],oard in London >vo lun.sand nules of wire, ^v]dch will Le!lolivorod ah^ ^ tT^ (oaM, at proper ponits next sprin- ready with all other M:-^tum^;^^^::^n^^ m" ^^^:^^-l^^rand o?:r Vice-J.''side:t^ Mu .Mumtoid, will sad m a lew days lor London wliorc the neoc..u-y subn.anne cable will be supplied and rcul^ ib'.m I have tluis brieliy stated to your Exoellenoy the main U^o^Zr ""^''''''T' "^ '^'-y^'o^y .^tand, without <^ into oo ad n])on nuioh more tliat has boon set on ihot tS onsure the early completion of the teloo-rapli i t.iank your Kxcellen<.y for the many acts of kindness ov- londed to me and tr.ist that the final success of t le k' '.hn ~rm;i& I have the honor to bo, AVith^overy consideration of liespect and esteem, Your Excellency's most Obliged and obedient servant, J*. M. I). COLLINS. To Ills Kxcolloncy, Lieut, (ien'l KAKSACKOKF, (iovornor (Jenoral of * Kastorn .Si])eria,otc., t'lo., olc, Iikoutsk, Eastern »Siborin, IJussin. I . ii ■ . , ■I '■ I. -Hi, i I t 103 stcM^i]!?!'";-!" N T '!:T'-^ ?^' ^^ telegram iVoni \cw WcsiMiiu- tcnihoi, Avlucli iniornis us Ih.u tlio l)urk ''Chini Hell " one of T'^:^'ir'rr^ '"' 'T'^'' ^^'^^-'^ '-- ^'^^-' -iti; u^u-^o buLvloy ana party was at Sitka on tlic I«tli of Au-,.st bonml lor JJchnno's .strait and tlie Okliotsk " ' We arc iimv adviswl tlwat our steamer the "Wri-lit" will mos probably vis t Nicolaievsk and Ayan, wl.e^e prOe > t c^ will be stationed this year to pusli ibrVard o..r en or- l use as rapidly as possible. We sliall tlieretbre be ready and on tlie ground by tlu- tnno the officer your Excellency pro- l)0ses to senu eau reaeli tlic Amoor or Avan. ihc lion. J If. Wade, President of Jur Company, desires ne to express Ins proiound acknowledo-nients to your Kxecl- eney lor the great interest taken in the achievement of our to legraph and leels that your distinguished support and favor will greatly contribute to its success? P. McD. COLLINS. 1 : I: ■ .11 f , ■I I i I ■.ud |iri: mv of; sin wli 104 1.l:tti.:k.< fko.m His Exckllk.ncv, Guvkunou Gknkuai. IvAusACKori-, AND IIls Excellk.ncy, I. Tolstoy, Min- ister OF Lmi'eiual Posts and TKLEGUAPiis, in Rki>lv TO Till- Letter of Mil Collins in iiegakd to an OfEICEK to be sent upon TilE ROUTE OF THE LiNE. IvussiAX K.Mi'iui:. ) IkKOUTSIv, EasTKK.V SlliElUA. ^- u To .Ma.) OK P. :Sivl). Cou.ist J< unuary^ 1«0C. '"^iii:— Your k'tter dated utli of I)lonil)er, 18G.5, has hoeu vecoivod. In rei.ly, I liuvo tli •lor to iiilonu you, tliat iu oouipliant-e with the wishes of vour C ouipany wluch you ivprcsei ■ .Jliu'iT attaelic'd to niv ( It, I 1 lavc dispatcliod an !>i\>rct'd u])ou the line of tlie 1 wlihia ilio linnts of niv ( ly (government, :\lr. l*aul Anossotf t o kussian Anierieau Tc'leu'rai)li, Ti «enei-al (Governorship, lis olHeer is i)artieuhu-Iy instriieted to rend er a 11 IIOSSl l.h iiid lu the Honorable Tele--rai)]i Company in re-'ard to it. pr(K-eedm--s and eomnmnieations with tlie loeaf authorities and natives. llavini,^ also k-arned tVom vour letter, that the UomM-aMe lelc-raph Company has already commenced with liMval hi- er- ••r:^y lo realix.e tiie dfsiou of its'vast and most useful ciU priso, Jl.iJives me t^nvat pleasure to e.vi.ress on this oivumoii, 111 V perl *At ll eeL satislaetion »«• saiiic ; iiiu' of ijio (V»mp;i I ll ii\' u* nieajis in m\' pray you lo mlorm the repri'seuiatives :is far as 1 am eoneerned, I will u r ihat can ) Inu'lKMi of that section of the liussiairAmeri •"i* all )«>ssil)lv aeeelerate the con- wliicl » is to be achieved by my (lovernnu'iit. eau TcU*irr:ii)h I have the honor to be. Sir, Your obedient servant, -M. KAKSACKOFE, 'r. •ili'i I . ' I , lOii ^'^- '''^- ' •^■^- f'ct,:r.sbun,, HtA Mure/,,, i huU. To.Majui: Pj:uiiv Mil). C'om.ins: Xcw Vor/:, i\ S. Ainwlr,,. . ... ,. ., ^^'■'•^'-►'^"::—'J'Iio bearer (.fihi.s IcLl.T un ou.eer een .1 )>' uui- ((overnmeiil to tlic spot wliere tl nun- 1 ^lrlu•(ioIJ ol" the K'ussiaii A 10 works foi- tl is|atcheil le eoii" '1^1 10 instructions ^jiven to .Mr, A.. iiestly to einploy\lie utmost vi-il... riij.ted ])ro.L,Mvss and sucecsstiil te .nierieaii Tele-raj.h are carried nossotr oblin'c hii iiici' rei^'ardin.LC the iininte on. n most ear I IllOl rmination of the We>tei 1 I eU-raph Comj,>any\s undertaking witiiin the boun.l 11 ries ol Itussia I •hii'll am convinced, tlial you, >i y interested in the undertal !•, ;is well as the ac< iiiL,^, ^s'ill make Mr. A gentlemen iiossoll' iualntedwith all the particuhir.s the knowledge' of whicl may lie necessary for him so as to ])e useful uiidertakiii;j:, and to fullill without to tlie C'om])any' imposed on him any omissions, the duti es Mr. Anossolfhas been ordered to forward I'ull tlio «letails h reports on tlie i)ro<;-ress of tlie M'orl from lime {o tii ne c may ac enable our administration to watch tl le execution of the work? limes, and to h leir !»' 't)Li'ress ive a sufticicnt notion of those local cond under which they arc carried on. I rc'ipiest you at the same tim so as at all itions news 01 ther i rom e, sir, to let me have furtl ler your own hand orthroiit;-h Mr. AnossotV and to let such as refer to the direction of the 1 the explorations, or to ine itself, be accompanied l)y detailed ma])s and d rawiuirs. ]>elieve lue, Dear Sir, Yours truly, I. TOLSTOY. I I -I, . •I . ' I. ■ i •■•III, I" I I H loa Copy of VAUiouri Okdina.n'cks i>assl:d dy tjie Colonial Leglslatukk of .BiUTisH Columbia, in ukference TO Knteui'rises of Western Union Telegkaph Company and oviiers. ii -•"♦- .No. 1. An Urdlnaucc to Ahiaul the Fint Tdcjt'aph Onll- Hatwc of 1S64. Fcb'y8.ib6i. Whcrcd.^, it is coiitrjiry to tlic policy of llcr Ma- jcsty's (ioveriunent to grant exclusive telegi-ai)h l)nvilegos; :uul wlieroas, siu']; '•ivilegos have been g^nuitcil by the Legishituro o." ...... Colony under the First Telegraph Ordinance, KS04, to tlie President of the Caliibrnia State Telegraph Coinpany, Ins succes- sor and assigns — \^c it enacted by the (Governor of IJritish 'Cohun- bia, by and with the advice and consent of the l.cg- islative Council tliereof, as follows : '^\oi'y^p[;;' ^- '"^^^ iiHU-li of clauses .") aiul (J of tlie "First Tcle- r^£'.o\::.Vgrai)]i Ordinance of l8iJ4," as renders or may be con- ru:. Co. ' .struc( I render exclusive any of the Telegraphic ])nvileges by ihaL Ordinance conferrc' .1 "^-^P^^r^,^ ^^'i^^^ tlie United St^Ues and iCu.sia m the estahiislnnent and maintonaneo of sncl. (ontinuous Ime 01 international Tele<.-rai)h— >e It tliorefore enacted ])y tlio (Governor of ]]ritish Columbia, by and yith tlio advice and consent of the i^eo-islative C ouncil tliereof as follows : .,^;,^>"' '!"!^:'^H'' ^^^^ ^^•'^^^ of tins Ordinance, it •■--'m^ow j^halloe lawful ior the said Perry INIaedonou^h (\>1- ^v.™;!:!::^ lin.s, las associates and assigns, to survey; and the ('onsen, ot the (government of Britisli Columbia hav- nio- ueen^ first obtained for tlie -eneral direction j-hosen taeretor, construct and maintain a line or lines o tele-raph from any ]H>int or ].oints on the inc 01 the said i)roposed International Teleo-raph in uussjan America, to any ])oint or points on "the said ',V;fT-,.ri'" Inic in the Lnited Stat.s over or across any unai .-•''• ;-'-'- propri:ite(I and unoccupied crown or tidal lands in r??''^. .he said Colony of JJritish Columbia and its Depen- '"" Ui'iicies,- and alono- or across any public street or »ng]i way therein (not obstnulim,- such street or hio-h- v/ay), and to lay down a teleo-raph cable or calces along the said ])roposcd line, through or across any ^^•'" stream, creek, river, strait, bay, gulf, Avatcr or ^vatJr course witnin the said Colony of llritish Columbia and Its l)ei)endencies (but so as not thereby to im- pede navigation or other public rights), and, with the consent aforesaid, to have and to liold all such other rights of v/ay, in connection witli tlie sai^l teie- g-raph hue over the lands afore.^aid. as are -ecessarv lor Its construction and maintenance. ' »lilgliwnvx. ter-*. '' I l;^' ;i In I'l I i u An Ai!. Alt iruii 108 IVlWlM- (i) ITCCI .-l,,- Il<)ii> aiiii tlcrnisivo Wliot) CJov- (.rur.iciu ;i<»>Mi's.s|()ii . H_KiU.:u.air or due workin- of ^'ull tele.urai»h or .stritum.s, or defensive posts tlierootl !.-■'..), Ill i I- i'lTi' .•.,■.• to •'xiMijitiim iroui ioIIk. 7|7,,rtv,.v^ it is expedient to cvcmpt a-ricuUnral P u t> ol Iiomc groM'th from road tolls, and also to l.uil t.ito the construction of tho International Tele gi-aj,h by exempting articles used therein from rou.l tolls 'Or a hmiird jKTiod, l»c it enacted by the iJov- '•'•nor ot I>nt.s, Columbia, by and witli the advice i I ■1,1. •I .•J I': I'. r I I !" ■■ •Ml , ' I foil e«jris OV,'S as 109 01 tlie persons ClK'-a-'cd in SHr-li r.^,..f ,. ""^""M'^^n an.nerry «'tiic'rw so will 1u7 :Tn ^" i'"^^^ construction, l)ut not'""^- f n il rn n '^'^^^V^:^/^ P-^-'^ over tlio roads or ^^^ .^.Majesty, ,utaout raying any such road or fl'rry riv 4 "'.' 2TT -^T/^^'T"" ^"-'"'••'tio,. of ti,:'"^'"""'- cense. ' "■ ""■'' '-^'''I'tion from toU'^hiu i .0 «"•„:"■,?■"?,;: r>^ •''"y'"-<^«- i»'W!«i".'d from «...«„.. ti„, '■^* ""i<^ in u'le Government Gazette to Hv *""*•*»*"• t mo and vary tlie extent to ^vl)icl sudt even ption"'"* ^Signed,) FrvKDEKICK SEY.MOUi:, Governor, ^wv,7iv7 that this grant simll convey a rl^lit vow.nt or )UhG saul \am\ for tlu. ])urpose afore.^id, and :.';," -'''->' i:lit to the so M']>,V.T, o1,on • *, -"l^'o.l. of use oi not '1 v;,ri/+ f'^' 7i -1 "'\ '.'"'■ i'^""i>0'^c aioresaul, and Ihl ero^!!. '^ '''^'''^' '^''""^y ^'""^^^^^ ^'^-^^^^^^ i" 7^/-o;,vy.YZaIsot]iat nothing Jierehi contained s]iall ^•'•^'"^of construed to ailect, limit,^r abridge ti e h risdh- n^^^^ s .u cssois oyer the said lands, or her or tlieir rio-Jits 01 using, selling or otherwise disposing thereof as f^r astiicsamo maybe done ^vithc;ut iifte S- no-' '^ i'h the construction or working of the said line. " ,M.1;^^'^'V''''''^-'^''''^ ^^-racdonougli Collins, his asso-i'>nvort. na... iuid^ assigns, :ire_ licreby also authorized to^vS^h. ^;*.. n)! ■T!^'"'-' '"--^ "^^^^^ ^ line or lines of tele- ai""'^'"'*' ^.-piun the v.H'QcUon so to bo settled as aforesaid of a.^^aonal lek'gi\aph, overany ihe said ))roposed AUtei 1' II •1 V ate Is 1- ^^.. Sua; ^oioiiy or its lere Cljief Comi and m Bependcnc com})cnsati>,.. ay, witli tlie sanction in writin<»- of the 'On the payment of a reasonabl coi les, on nnssioner ol i.ands and Surv eyor General, r { ; I I IV Tn Ml •i.kii 110 pnrcliaso or loaso, ihwo in and una or otlior ]»ro;>('r( y or cojivonicnt I'oi- stat ! orotlior])roiKM-tyin Jiritisli Col ooo.u]iy any ciillIvfiMo ri']>air or Avorkiii<;- of tJio I lOJis, or for tlu- j umbia, lu'cc'ssarv . , ^ iitcriiational Td '<;i-^;'a ].rov,(lea for, or for offcctuall nnintcMiaiico. J.iiic ] on tlie teloi«-ra])]iic, 1 oi;raj)luc l>nt not fiirti y carrying; »isnu'ss m connection therewith. aj) lor or otlierwise, Tor 'm of IVol o 1)C ^'i. This Oruina: »rivil( ■ '^t li.iy of ii'ttaiiti'v. in the juauner hor {/>) A n>i siia le said viu ]>rovi(led foi 11. o internal ional Tele,!;Ta])h Li nary, A. 1). one tl <'<'!n!.l<-u,' or cause to be tl n or l)elbre the iirst (hiy of J ou.sandei,-,dii hundred and u«* ;ui- se\-ent,y, put into contini oron-rhly <-omj>leted and <>us operution, a «-ontinuous lii i r V^^^'^^'-f^M'l', the direction of M-hich shall settled oy the said J^ .'issociates or assi; of the Cjiicf C :\\^ Vriy .Macdououo-h , subjc'ct to the writle or ms. Ins ( on general, Irom the Ciiy of X imissioner of L;uids and S Coll n a})p]-o\ai aid Colo3i\ ew Westminst niL;- telew-j-ap], systems < o as to comiect directly with tl urveyor cr, in tlu» <>iilh ami the^cl North, aloni;- the 11 place and maintain tl: ster and the iJriiish Columl (.' rnitcd Stat U' cxisl- ates on tin* cu'raj)!i system of K^u.ssia on tho he of tlic I'acitlc Coast. c said City of X so as to cwWestmin- m com])leLi- and )ia system of tele<-'ranl lion with the whole t continuous tele.L^'raphic. commui i.H lclace i r . i I ' ': . I! ;'i !i- ni I'li •'II ! I I. Ill ('•) And u]nm tins iiirlher cojih. condition, that the general arrangements of the said uarnli.ca telegraph throughout _ the said International Line, It; -^l^'^...^^ iroui end to end, and in whichever hemis))here, ami '''' "'i ii" , ,• , 1 1 . , 1 , 1 1 • - 1. ' i'i|Ual loot- Ol all sucii other lines as may be or come in connec-i""- tion therewith, shall be such as to place Knglish, Russian and Lnlted States messages upon an ecjual footiugin regard to the use of the said International Telegraph, Vir. On faiiiu-c of the said ]*erry ]Maodonough i-'..iivuuicm C'oliins, his associates or assigns, eifectuallv to com- pl'n-onnin,; uu-ucc and complete the said InternationarLine con- ''"'''''"°"'- taim-.l within tlie said C\)!ony and its Dependencies, within the r(;sj)ective times, and in manner herein uumtioued, aiul to fuIliU and kee[) all and singular the conditions in this Ordinance s}>ecified, tlicDow- ers, rights and i)riviieges hereby granted shall ccuso ;.'l; :,('' 1 1 N ri (•< III, ci' ml Sll t)i. 'lie !ir, 112 n- •ly I- and iloLunuiiie,uiia this Ordiiunco bueoiiic ab.soluiclv voul. •' S::;:'ns ,. ^''/I,; J-'l^"^ tlie completion of tlic suid Inlonir ,^K.M.n,,« tionul lolc'gnij>li Lme, licroin belore more parlicuhirl "— • mentioiiea :uid described, witluu the ti.ne nnd ma..- nor ruul subject to tlic several condilions in tliis Onina.ice specdied, tiiere is liereby -runted to the •siiid lerry .Vacdonou-h Collins, Ids associates and assi^i^'ns, the right of sending and receiving messages by telegraph, and making a reasonable ^char-e for au.«o.. the same subject as herein mentioned, betweJIi any pUiee withni the salaymeni of the reguhii- cliarnvs lor transmission ofdispatchcs, ami (savt- as aforesaul) all a SI CI c: o n _ Si's 5 XIV. If any person shall wilfnlly or maliciously j'^5^J,'^i'°'|"^|°; cut, break or throw down any teloii;rai)h-i)olc, or any f;'^»f>'' '^'^'»- tree or other material used in any telegraph line or lines herein autliorizcd to bo constructed, or shall v/ilfully or maliciously break, disi)lace or injure any insulator in use in any such telegraph line, or shall wilfully or maliciously cut, break or remove from its Insulator, any wire used as a telegraph line, or shall wilfully or maliciously cut, break,"molest or in- jure, any sr^bmarine telegraph cable used or intended to be used in any such telegraph line, or shall, by the attachnuMit of a grouiul wire, or by any other con- trivance, wilfully destroy the insulation of such tele- gnipii liiu! i)r hUerrupt the transmission of electric eurrerit tiirongii the same, or shall in any other man- ner wilfully destroy, injure or molest any property or mat(M-ials appertaining to any such telegra[)h line, or shall wilfully interfere with the use of any such telegraph line, or obstruct or post]>one the transmis- sion of any message over the same, or ]»roeuro or .advise any such injury, interference or obstruction, the ])erson so oilending shall be deemed guilty of -.x^^^ misdemeanor, and be liable U])on conviction before *^*' any Justice or Justices of the i*eace, for every such offense,, to be punished by fine, not to exceed one hundred pounds, or im])risonment, not to exce.ed six months, or by both such line and im})risonment, in the discretion of the said .Tustice or Justices, and sliall moreover, be liable to the owners of the said telegra])h line, for three times the amount of all loss 15 low puuith- I 1 , s, and materials neces^^arv ;un. bona lide intendol lor the construction, main- tenanc-e or yepuu- of the said tclc-ranli line or lines by nn m that bolmlf, shall be iinul and sole judi^a',) .s^iall _oe acunitted ireo of duty at any port of erUry in i>riush Columbia, up to tlie th-st day of January, A. D. one thousand ei-ht hundred and seventy. ^:m^;:::i;.,^'^hj'] lacintatc the operations of tlio said - appoint. ._erryjiacdonoug-h Collins, his associates and as- signs m the International work aforesaid, it shall be hnv ul tor the Goyernnient, by an order in.blished in the government Gazette, to a] .point any port or ports, pLice or }>laces m the said Colony or its ])ei)enden' eies ior the entry_ t the Kevenue as the said Government may from time to time deem e\])edient. , national lelegraph Ordinance, ISGo." ^ Passed tlie Legislative Council, this liuth day of .auiuary, A. 1). hsuw. (Signed,) Cjiaulivs Good, C/o-A-. A^ urnicn x. uiitcii, Assentca to in Her .Majesty's name, this twenty- hrst uay ol J'ebruary, hsc.-). ^ (Signed,) KlilLDEiilCK SEV.MOL'lJ, (uwcntur. I I 111 ■1 ;'i ••I, I'l 115 An Act i\ Rklatiox to Join't Stock. An OriliiKnicc further to facilitate tJic construction -i^o.-t^ of t/ir. Oi)erlarid Tdcfjrdph^ Ajjril 1 UA, 1 8G5. Trherfas\ IVny ?ntis]i Cohnnbi.a and Siberian ox])lora. ..0^. siaitod-vesseLs i.urdiased and fitted for our service- ^toJ^rT'\ '''"^". ';^"^^ ^"Pl^l^^'« ]>i-ocurcd-coutracts for 4 th fnt 'T''~)p!'^' '?'.""-^^ preparation and organization n - v""' ^^''- ^^^ :^'^*'>' '^"^ ^'•M>^^^^^ occasioifed by tlie ];;.^:^S''^'''''r ^' '^^' ^^^^vy De])artnient to f^^vor us has ^oo^nT'^ 1^'"'''^ annoyance, and leaves us very late to .^ o.ecute tlic work l proposed m liigli latitudes durin- tl.is h.kwnner. ^ _ :.Ir. Conway, on^ the Fraser's P.iver Line, has four hundred >.....s oi poles on the ground, two-tliirds of wliicli are up, and ^..c nne beni- rapidly fudslu-d with wire-tliat part between :;: .t'l- ',; :^".''^:V!'' :"^*^ ^''^^^^^' Westnnnster,Vrobal,ly the U0.1 duucult to budd m our whole line, is nearly finished^ and ... (ab.c IS alrearitisii Columbia ex]>loring party, numbering thirty i.;cn, wiin forty i-ack mules, j.roperly suirDlIcd, arc ordered to ^^\.(ic lor suio ex],lorations, especially of our lines of water coi.anumcation, as the greater ]>an of these men and mules will A-.urn to the head waters of JM-a/er's river before winter, and u.ay a u;w go forward to Fort •^^ucon. The i^arty is made rn o:voyageurs and^iludson Jiay Co. employc^es, in char-e of ^^<^1j^'i"t hhrnie,jind Frank Pope. When J). T }i otl iroc liearct from they n'ei-e a])Ove i'^ort Alcxand .o\/ards the Dcas*. ]fc or, pushiui use, establishing depots and arran mnrocure from the (governor tlie })ropor orders to subordinate otiicials. One or more of liis party will be left at Petropauloski and proceed north to Anadyrsk in order to make preparation for the party from Bchring Sea, vut the Anadyr river. I have purchased the barques Palmetto and (-iolden Gate, and the steamer Geo. S. Wright for the Company, but was obliged to have bills of sale made to myself, as agent, in order to get the pro])er papers executed at the custom house. Tho Palmetto is on her passage to Emma Harbor in Behring Sea, laden with coal ; the Golden Gate is at sea bound to Sitka, laden with stores, and I have the steamer Geo. S. Wriglit here. The schooner I\Iilton Badger is here also, having been repaired in Victoria and loaded Avith coal and stores, will sail for Anadyr l>ay. The barque Clara Bell is probably at Sitka, and will when 'I arrive, sail for Xew Westminster Avith the wire and supplies that she has for Conway's division. The lirst three vessels have been iittcd for our ]-)eculiar service and sup])lied at San Francisco, and all are saleable at a price equal at least to that |>aid. Ivfules, harness, Avagons, tools, commissary stores and arms have been purchased for l)uilding ami exploring service. These purcliascs were made necessary by the long ])assages of our vessels from Xew York. For the country near Behring Strait tluat is destitute of tiin- ]>er, it will be necessa.y to furnish })oles, and I have contracted for a (pumtity to be sawed at the mills on Puget Sound thi« Kunnner, and ipiled, so that they may be well seasoned and light in the s'pfing. ' J\Iy organi/atlon is military in its character, refpiiring otli- ccrs and ]nen both in the land and marine service to wear unifonn, without cost to the C'ompany ; and our system of accounts is similar to the (^lartermaster's Department of the Army. With the local inhabitants and Indians I fnul such an oro-unization desirable, and one which can be <'ontrolled mncli more satisfactorily than any other. •" I ■ 1 •1 1 1 I I • I '1 I ' » .- u ti \v ol Sc of to ;.o I.O V)U i jiO tie 118 Uio luosl ('x-j)on.sivo part of our iino will be tliroiiirh tlio \ A'oia bcaniio- re-ion of British ColumLia; once out of that wo i iiiut ^narc iiulustnous Indians and can cany in whites witli ; I..'.- ...uvagant ideas of tlie vah'u of labor. In Siberia tlie cost oi consLrucaion v/ill be small. ^^ We sliould h:ivo in the si)rin<4 as early as April 1st, at San i< rancisco, a good steamer of not less than six hundred tons i)urthc'n ; slie should have lar, a t'^^'l^ ^''^-''^^-'^^S I ^^ave chosen as my first plans now on dcs- KdwarJ Comvay, now in eliarge of division is energetic, active, intelli'^^-ent, : the Fraser's River , » — , and in every respect wortay ot your conhdence and esteem. _ In securing tlie services of ^fr. Abasa, I believe we are very .ortunate; ns knoNvIedgc of the people, lano-uaixe, customs, Kiws— ;uul ins interest m the work, together wuli'the i)osition OI Jus tamily m Jiussia, are all of tlie utmost importance: and i purpose m the fuluiv, witli a ])roper corps of .assistants, to give liim charge ot the work in Siberia. I intend if possible, in tlu- short summer letl me, to e\])lore the country from tlic head of Grantley Harbor to Norton Nnmd on the east side of ik-hring Strait, and from the head ot ^t i.awrence Uay to Anadyr Kiver on the west side, also u) make soundings out of these bays and across tlic northern parts ot JH-hnug Sea. A party will go uj) the Anadyr l^iver o connect with Abasa, and anotlier up tlie Kvitchpack towards corl ^ ucon, and if possible during the winter, to push down to tlic head waters of Fraser's lUver. I shall also • •xainine tlu- country around the head of Xortou Sound and establish (h-pot with supplies at Fort St. .Michael for the pur- i;Ose_ ot winter ex])lorati(>ns. We are late and have been Uetained by causes beyond my eontrol, but of ultimate success you nuiy .eel assured. I am, very resoectfull iiy, oui-s oueaien tly (-HAS. S. EULKLEY, M n(jinQ(r-'ut.- Chief, 1 . I. 'i- : ■I ' •!,■ 1. ; no WESTEiLX U.NION EXTENSION,' RUSSIAN AMERICAN TELEGRAPH. iNTKUlisllNc; IvEroilT OK COI.ONEL BlJLKI/EV. TlIK IvoLTli AdOI'TKD and Tllli WOUK PKOiiiiKSSlXG. AVlTlI THE Uki'Okt auk Complete ^Iaps, .made nv Col. Bulklev, SIIO\VlNeL'. is, isuo. .Since my Inst report, dated at Victoria, our slii])S luive hcon cnga^'cd in transportini^ materials, supplies and parties for exploration ol'tlu' country throu«;-]i Avhicli our lines will ])ass on l)oth continents, examining; har))ors and coast lines, locatinu: able crossiui^-s, and, so tar as possible, determininuj the route •Mr. Conway, in clnu^a- ot' the J-Vaser's river f tl U'SC nies. division, has betMi delayed in buildiuLr, owinij; to hit e :irnv al ol" inaLi'rials, but has iinished lour Inwulred and iilVy iidlcs of line, 1 believe tlnit the exploration eomnutted to him, with llu' eslablishnu'ut of tli'pots and distribution of supplies, has been luliy and .satisfactorily coniph'tcd. In a briel' nu-ssai^e he stales that '' uj) to liily-scven di'i;rees north latitude there is noihin-j; t() ])revent bifildinti; the line. Tl le ri iide 1 ■/vous o f our vessels at Sitka was ni'ci'.s^ary in order to disiribute supplies, which were in the Clara IJell ;■ also to divide and dispatch our parties lor their destinations. The far advanced sumnu'r lell no other course; and in order to exanfuie the most iu>rthern j)oints myself, I determined to take the steamer (Jeori!;e S. Wriijjht and assist the other ves- sels, by towini;- as fir as ])(»ssible, at the same time I'urnishinp; ihem orders in regard to future movements, in case we should accidentally be separated or I should di'sio-iuidly leave them. Mr. Ken'niciitt, the rivt'r uiilil sLoppccl by wc; then with ..o;;-s ana .sledges roach Fort Yukon, :uul penetrate to tlie souJnvanl, lorinmg a jinuaion witli tlio lirltisli American e.\i!orations. 10 insure his satety in this last work, I ordered :^rr. Con. v;ay j-o cslabhsh a depot on Babine Lake, wliich is done. At >:. ruichacls M'e found reliable testimony in regard to Kvitdi- /.: and Yukon being tlio same river and aliro-e navifrablo •:u iilled Avith islands. Sand bars block its i)ass.arre in ......;.y ])laces to all except light drait boats, but this ^vas'^i.ro- .);.Diy observed m only one of the many passa^.-cs in which 1..1S great nvcr winds tlirough tlic islands in its course .' rom evidence since received it is certain that tlie most .->ouihcrn mouth ot this river lias an entrance from the sea witli ion leet of water on the bar; and every thing indicates the existence ot still better clianncis tlirough wliich such a lar<>-G vo.;:nie of water ^must be emptied into lieliring Sea. From M. ..^icnaels the iiussians o;its drawing four feet. Largo (luantities of drift wood come uown with its current, landing on the shores of Behrin^v Sea :v;:w^ Norton Sound, furnishing the trading post of St. ]\Iichacls v/i^a tneir only iuel. Tiiis i)art of Kussian America is low and rolliiu--, but to the .soma are higli mountains— spurs of the great coast range that .stand .ike a wall on the whole coast, following the peninsula u, .'.wasKa, and iorimng the Aleutien Islands, ^orth of this ;.s.ana chp,iii Jiehring Sea i::i iilled with alluvium i,ourcd into it .)y tliG rivyrs, making it comparatively shallow, wliile tlie southern^ side ialls abrui)Jy into the depths of the Pacific vA-ean. i he harbor of St. .Michaels is exposed to the nortli uaa unsalein heavy gales from that (piarter. The coast nortiiward is hnv, rolling and without limber ui) to Ca])e .Nome; west ot this, ]n-ecipitous, hut not high, which contin- ''"'r-i^ "h"'^^' ^Jitrance of I'ort Clarance. This lino Ijay has a good entrance, with ten fathoms of y.atcr and mud bottom; 0))ening into its eastern side is vvrantley iiarbor, smaller in extent and com])letely land- ;cc..:od, proving a good landing for our cable, and the most ;'/ac_l:cable and sate one on the American side of Behrli^-- Mra.t. The country is of the same general character as tha^t mounding Aor.on Sound on the east, without timber and _:ovcred v.'ith a heavy growth of moss, tlirown uj) by the frost iu iargo ounchy masses; below this the earth is thawed about ^.cii liicnes and ])oneath fro/.en solid. Sinall stunted bushes '^o.-ing berries like wild currants and wliortleberrics, are the o;..y ^,.^,roaches to trees in this region. 12] <.u.ij. h.m,iyii htrajt ofters all tlic protection jieecssarv ' n.h good bottom deep water and safi landin "i, PeX J^! xul or Aboleslier bay, and from thi.s strait to (ira rt'ev ha, borthc bottom of Ik-Iirin- Ktrait is niudsaml "ndtL„ " avorag.„2 about thirty fa«,o„>s in depth 'unci dl^lo^c be'' b .'nd b,'t Mllno'i? '.' "'«f .'"°'>"t''i"<»-. ^vitI.oit tim. .,,„ ■ i ■ '."'•''^.'"os.s, except m the va eys. The cna-t masses ot s.en.te tnat rise in sliaq,, ron-^h on line alhelJ .sun>nuts are torn and pushed by 'the coLtjealin" water i every crey.ce until tI>o avahanehe of rocic c^n.es Tlu do in ,; , d ' '" "'"^r'^y ''"'^'^ >»0""tuins a °e sinking; to hiN ..a the masses erumbhng to aton.s i„ the intense eoid Vd! leys wuul oetween them, sometimes partially hlled w th this ;;ebr,s, bntlhrongh which we iind passage tbr our In, if ii e grounu is taawed to an average depth of three fee d'o." ^C:":^ "" ■^'^^■'■•^° "' ''- thick'n,oss eoverinl^ythe hi Port JVovidonco, or I^Iovcr l,;iy, we ibuiul our b-iH- l».il motto, iron .vlnch vessel we co^kuirina onle ^^.n ei ; La' o Nan iM-ancKsco. On September 20tli the (^oklen (J Ue rHveci romM..vhchaels, reporting all of Mr. Kennieutt\fnK 4, t^^i^^^ '-''f '•" '''''> ^"' -^^^ ^P^-^^. ubola'^ t '<:^r nW ] i o ^^'' ' '''•''• ^ ''y'}''''^ Captain' JScannnon to 1 aiopaulski, to eounnunieatc with .Mr. Abasa, in e:'se we should get iro/enin the Anadyr river, as winter seen J llW ^ipproaehing. Already the lower ]>ills were eovc^v wid snow, and ice was closing the u,per par. of the ba^ in.sisagood iiaroor, bounded by mountains, with deen va er and mud bottom. The coast line west rises' in per ,eJ a euiar elihs, witli serrated and ragged outline, ard no^avaiT - Me harbors east of Cape Spanber^ The har];or tha^^;^ H nd '1. octly west ot tins (-ape Inis its entrance between en e ra a.- ciiils, but at its head a good beach slopes into t le o . ■, roiimg country stretching- to the easHv-M,.! t. distance, north, higli mountain ran tl es covered Avith snow si leir rugged outline. A sand and mud bottom witl iivoragnig aoout thirty fathoms in depth, eonti low 10 I water nues across I •■ I V22 Aiuidyr b.ay to the inoutli of Aiiciilyr river ; huro there is a.^ good Inutlin<5 ill tho bay near Cape Observation, well pro' tectecl from ice. The schooner !\nitoa l>:i(lgcr Avas here, liaviiig hmded Mr. ^IcKac and })arty, who were engaged in preparing for winter. It being too Late for boat explorations of tlie river, they will commence with reindeer as soon as tlie snow falls in sulHcient t^uantity. Three hundred of these animals were on the ground, belonging to the Indians in the vicinity, witli whom arrange- ments were made for transportation. i\ir. ]\[cl Jae will proceed to Anadyi'sk, about three days' journey, and thence towards the Iicad of Jiginsk Gulf, or until communicating with Mr. Abasa. to whom he i.s ordered to ro])ort. With :i boat I as- cended the river to about thirty miles above Cape Tolstoy, and found a fme^ navig.able stream, with low banks, and the country in tlie distance gently undulating and witliout tim- ber. ^ Tlie waters at Ihis^point ebb and How with the tides of iVaring^Sea; but tlie indications of freshets on the banks show a rise of about ten feet, which leave considerable driii- wood, ofhirge si/e for this northern region. Some of the logs observed were more than twelve inches in diameter. The Inilians I'eport timber above, and represent the river crooked, with strong currentM and rocks some distance u}). From Ca])e St. Jlarie westward tlie country is low, rolling, covered with mo.ss, and thawed about two feet in depth. ' I.ow, scrubby ])ines and alder, n«»t over three feet in hciglit, grow in sliolter- ed places. On the l;Uh of October new ice was making so fast that wo Were obliged to leave the river, and on the fol- lowing day largo seals were climbing on its edges and lying tlicre above water, curiously watching us. Snow had already covered tlie gromul, and it was ])robable that !Mr. Mclvae could soon commence his winter explorations. At noon on the 14th the sun -nwis seventeen degrees above the hori/.on, and tor the tirst three days of ])assagc southward ice was continually forming on the sliip's sides and deck. The coast from -\nadyr river soutliward, so far as we were d id •ior th ^ route i Jie coast irom -\naayr river soutliwarcl, so lar as we were able to cxaralne it in snow s([ual!s, was very mt>untain()us and offering no inducement to look for another cable landing, and one, ti>o, t'lr.t would in<;reasc the distance ; besides, the interior ])roj) '^y m- dreroj)Oses to build a ])ostal road along- the coast, connecting Nikolaicvsk aiul Ayan witii Okliotsk, which docs not confirm the previous statement m regard to tliis country. It is the character of ilie jieoj)!*' • from whom Mr. Abasa derived his inlbrmation to find insur- mountahle obstacles in comj)arative trifles. There is an inland route from Okhotsk towards 'Wakouisk which will avoid the coast mountains, and reach the Amoor river a considerable distance above its mouth, and which has advantages, ])ro- vided we are allowed to connect with the Jiussiairiines at any ])oint we may reach them. Ordering the Golden Gate direct to San Francisco we sailed with steamer on November ]st, intending to cross the Pacific welliiorth in short longitude and go soutliward througli the Straits of Queen GJiarlotte Archipelago to A'ictoria; but^ atler eighteen^ days' trial, in violent gales, with ^hip somewhat damaged, we reluctantly turned our prow southward, and arrived in this port Xovember '20th. Light snow-commenced at i'etropauloski October 25th, and ice was forming in the small inner Jiarbor, but none in the magnillcent bay of Avatclia, which is seldom entirely closed in tlie main part. The most northern regions through wliich our lines will pass present no serious olislades, neilher in the construction I i nor successful ings will have srae lanuin<>-s, fonnaucc «.lou :Vo/.cn earth w fr.ll across nor the fro/en ]>]; reindeer and tivoly easy. -;.ae iK'iirin eight, and An 'iinlos Letwoer Irjrgs alone c izlohring Strai' venting" any-d f;;ce ciirrcnt i v/ater still mo It iias Lecn latitudes o])p( they are not i your teni|)crat lent on the ni av/ay from it, .• -11 the blast s < on tlie Asiatic of old ; the e; .:;ono long sin( tiieir doer-skin Tlie Indians ■.hem friendly, ..ctir.g on any dis"')Osition to .>■ v,'liite man, wj c;in he made v :\erate zone. The Esquimaux builds his hisecure skin^^ tent on the most exposed place, so that the snow may blow i av/av from it, .and there it stands, his shelter and home through /' all the blasts of the long winter. I liave seen no Es<[uimau.v on tiie Asiatic side inhabiting underground winter houses as of old ; the excavations and ruins remain, but tlie i)eo])le are _;or.e long shice, and the present races oceu]>y tiie ground witli their deer-skin habitations. The Indians of the sea coast are misrepresented ; we found ...ie:n friendly, honest, and e.veeedingiy liospitablo, never mani- .j^tiv.^j^ on ar.y occasion, nor about any of our vessels, the least dls;_)Osition to steal ; but tliey beg, thinking, probably, that the v/liite man, who has so nmch, can freely give. These ]>eople cy.-.n be made useful with proper management ; more so in the .V.ture tlian in tlie beginning of our Avork. Game is ahiiudant during tlie summer, especially water fov/1, and the Indians c:itch considerable bits, grouso and foxes (the tliree last white,) seciiK'd j)l('ntiful ; also seals and Avalrusos. liiandccr are used as beasts of Inn-dcii on the coast and in >.hc interior oi' Xorth-!<]asteni Siberia; in Russian America, wOLCS alone. Witli tliese animals some oi our short in tana pe- to Ubc i.'very available mear.s of water transportation, and locate our lines so far as possible to favor the plan. l.T.nsportation must be accompliMhed dining the winter, csp v:i:.lly tiiat over the thick moss covered region. We interid 1 I 125 To supply rar,tovial and stores to parties on "both continents during next summer tv/o more sailing vessels will be necessary and cnotlier steamer of greater capacity and })0\ver than tlie V/right, especially ii* it is decided to lay tlie cable ; besides, I believe it will be necessary to send the Wright into the Ok- hotsk Sea. I propose to build here two small sternwheel steamboats, about forty feet long, of light draft, to tow barges or small fiatboats up the Kvitchpack and Anadyr rivers. Tliese will be always necessary to transport our supplies into the interior. Should the Xavy Department give us a steamer that will not sail without steam, and leave us to provide coal, it will he doubtful economy to accept. Steamers for our service should be, like the Wright, citlier a sailing vessel or steamer, as cir- cvmistances require. This steamer has })roved a valuable ves- sel, botli econonii(\al and serviceable: witli two blades on her jU'opeller slie steams well, and performs admirably under sail alone. Since leaving San Francisco, her keel has gone through eleven thousand miles of water, and of this she towed some one of our vessels twelve iiundred miles at sea. In the furious and [incessant gales aiter leaving Potropauloski, she lost her siuokestack and sails, b(>sides being sonu'what damagvHl in her upj»er works. The olhor vessels returned in good (•t>iulition, l>uL the i\iiltou Ixidger is >.o destructive to sails ihut I refom- nuuul lier sale, to be replaced with a squiire-rigged vessel. The Golden Gate's equipment was similar to a vessel in the revenue service, and she has been llagship of the expedition. The sliow of power and the nationality that Captain Scammon represented with iiis Hag v/as necessary to insure the respect and kind ofiices of a people who expect this, especially in an enterprise that interests the world. Our general military or- ganization too has its good effect, not only among strangers, savaofc or civilized, but amono- the members of the oro-ani- y.ation. In natural liistory the collections have exceeded the expect-* ations of tlie most sanguine, and do honor to the liberality whicli has })crmitted this work. No other duty has been n(?g- 1 lected for tiiis object, liov/cver, but when recreation Avas ne- , cessary or convenient, this has proved a pleasing and instruc-/ tive source. Our soundings v/ero made with a new instrument, which for satisfactory te;.t, and v/hich, during the progress of our v/ork, has adcied many interesting specimens from the ocean beds to our collections. Ii'll jon ;:u Tlie c^cnoral hcdt'i of all connected with the expedition has beoii ^j;ood. Xo serious sickness lias beoti reported, no death Ij.as oeourretl, nor any serious casualty befallen any person. The o\']>cditiou was delayed so late that I was obliged to abandon my plan of exploring the lower Kvitchpack and ilH mouth, and the thorough boat exploration of the Anadyr river, but the winter parties now in the lield will accomplisli the ])urpose. All the vessels liavc rendered most efncient service and arc well ada])ted to the work. There Jiavc been but few listless moments or idle lumds since our prows were turned fairly north, and, with scarcely an exception, all connected with the enterprise have engaged with interest in the service and zeal- ously endeavored each to ennilate the other in the discharge of their duties. The servio.es of Ca])tain Scammon liave been of the greatest inii)ortance, not only as a thorough S'^'aman, but particularly as an of ieer of the (iovernment of the (Tnited States, carrying our national ilag. The Kussians, sensible of the importance of tlie enterprise, liave neglected no 0})portunity to ex])ress the most kmdly feeling and liveliest iuterost in our success, receiving us with unbounded hospitality, Tlie olMeials have generously assisted us. In regard to the l>ritish Columbia division, I will report imnu'diately nfter .Mr. Conway arrives. I am, most respectfully, Vours obediently, CHAS. S. lUTLKLEY, I . Kitffhioei*-in' Chief. 127 The (40VKR.\Mli.\T or the UnITKI) t5TATKS AUTllOiUZlIS THE Detail of a Kaval Vksski, ix aid oi- the Russian Ameuilan Tej.egraimi, Westeun Union ExaEnsion. I -» ft ♦- \ovyunAL.\ LA\73 05* TI-I2 UiTITED STATES. ?as:od at the Tirst Ccxion of the Thirty-ITinth Congress. [ruiiLxc Ejjsolution No. 10.] Joijit licKolutiua to J^ncouraf/c and I^acUltate Tdeyniphic Comnninicatiou Ictwcen the Wester )i and Jiki.steni Continents. irAtv'davV, by .111 Act entitled "An Act to cncour;vj;o :iiui facllit.itc teicgr.apliio communication between the eastern and western continents," approved July rlrst, eighteen hundri-d and sixty-tour, it \vas provided, among otlier'things, tliat the Secretary of the Xavy bo autliorized to detail a vessel to assist in surveys and soundings, laying down submarine cable, transporting materials connected there witli, and generally afford such assistance as might bo deemed best calculated to secure a successud jn'omotion of the enter])rise; and whereas, the Emperor of iiussia, for the purpose of co-operating with the Government of the United States, under the Act afore- said, has ordered a steam corvette, the " Variag," of 2,156 tuns burthen, seventeen guns, three hundred and six men, to assist in the acluevement of said telegraph, and has placed the said steamer subject to the orders of said telegraph company ; and whereas, said telegraph com])any intend, the ensuing sunn.U'r, to lay the submarine cable required at Ik'ln-ing's Strait, said cable and the material for tiic entire line being now in transit, and the vessels of the company, seven in number, being ready at San Francisco and Van- couver i\ji' the ex]/cditJon, and re([uirc immediate co-0])eratloii on the ])art of the United States, in conformity with said Act: Therefore, ( I ■, 128 • lie it resolved h^; the Senate <(nd JIousc of Jteprcscntative,^ Of the Ljutcd States of Atacrica in Conrjress (memblcd:-^ ^i);it the .Secretary of the Navy be, und is ]icrcby uutiiori/.cd uiul rc.juired to detail one steam vessel from t}»e scniadron of tlic i acitu;, stntion or elsewlicre, to assist in makin- surveys and soundings m that part of tlie l>aciiic eoast, both of America :uid Asia waerc it is proposed to establish said telc-raiih, in laym- the subnier-ed cable, and o-enerally to aiford such assistance as may be ]»cst calculated to secure tlie success of the enu'rpnse and to carry out the pur],oscs of tlie Act a?)- proved July hrst, eighteen Imndred and sixty-four, entitled. An Act to encourage and iacilitato telegra])hic communica- 1 Approved, February 2G, ISGO. ANDREW JOHNSON. ii ^ I, ',! I 1 .•I Impoktamt from niK Russian TKLKcaiAi'ii Exi>ki)Jtiox.-^ The Extirk liouTii Exploked. —>>■♦->-- ^iochcster, X. Y.,3rarrhlOth,\i^{j(i. Col. ] 'aimer has received frcm St. Petersburg a dispatch v.-hich gives very interesting information. It is from Mr. S. ^_.i)asa, a hiissian gentleman who resided in our city for a lon<>- lime, and \u\o was justly esteemed by all wiio knew him lie went to ]{ussia under the auspices of the Telegraph Company and jn-oceeded with a party to make examinations for thJ route ot the telegraph througli the region to the east of the Anioor river. ^ Uc writes under date of January 18th, from Okhotsk, aiul s.ates tliat lie lias not only sarvc>/rd the entire country from uiat place eastward to tlie Anadyr river, but has determined m person the route of the telegraph line, 'i^liis disi rict is that <'■ v/hich htt e was known, and connects the Anadyr, where ^olone. i>ulkley went last summer, witli that portion of Sibo- rui Which IS settled, and about whicli there was no doubt. It ]»rescnts no obstacles, and the work of construction will "-o along tlicre without dilliculty. "^ I — 120 !Ra*. Abn.s:i sent Iiis lotlor Ly post to Irkoutsk, wliero it nr- rivcti ou tlio IDth of I'Vuniary. Thence it was sent Ijy tho wires; 4,000 miles to 8t. IVtersburg, uud left tliei'C by luiiil for this country on the lilst of February. 2ilr. Abasa doew not aj,})ear to have found anything in tra- versing tho country that he explored, that excited remark as to tho practicability of constructing a line. A glance at tho ma|) Y/ill at once show the region he visited. As the entire line of the llussian-American TeU-grapli lias been explored, surveyed, and the route located, anAS1L AUA.S.\, lAjHtanl'itj ISt, Pciersbu)' . of llie Anadyr. I have sent all of the meii who were with me to meet them. I am in dally exj)ectatioii of engineers from Nieolalevsk by way of Ayan. I :uu going myself to r.ieet them, then i start for Yakoutsk and return by way of Aljigua. SEllOii ABASA. OkJiotsk^ inch Jan'' I/, IbUO, I ! I r 130 PHOPOSED EXTENSION OF TSLSGHAPIIIC LIKES INTO CHINA. — C'-O— Iilucli has nlrcr.dy been done in a preliminary point of view, bat it i:-i r.ot con^udered ;it tliis stage of the negotiations, ncce3sr*ry to give a longtlioneu history of the origin or pro* groH:; of the pUm. TliC in-jportr.ncc of tclcgrr.phic communication witli the coniuiercial centers of China cannot he too strongly set forlli, and this Company is determined to push the plan to ultimate success. In view of this, wc simply set forth the following docu- ments ia order to show that the plan is not neglected : 1\0. 33."! Dia'AK'niENT OF State, ) Washhujton^ Dec. 20th, 18(34. \ P. IvIcD. Collins, Esq., IKS. Commercial Age)it Amoor lilvcr. {No'io hi St. Petersburg.) Sin: — lam directed to acknowledge the receipt of your interesting diapatch of the 1st December, and to say that the Secretary of Sti.wC has been much gratiiied by its perusal. Suitable instructions have been given to ^Ir. Burlingame, (U. S. I'.^inister in I.*ckin) in relation to the telegraphic branch through China. I am, ^"lir, Your obedic:.- servant, Assistant /Secretary. L. L-. 131 !• u ./-^^u. c: V -*s>- Pi'opos'Ulon of the Western Union Tehyraph Company of Rochester, in the State of New York, United States of America, for the co?isf ruction of a Line of Telegraph to f.dcnd from ICyadUa in Siberia, on the frontier ofMon- iiolia, Chinese Empire, via Pekin, Tien Sin, Sha7ir/hai, Amoy, Canton, to Ilonrj Kony ; or by such other route as may he deemed most admntayeous in a political and commercial pjint of view, and which may he hereafter determined upon with the consent of Jliissia and China. ^ Tiic Western Union Teloii^ranli Company liavin<^ .-icquired mm I^Iajor ]*eny jIcD. Collins, United States Coniniercial the to or a telt'o-rapu to connect Europe v/ith America by \v'ay of 1 N'ortli Pueilic Ocean, consider it of tlie }iii>-hest importance connect the Chinese Empire witli the Russian system of tele graphs, so as to form a telegraj)hic communication from Ciiina to America and Kurope. Now tlierefore, tlie. Western Union Telegrapli Comoany ))roj)Ose so soon as })erm!ssion of the Ivuss'ian and (Chinese y 1 (';i))il:il ibr tln*^ ( iCx tension Tt'lc! ;inl;i p:iii(l;in('c of our if t'ao ])ro{)ositi foiiiul.'Uiou of m (•;iu rNlinisters at -i. is not oonsl :;uv;intagt'.s U;is undertaking-, ha t.iis <|ne,stion lul nieations betwce i:i Asia and Kur. j/ast, and its _L;"re Tlie \^'l stern (UT.ce in the nuo uient of |)r<.)}»er r l)roinj>tly and eti Done and ( Tnited Si \:^l O. il. 13:2 ^ Til tins view, and as (vnivhially si'l (brth and ])roposc(l l»y .ur. (\)llins, tlic Wosl(n-n Union Tclo--ni]»li C()ni])any -svill un(UM-(akc uj)on tlio st'Llli'inont oriu-ocssary rii^^hts, privi locoes, :i!ul _i,n-aiity, by tlic issuiiii,^ of tlu- iv((uiiv(l slo7;k, to vuisolht. (•;i])ital lor tlu'. constnu-liou of i]u> al)ovo moiitioniMl Clunoso i'.xtcMision 'iVli.'L,M-a|.h, in connection witli tlic Knssian linos an.l tnoso ot the ('oni|)any, liow bcin-,,' constructea fraui the Anioor Kivor to tlu; I'nitcd States. The lans and necessary ])oints for tlie action and guidance oi our :\Iinister at 1 Vkin liave L(>en forwarded, and u tiie ]>n)|)ositiou iinds f:ivor witii Unssia, will become the tonndatiou of mntual interest between the Russian and Anicri- can .Ministers at IVkin. It is not consiaered necessary to enlarge nj)on the material auvantan^es Kussia is to derive from tlie" aeliievement of thin inu.ertakin;^-, because the Kussi:ni Government comprehends c.ws (juestion fully. Besides it has already, in many commu- meatio:is between .Mr. Collins and the Russian anthontie« both .a Asia and Kuro])e, been discussed at leno'tli lor some yearM l-ast, and its o-re;;t utility fully ai)j)reciate(l. ^ TheW'cstern Tnion Teh'n'rap'h (\)mpanv l)as L;-i-eat confi- dence m the Miecess of the undertakini,-, and upoii the .settU- nient oi proj.er riolits and o-mnts will nnderlake itn cxei-iitioii promptly and efiiciently. Doiie and executed at lioelu'ster, State of New York, United States of Ameri<'a, tliis ;{()tli day of .June, A.l)., ■ si:al , 1 W'). ) J. 1 1. WADK. IWsiihDU, o. n. PALAnci;, ^cciU'tdT)!, isd roil THE EXTEXSIOX OF TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION TlillOUGIIOUT THE WORLa -•♦♦■ MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND SOUTH AlklERICA TO BB nnOUGHT INTO Telegraphic Contact wlili the ■♦♦•^ The foilowlnf^ oHlcial flo.njmcnts will give a p^cnor.il outline of tlic ])lan l>y v/liich it Is |)VO])Osed to unite North and .South America in a uiiivorsal te'lo^'niphic union. iM;iny otlior tlocu- nieuts could Ix; given, Lut it i>: not at tliis tinio considered necessary to cnlavL;-e ihrlhcr on this suLject. Tlu! phiu lias Leon laid ])erore all the (Jovernnients of South Anicirica, and cont;ider:d>le j)ro_<;rcss inadc. The ]_)rOj)o.sed telei!;raph will unite every St;ite of South America, Central Anjerica, and a\lexico — pass thronp;h or con- tlic international and extra-territorial coniinercc of all; forming continuous and r.^ihrolicn tele;j;raphic coniiuunication between all the States of botli Nortli and South America. secreta; To the I>lx>lo)) United ^Ua iiavo loavned tions of thia d loot to conucc l)y iiicr.iis of ! r.loni; tlio nort This enter};: Perry ".loD. C :it tlie A moor r.id of Coii;4'ro i-oiit(>. The ni a'.)ly l)y the C wh.om it was i sanction of tJi I A both cases aj.])ropriatiou ^/liich, liowovc uicnt to take i ]!orseve ranee ; wiiieli first sul ihe (lOvcrninci ries tiie ]^rojee co-o])eratiou ^^ j»ro})Osal was e ilf lias Ijcen a meat to constr iiritisii ('Ohuiii sla, not only o" .'Voia the; niou liussiiiU jiosses also' to constru '. <-i<'iri-:i])h conn v'>c,(,'an. in vi*!\v of tl V;0 rcsnlt to U! ]*i('tiou of a tl V'/fstern Oonti Conii^ross of tli act was accord lU SECRKTAllY &EV/AIID APl'ROVKS THE ENTERPRISE. DKI'AliTMli.VT OV S'l'ATK, ) 1Vafritain, wlioso territo- i-ies the }>rojected line v.'ould traverse, ar.d wlioso consent and co-o})eration were therefore liecessary to its success. His pro})osai was comitenanced and eneourau-ed by speciiic grants, lie has been autliori/.ed by her ]>ritam"iic Majesty's (-iovern- ment to constnict a line of telegraph across the iVovince of ijritish Columl)ia, and from tlie'lmperial (government of Ilus- sia, not only ohtained a similiir privilege, covering the ground fi-oia tin; mouth of tlie Amoor river to the frontier of the I'ussiun possessions in vVmerica, but a stipulation on their part aiso'to construct, upon certain conditions, a continuous line of w-i<'gra]>ii connecting the lOuropcan system with the Pacific Oc('an. Ill vi.!\v of iliesi! grants, and ii: consideration of the benei'its ;:0 result to us, as a great commercial nation, from the com- j*!etion of a telegraphic circuit embracing the Eastern and V/esLern C()ntine:its, jlr. Collins renewed his petition to the i 'ongress of the 1 Tinted States during its recent session, and an act was accordingly passed authorizing a survey of the route. .35 A cony of tuIiJ acz, with the letter of the Department of Hkita to Vac Comvaittcc on Coiir.nevec of the Scu:,^c of the United St:iter>, which led to it:-j introduction and passiij^c — a rar.!) illiistrative of tlie suhject, :ind other docr.uioiits in rela- tion to it, :ii-c herewith enclosed for your infoniiation. • ^ ^ All the k-,a;;xl conditions of .success to the main enter})rise ; being thus fuHiricd, the attention of the departinent has been , invited to a proposicion for the construction of a con Inuous . line of telegraph to cover the whole maritime border of South I America, t'ernunating at ]*anama, and to be continued when practica])le, throu_ij!;li Central America and Ivlexico, to connect ; witli lines iji tlie United States, thus alibrdiii<^ unbroken tele- '■'•raDhic comnumication throusi-hout North and Soutli America. tion, and instructed to further the 'plan so far as they may con:-istently do so. The late af.lrmative action of Congress, not less than its ovv-n estimate of the national advai.:;age to be derived from a successful acliicvemenc of tlie undertakhig, warrants the de- partment in acceding to Mr. CoIUns' re([uest. If ])eacc be indeed, as it is believed to be, the prime interest of nations ; if free intercourse be, as it is believed to be, the iirsl and best of those instrumentalities wluch m.ake for peace; and if as a means of intercourse the electric telegra]>li be, as it is believed to be, the most valuable and effective of any yet devised, then nmy the department wisely extend its good ollioes i'o\- the encouragement of the ])roposevl work, and reconnnend it to your attention on grounds of the liighest pohcy for such auxiliary service as may tend to promote its success, and at the same time be consistent with your repre- sentative cb.aracter. Vou are authorized and requested, therefore, shoidd oppor- tunity j»resent or occ^ision invite, to make kno\yn^ to the (iovt-nnneut, ne:ir which you reside that the negollaiion \n-o- posed to be <'ntered u})on by Mr. Collins i:-> regarded with favor by the (Government of the United Stales, ami that this (iovernnient would he jdeased to learn that like favor had been extended in the southern division of the continent to an enierurise tending so manifestly to advance the nuiritiiuv' wel- fari' and strengthen the bond of fellowship of the American nations. I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, ^ ^V. il. SEWAKD. 1 c .■■> 'filS ilXTENSION 01> TII3 LINE INTO SOUTH AMERICA. Lii:(.;A'noN ov the Uxitj:;) Statks ok Aiikuica, ) JJo^oia, October 'J5, 180 .. f To Ills KcccUaicy Scnor Doctoi- Antonio Del Kkal, Secretary of the Interior and I'\>rel(j)i 2iclatlo)is^ <&c. : It Im gencrr.lly known that an uiulertakin!:: has bt'cn set on foot to coiuu-ct t'lto continents of Enro})0 :uui Nortli Anieriea oy means of a lino of tclesj^raph t:jrongli ^.'entral Ania and along the northern shores of the Paciiic Ocean. Tliis enter- }trise was iirst brouglit before tiie public by I\lr. IVrry ^IcD. Collins, conriViercial agent of tlic Ihated States of America at the Anioor river, wlio, in the beginning of 1801, asked tl»e aid of Congress in making an ex])ioraiion of tlio proposed route, l^'he niemorial of Tur. Collins v/as lavorably reporte«l on by the Ci;rnmiiiee of the House of Iteprescn" ,tives to whom it was referred, r^nd subsequently, in isti2, received the sanction of the Comuiittee on I'.Iilitary Affairs of the Senate. In both #aKes bills were presented providing an adequate a}>propria- tiwi to carry out the views of the petitioner, upon which, iK>Wt'Vcr, at that time Congress did not deem it e\-}>edient to jtHk^linal action. In the meanwldle, ^Ur. Collins, with ])erse- veraneft and en.ergy well belitting that clear sagacity which iirst ■suggested the work, urged its considenition upon tlie (liovernments of iiussia and (ireat ]>rit;fm, wliose territories |lui projected line would traverse, and witose consent and co- O-pcration were, theretbre, necessary to its success. liis }»i"o- ))Osal was counteiianccd and encouraged by speciilc grants. lie lias been uutliori/.ed by Ifer i>rilannic Majestv's (iovern- ment to construci a line of telegrapli acruss the Province of iiritish Coiumbia, ruul from the lm^)erial (iovernment of lius- sia not only obtained a similar ^jrivdeixe, coverinsjc the uround from the mouth of the Amoor river to the frontier of the lius- sian possessior.8 in Ariierica. but a sti|>uhition also on their part to construct, upon ceriain conditions, a continuous line of telegrav>h connecting tlie Erirope:in system with the Paciiic Ocean, in vie v/ of these grams, and in consideration of the benefits to result from the cori.plction of a telegraphic circuit ejabracing the Eastern and V/estern continents, M\\ Collins rencv/ed hia petition to Congress during its recent, session. 137 and n.u act was acconlini^ly pas;-c»l anUiori/Ing a survey of tliG rouU'. All tlio l<\t!:al conditions of succi'ss to tlio main ('ntor)»riso l)cin.L,' tlius fiiliilU'd, the attention of the (iovernment of the United Slates of Anieriea lias oeen invited to a proposition for tlie construction Oi'a continuous line of teles^^raph to cover the Vv'hole niaritinie ]>order of South Anu'rica, "terniinatin.ij; at Pananui, and to Le continued, when praeticahle,_throuy ]Mr. Collins, and il wouUl be ]»leased to jearn that like favor has been extended in the southern division of the c.oMtiiu'Ul to an ^enter])rise tending so num esily to advance^ Lhe mutual welfaSv and strengthen the l)on * of fellowship o.f the American r.at.ions. The undersigned improves the prt'Sent o])portunity to reite- i-,iU>. to Ills K\7-eiIency Senor Del Keal, Secretary of the Inte- rior an«l I'oreign delations of Uu I'nited ^tates of Colondfia, assurances of the N'cry distip.guishcsd consuieraiion with which he has the honor to be, His Kxcellency's ol)edient si-rvant, ALLAN A. iiUUTON. IS n y 138 ?.:3?LY OP THE COLOMRIAX Si:CKETARY OF THE INTERIOR. [TUAiJSLATic irMTi:i> StATKS ok COLOMIIIA, ) DlIPAliTMENT Oy Tllli IXTKRIOU AND FoiiKK.lX UkLATIOXS. V P>otfot((., Nooi'hihtr Ti^l^iSA. ) Tlic umlersiii^nc'd, Seercliiry of Jie Interior and Foreign Uoh-tions, has hau the lienor to receive tlu' note bearinij date on ihc iir>th ullimo, Avhieh tiie lion. Allan A. liurton, -Minister KeslJv^.nt oi'tlie United States of Ajnerica, lias been ])leasod to atluress to h\\\\ relative to the ontcrprise wjucli. ?»Ir. Collins, agent of the North American Tnion at the Amoor river, is euJeavoring Xo acconiplisii, of estahlishing a line of telegraph passing through Central Asia and the ivussian and liritisli ])Ossessions in Aiuc-riea, terminating at Panama, and after- wards to be exter.ded so as to put the wliole American conti- nent i;i communication. In recor.nnending to the c<)nsideratlon of the Colombian (4overnment so vast ;iu enterjirlse, yom- ILonor has given an uneciuivocal ])roof that you duly appreciate tiio })urpose enter- tained by the Ciovermnent of the undersigned in respect to all kinds of internal improvenu'uts. it atfords much ])le;.sure to tlu; undersigned to inform your ^-onor that the undertaking of .Mr. Collins will meet, in the Govermnent and ])eople of Colombia, with .all the suj>port that the colossal project of uifiting tlie (Jld and New Wo'cld by electric telegra])h merits. It is most grateful to the under.signed to re]»eat to your Honor the assuranc<; of the high I'steem and consideration vvitii which he has the honoj* to be, His very attentive; servant, ANTONIO DKL liKAL'. To lion. Ai-r.AN A. Dcuton', J>/i/u'sf,'.)' AV.s/V/t';// of' l/ir Cult id .V^/A.s' of' Aiitducil^ ii'c. Lt:<;atiox nv rnv. U.NrrKo Statks, ) Hoijota, Octohrr ;50, i 80 \. )' Sii:: — I'pon the receij»t of your <*ircular, dated August IS, 1HG4, i-ehitivi! to the tciegriiphic jilans ot'Mr. iVrry Ah-D. Col- lins, i mentioned infoiMUHl' v some *»i" its eout,<'i\ts to the Secre- ■ - «r--i -J ■ 139 tary ofyorclgn Rc!;itions, and, at the citizen Presid out's rc- (Hiost, had a personal interview witli liiin on the suhject. I stihmitted to him the map, pamj/nlet, and act of Congress, which :utconipanied tlie circular. On -a snbse(juent occasion lie expressed nmch interest in Mr. Collins' undertakinix, "ind asked me v.'hat laciiities lie desired IVoni the Colon;l)ian (iov- ernnies.t, and sairesent it ofiicially to his (tovernment, to i^ovva as a basis of his action in j)romotin_!jf Mr. Collins' underlakim!;, and also that he have the; use of the information contaiue. I iiesiiate not to ]>clievi' th;it if ]\Ir. Collins' a<;ent be here at tlu' openinix of CoULjrcss on i'\'braary 1, ISG"), he can obtain all the lei;-islation in his favor that he could reasonably desire. If he should not ilnd it convenient to send an ai^ent, the Con- i^ress will probably i;-ive the Kxecutive ])ower, authority to make the necessary arrannvments with him afterwards. Sinci' writini:; the:ibi)vc the President has himself trau>lated your letter to the Hon. Z. ChaiuUer, of May 1-t, l8U-x, :ind had h, with my momorial to the Secret:iry of Foreii^n Relation' an, SPIiCIAL MliSTIXa or THE HIO Di: JANEIliO MERCHANTS. — ADDl^USS TO TIIU BllAZILIAN LEGISLATURE. At 110011 yestcnlay the men)l>ers of tlio E.\cliaiiL(o, uiul iip- warJs of four Imudivil iiuTciuint.s, assembled to coM.sulcr tlie inoaMUVs disi'iissed be lw\V, Sciiiior Sahriiilu), \vbo was ealled \\\)k)\\ to preside, ui oj»rn- hi;^ the ineetinu; sL;ited tliat tlie same liation the momentous importanee to Hra/il of sti'am eommnnieation with the I'niled States >.or of the establisliment of teU'urai)hi<- lines whieli would' orini:; tiio pi\)vinees into immediato eonneetit)n with tlie e;u)ii.;d of the emjiire, and plaee ns in direct e(»mmnniea- tion Willi tlie t>;:ier eivili/,(.'d nati«)ns t)f thr t;*lobe. In order tv) api»ri'eiate the advantages «)l' ra/il and the I'niLed Stales, ouv iiei'd onlv I'onsider the amount of I'olfee i'.\portera/il and the I'niled Slates, (uir youu'. nen. iste:id <;i \isHriiLi: Kuroi/e in liuest ol amust dl meat and iu.vury, and scjuanderire^ har