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Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WEST H^MH STREET

WEBSTER, h!.Y U5«0

(716)872-4509

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CIHM/ICMH

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VI ^ —

of this city, and there are portions of the existing lines wiiich could not
be maintained without loss to the owners if tiie Press patronage should
be withdrawn or materially curtailed.

In view of these facts, the American Company, owning or controlling
the lines westof tlie Nova Scotia boundary cannot view with indifference
the recent unofficial notice given to us to the effect tiiat your company
have put an end to the arrangements with the Associated Press. The
New York Associated Press is composed of all the leading newspaper
publishers in this city — gentlemen of honor and perfectly responsible
for all their pecuniary liabilities. We are well informed in regard to
their arrangements for distributing the European news to the public,
and we have good reason to know tliat all their dealings in connection
therewith are in the highest degree prompt and liberal, and conducted
upon the most honorable principles. VVe, therefore, as guardians of
our own property, and, to some extent, of the interests of the business
public, cannot consent Willingly to see the arrangements which have
subsisted for the past ten years between the Eastern lines and the
Associated Press, broken up without adequate reason.

It is currently reported here and at Boston, by parties believed to be
in the confidence of prominent members of your company, that you have
made secret and exclusive arrangements with pi'ivate parties, who
are to be allowed, regardless of the time of actual delivery of news
from the European steamers, to have the first use of your wires, for tlie
same consideration as lieretofore paid you by the Assosiateil Press.
Admitting the principle that the public have no concern in the news
arrangements of the Nova Scotia Company, any connection witli private
parties whose object is of a speculative character, cannot fail to be ruin-
ous to the lines in New Brunswick and in Maine, and we cannot but
I'egard your action, if we are rightly informed, as exceedingly unwise
and injurious to tlie best interests of the telegraph property, and unjust
to the commercial public. If upon mature consideration, your company
should be willing to throw youi- lines open to the whole public, upon the
only true telegraph principle of first come, first served, and at one uni-
form rate of tariff, we shall he satisfied ; and I am authorized to say
that the Associated Press will also be satisfied. But we must protest
against your breaking up the ai-rangeinent of the Associated Press for
the purpose of favoring private parties, anil we also emphatically pro-
test against your making any arrangements whatever calculated to affect
the interests of our company, whilst its lines are used as connecting
links between New York and Halifax and Newfoundland, without giving
us reasonable notice of your intentions.

Fully believing it to be alike our duty to ourselves and to the commer-
cial public, we shall not fail to tj'ke all proper and legal measures to
continue to serve the Associated Press with the earliest intelligence from
Europe, and we respectfully but earnestly hope you will do likewise.

\ ■

'T
M

(Signed.)

Peter Cooper, Pres't.

-».,/. ^ . r ,.^,/^

.i' . *•. tA.

I G-lf

pp*f*f

Y'l

( /

I . lii

(Tel.) Halifax , May G, 1869.

To Peter Coopeb, Esq.,

Prest. Am. Co., N. Y., and Prest. NHd. Co.

Yours of -Ith received. We have endeavored always faithfully to
discharge our duty to the Associated Press. While under engagement
with them we have refused large otters for the use of the wires. All
went on well till, on certain news being received from a Cunard steamer
bound to Halifax passing Newfoundland, the agent of the Associated
Pi'ess refused to send or pay for the usual 3000 words from Halifax, on
the ground that it was of no use. We declined such an argument on
the ground that we had nothing to do with extraneous matters. All we
had to do was to send, or to receive payment for, 3000 words on the
arrival of the fortnightly steamer. But it seemed to be imagineii by
the Associated Press that our wires were to be shut up from others by
the agreement, but that the Press was to use its own judgment as to
the length and price of the message it would receive, which we did not
look upon as fair. We remonstrated, but in vuin. The messages sent
to us, and to parties iu immediate connection with us, which the agent
must have known we would see, were most violent and abusive. The
letter laid before us, by Mr. Hunter, which we presume was on the part
of the Associated Press, was arrogant, dictatorial, and deiiant. If his
own, he made the very same offer to us, on his own account, which now,
as recognised agent of the Associated Press, he pronounces illegal in
another party. But he writes to us as though we were dependent on
him for our existence. You must have been aware all along of the no-
tice of termination, and could have acted accordingly. We cannot help
thinking that the Associated Press have imagined that we should have
to come to them sueing for pardon and patronage. Such was never our
intention ; we would lose everything rather than our independence; and
we also think that they now regret that they did not comply with our
well-understood intention — that is, to agree to the payment of the $150
fortnightly; had they so complied a fortnight ago, we should have given
them the preference over every one for the sake of old acquaintance,
even though, as I have said, the language of their agent and of others
has not been over-polite. You protest against the breaking up of the
arrangements with the Associated Press. It is we who protest against the
Press for the ruptui-e, unless you uiean to join with those who tell us
that we have no right to an opinion at all. Of our arrangements with
others we '.'annot speak. If you have legal rights, enforce them. If
you can ruin our company, do so. I am largely interested in it, and I
will see the whole of it sunk in the sea before I will I'eceive favors flung
at me contemptuously. I fancy the rest of the shareholders have
the same feeling. If you publish any complaints of us, please to
send me a paper containing them, and I think we shall be able to jus-
tify ourselves befor«? the public.

We understand that the message sent by the agent of the United States
Associated Press was stopped at Sackville by your operators, until the
message of the New York Associated Press had reached that office by
Express and iKien sent over the wires. We give you notice that, should

*# U i A i ii)W! i irj 'Wii rw>' ''< r''" '

iau*a»i Nfcn triaai

such a thing occur again, we shiill immodiately cut off all connection of
every kind ut Suckville, and it was a great piece of forbearance that we
did not take that step yesterday.

Jas. C. Cogswell, Prest. JV. S. Co.

(Tel.)
P. Cooper, Prest. Am. Tel. Co.,

TO Prest. N. S. Tel. Co.

New York, May 7, 1859.

Your message received. Please send us a statement of all the facts

by mail.

And oblige, j'ours truly,

Peter Cooper, Prest.

Halifax, May 10, 185;».

Letter from J. C. Cogswell to Peter Cooper, Esq., Prest. Am.

and N. F. Company.

Sir, — In accordance with the request in your telegram of the 7th I
have to make the following remarka :

The original agreement with the As-sociated Press was made in 185Q
by the Government of Nova Suotia, and under it the Press contracted
to send over our wires 31)00 words on the arrival of each regular mail
steamer for the sum of .If^o. The Government lines passed into the
hands of the Company, and, in November, 18o3, notice was given to
the Associated Press that the price of news would bo raised. After some
negotiation and some complaint on tlie part of tiie Press the terms were
agreed upon. In the letter from the Associated Press consenting to pay
the S'l'jO, one special proposition, made by themselves, was, that six
months' notice of termination (should be given.

All went on well enough till in .July, lSo8, the Cunard steamship
Europa passe^l Newfoundland, and news receive! tliere by her was sent
to New York. On the arrival of tiio Eiiropn at Halifax, soon after, the
Press agent refused to send tlie usual 15000 words on the ground that it
had lost its value. The same tiiin;; has occurred twice or thrice, since,
— the Press refusing to pay — our Company claiming the full amount.

We conceive ourselves justiiie 1 in so claiming on the simple ground
that, by its agicement, the Press con trade/ to seinf 8000 words upon
the arrival of the Cunard steamers, ami under that contract we have
always faithfully held our wires at tlieir disposal. We have refused
large oifers for preferential messages, holding ourselves bound to Mr.
Craig. We had nothing to do with anytliing outside the agreement.
Immediately that either party found it expedient so to act, notice of ter-
mination could be given. Vou will observe that .according to Mr. Craig's
statemei t in his .affidavit, m;ule at llu.ston, dated at New York 11th of

February lust, the conatniction of the Xovn Scotia telegmph wua based
upon the sending of the I'rcHS mcssftgcs' But, apcording to his version
of mfttterH, he might, tlie month after the Nova Scotia lines had been
built, have refused to send the IJfMM) words upon the ground that, in
some other way, he had obtained theT.ows, md that, to use liis own ex-
pression, it was " stale." We do not looic upon it in t!iat light. A one-
sided bargain is not generally considered fair. A tenant cannot lca\e a
house immediately that he tinds one nt a lower rent or that suits him
better, nor can a landlord eject a tenant inunediatcly that a better one
presents himself. On the same principle we said to the Associated Press,
"We are ready to fulill our part of the bargain; do you foltil yours.
If you are dissatisfied with it, give notice, and let the arrangement be
concluded." On the 12th October L^oS, Mr. Craig did give notice that
♦' After the 1st May, IS'V.l, the .Associated I'ress would not pay more
than the ordinary tolls or rates of tariff charged to tiie public, for tlie
details of news by any steamer at Halifax that may have been antici-
pated wholly or in part by arrivals at Newfoundland or elsewhere ;"
upon the receipt of which letter we gave general notice of the termi-
nation of the contract.

The Nova Scotia Tompany protest against the terms which have been
applied to them by Mr Craig and others both in public and in private, in
the press and ii. letters. No harsh words ha\ e ever been used by us in
our communications, but we have simply stood upon what we conceived
to lie our right!-. We iiave ever been determined to stan<I before you as
equals, givin;;; full value for all that we receive. We conceive that we
have a right to asii our own prices for our own wares, and, !is the value
of these wares inrreases, we are justified in incrensing the price. We
have as much right to ask SlOO or S'l '><>(» for the use of our wires un-
der peculiar circumstances, as the owner of a few feet of land in tlie
Fifth Avenue has to ask $100,000 fur that which he would, twenty
years ago, have sold for five. In this instance, however, we have
not raised the price. We have been willing to continue the old ar-
rangement. Mr. Craig has violated the contract, and, by way of
preventing any chance of amicable re-arrangement, lias u«ed lan-
guage such as no gentleman should receive or give. I enclose you
a number of his telegrams, as nlso Mr. Hunter's proposition. Some
of those sent to Mr. (iisborne, and by him sliewn to us, when here,
were even worse, if possible ; and, though Mr. Craig may say that
they were private, still they shew his style, and, coupled with tho.se
sent to us, stamp him as a person not likely to be a pleasant correspon-
dent. That addressed to Mr. IJolton, one of the Executive Committee,
was also directed to be sent to our Secretary, in order that by no chance
we should miss seeing it. He was here for some time in the early part
of the news arrangement, and the reputation he has left Vhind him is
not such as you or I would like to bear.

You complain in your telegram of want of notice. I assure you that
it never occurred to us tliat such notice was in any way requirtd. Our
arrangements were with tlic Associated Press, and when those arrange-
ments were broken off it was for them to notify third parties. We should
h'i\e had no objection to give you such notice hiul we thought it neccs-

gr-'J I M'-^ f-"

(»

81117. lliit tli(! intitnato iMrmtrfion wliicli, hy your own stiitement, has
Huhsistt'il l)('tH«'('ii ymi ami the Afsctciiitdl I'resH, seems to rentier the
ihiittcr otiKitict- :i mere pieco of ceremony, [f yoii really were ignorant
1 ref^ret it. A few \v(mi|!i from ,vou, in the tone of your telegruni, in-
Htc;iil of the dictatorial aii'l defiant language of Mr. Craig ond Mr.
Hunter, might liave cliinged the state of att'airs. We cannot help
thinking here that hoth the company and Mr. Craig thought we were at
his mercy anil should have to suhmit to his own terms, not believing
tliat any mie else would oti'er to take his place, nor seeming to undei'
stand that should such he the case we wiaild far prefer honorable inde-
petidence with poverty to dishoimralilu submission at any price. The
hisiory of your own country, of which you are so justly proud, might
have suggested to you that we might possilily choose the former.

A word in conclusion as to the Newfoundland Company, of which you
are also President; I am not about to enter into a long story, but I will
simply say that the manner in which your agent here endeavored to ob-
tain an exclusive charter from our Legislature for the Atlantic telegraph
— in violation of our rights — did not tend to proiluce a very warm feeling
of friendship. We were not consulted ; our existence was ignored, until
it was found that our co-operation was necessary. We nniintained our
principles and our independence, and, as regards the correctness of the
first, I slumM like to see laid upon the table of our Legislature, now
when matters aic Itetter understood, such a bill as your agent endea-
vored to obtain in 1S'")7,— or rather 1 should be curious to see how long
it wouM remain there. I do not think our company would trouble them-
selves to ask wiiat had become of it.

Considering all these matters, I am not surpriseil, although I regret,
that a rupture has occurred. We cannot consider ourselves as to blame.
I repeat that we should always have been willing to continue the ar-
rangement of 1H.").'>, and have given the Associated Press of N. York the
preference over all others; but we must now l.iy the blame of disturb-
ance ujjon others, and, when reason requires, we shall aak the public
tearlessl}" to decide between us.

(Then follows a paragraph not bearing on this question.)

I have the honor to be.

Your obedient servant,

Jas. C. Cogswell.

[Enrlosiiren rrfe.rrvil to in above. Leiter."]

(1.)

Extract from a Lkttkr of tuk Exkoittivk Committke of the N. S.
Tklkgrai'ii (.'o., to I). H. Craic, datkd Nov, ICi, 1853.

T am instructed by the Executive Committee to give notice that
upon the close of the current year, they cannot continue to send the
steamer's despatch to the Associated Press upon the terms on which it
is now sent. This preferential despatch monopolizes the trunk line of
the Company usually alMHit half a <lay, thus wholly excluding, during

■ ?SSSKBa!lfS6i9S«S*k3«UW Hifflii;^-'*'-

tlmt time, other businesd whicli the Kxecutive Coiuiiiittee believe woultl
be more profitable to the Coiupuny. Moreover, under the present ar-
rangement, the Company does not get paiil tor this despatch in propor-
tion to their share of the labor and trouble, aa compared with other
Companies over wlm.se lines the despatch passes. In point of fact, the
Nova Sci.tia Company has nearly nil the lithor ami ti nihle of transmit-
ting this despatch, but gets the smallest portion of' the pay. Under
all the circumstances, the Committee consider tlmt they caiuiot, after
the commencement of the incoming year, continue to send a preferen-
tial despatch to the Associated Press, on tlie ai-rival of the English
steamer, at a less rate than one hundred and titty dollars for each de-
spatch of 8(»0() words. 'I'iie sum at present received is not a remuneration
to the company for sending such a despatch. Other parties are willing to
give the greater sum for the preference now allowed to the Associated
Press, but the Committee wish to give that Association the option of ac-
cepting or rejecting these terms. In order to shew you that the deman<l
of the Kxecutive Committee is not an unreasonable one, I may add
that a thousand dollars (JjJilOiMt) has been otteretl this Company for the
preferential use of the wires which tiie Associated Press now has, on
the arrival of each steamer.

If the Associated Press will consent to pay the sum named (#150),
the f^xecutive Committee are willing to let tiie other arrangements re-
main as at present. Tlie Kxecutive Committee would thank you to let
them have the decision of the Association as soon as possible.

(Signed) P. S. Ha.milto.v,

bc-cietury.

Ai'Kif. 8, 185!«.
' Copy of Lettkr fkom J. Huntek to thk Kxkcutivk Committek of

*-■: TUK X. 8. EjJXTBlC ThXEfiRAPU CoMl'AXY.

Gentlemen, — Vour arrangement with the Associated Press having
fallen to the ground, and it being the intention of that Association not
only not to renew it, but to refrain from sem/ini/ any news whatever
over your lines, I beg (referring to correspondence of the 1st) to submit
t.i you the following proposal. My otter, iti the tirst instance, will take
one of two shapes, namely —

First, I otter to renew, on my own behalf, the agreement which exist-
ed between your Company and the Associated Press prior to the I'Jth
December, 1853 ; or, secondly, I otter, immediately on the arrival of
every steamer bringing to this port intelligence from Europe, to send by
telegraph from Halifax to Sackville from 1000 to 3000 words at ordinary
rates of toll, and, in addition, to give twenty dollars per steamer for the
privilege of having my said despatches placed at once upon your wires
and transmitted without interruption till completed, as soon as handed
into your oilice.

I apprehend the company has no right to refuse to transmit any des-
patch in the order in which it is hiinded to your operatore— even with-

14*^

out pvc'iiiiiiiii. riic iciins iiaii.td arc tlu'ri-fore iiic!uf*iveof cunipt'ii,«iiti()ii
lor rctiiiniiif^ ydiir utli^e^i oixn ut other tlniii IniMincss hours. Allow lue
to imiiit out to ^kdiir coinmittcc that tlie cii.«e for your decision !m pretty
iiiucli liiiiitt"! to tlu' ijUiMtioti, "Shall we roci'lve Hunter's huHincHS, or
gettioiii'.'" Thiit is to s!iy, in the event of my offer heinj? rejected,
HO iifivs whati'vri' will pass orcr ij/iiir irirr^ to the jlnnricun press.
Permit me likewise to iiieiitiou that (tilthough [ am not specially
!iiithori/e I to siiy so) it is probulile tliiit flie privato husiness of Mr.
Kiclmrd Stuart of [iiverpool, luiinunting in tlie gross to £^00 per .inn.,
will in liiie manner eeasc to he transmitted over your lines. Further,
that arr,in<;ements to dispense witli transmission over y ur wires beinj^
already complete 1 an<l ready to eome into operation on the 1st of iMay,
any expectation to miike up for the loss of the .Associated I'ross pay-
ments l>y youi- enteriin; into new news arrangements, or hy depending
on the transmission of speculative despatclies at fancy prices, will cer-
ttiinly prove fallicious. Moreover, your company cannot wish to appear
befir'e the public in the light of an ally and sharer in the spoils of spe-
culators, The standing of the gentlemen composing your committee
forbids such a supposition —were the additional reason wanting that
certain parties are only awaiting to discover your company in some such
false position to carry out certain projects respecting which legal opi-
nions are already in their hands.

Your coHimittee will pleas be aware that I mention these facts with
due respect, and in ihe nature of an explanation only.

Meantime, I retnain,

Your very obedient servant,

John Hunter.

(8.)

New York, April 25, 185i).

(Tel.)

1). H. Craig to J. Hoyt.

Your despatidi received. We decline to accept the interpretation of
your coninuttee. All our arrangements are nnide for entering into com-
petition with the public, and we have no fear as to the result. We shall
present to your office a report of one to three hundred words on the
arrival of the steamer, and we expect that it will be sent ahead of
everything that comes after it, and if not .so sent at least try hard to
find the cause; full report will be expressed and sent thence by tele-
graph, as the shameful conduct of your company does not entitle them
to expect anything more from us than we can well avoid giving them.
We have no favors to ask, and none to give, and least of all do we want
any extension of peace. Your committee are resolved, as we have been
given to understand they are, to force us into a fight. Mr. Hunter has
full authority to act for us, and we shall cheerfully be bound by his
acts. We have no distrust of our power to protect our own interests,
and now as ever defy the crowd to head us off in any legitimatfr enter-
prise. Show to Hunter.

P. U. Cbaio.

, j^jBHBjB'W' I'' ' '**'

gf'i'he above was in reply to telegram which the committee sent to Mr.
rnilg tlirough the Cliief Operator, stating that as the steamer left Liver-
pool on the 'S-Ul April they ilid not consider the news by her abut out,
anil askiiig if he wished it forwarded. On the foregoing reply being
submitted to the President of the Nova Scotia Telegraph Company the
following answer to it was sent :

(»)

Ai'utL 27, lHr,9.

(Tel.)
J. C. C'ogsweiJm Prest., to D. II. Cbaiq.

The message sent you was in courtesy, not in defiance. We merely
meant to give yoi an additional steamer's news, if you claime*! it under
the circumstances. The contract ende<l on the Ist May; the steamer
J would leave before that date, but would not arrive here till afterwards,
'I and there might be a question which we wisln-- o avoid. Your lan-
guage is unnecessarily coarse upon all occasions. 1 1' you have rights
stand up for them and nobody will blame you, but please to use such
terms as gentlemen may listen to without bein^ insulted.

Ja9. C. Cogswell.

x>\

(Tel.)
H. Craiq to J.

(5.)

New VoiiK, April 2H, 1859.

C. COOSWELL.

Not having addressed any communication to you or any member of
your committee, I am surprised at your uncalled for and grossly insult-
ing message just received. I beg you will give yourself no uneasiness
about our business or our rights as we feel quite able to manage the
former and defend the latter.

D. H. Tkaig, Agent Ass^d Press.

^om-
shitU
the
of
•d to
tele-
hem
lem.
want
been
has
his
•eats,
snter-

(Tel.)
J. r. CodswELL to I). H. Craig.

(6.)

April 28, 1859.

My message was intended for anything but insult. When occasion
requires I shall be prepared to place a copy of it beside yours to me and
others, and leave the public to decide. But I have no more to say to
you. If you like your own style adhere to it.

Jas. C. Cogswell.

(7.)

New York, April 29, 1859.
H. Craig to J. C. Cogswell.

Your message received. I assure you that I never addressed a cora-
kQunication to you nor wit)te one for your eye before yesterday, and am
2

as f'T from designing or wishing to insult you as you can be from intend'
inj^' to insult mo; you can, therefore, judge of my astonishment at the
tone of your mes.s;\ge of yesterday, iu, I consider my style perfectly res-
pectable and courteous; you may rest assured that I shall adhere to
Ci^-Cci successfully defend it.

D. H. Craio.

(8.)

J. C, C()(3swELi, to D. H. Cbaig.

Halifax, April 29, 1859.

Your message to Hoyt, bearing on the genei'nl interests of the com-
pany, was, as a matter of course, shewn to me as President. Other
messages from you, ratlier violent in their language, had been shewn
to me also. I am prepared to expect opposition, and never object to it.
But I wished to request of you, in any remarks you might make, that
would be laid before the committee, to be moderate in your language,
no matter how strong the hostility. You have never received dis-
courtesy from us in language, however you may dislike our policy. We
had better now let the matter drop.

J. C. Cogswell,

(9.)
(Tel.) Nkw York, May 3, 1859.

I). H. Craio to J. C. Cogswell, Prest. N. S. T. Co.

We are accustomed to deal with telegraph gentlemen who are above
the despicable tricks we have reason to believe you and your associates
are about to res( rt to.vwA, vain effort to injure an association to which
Nova Scotia owes its telegraph connection with New York, and which
has been, as it is now, the chief reliance of lines in New Brunswick iind
iVIainc for the payment of their necessary working expenses. The
Government of Nova Scotia from 1849 to 1802 demanded from us only
seventy-five dollars for transmitting 3000 words from Hiilifax to Sack-
ville, but no sooner had your company got control of tiie government
lines than you doubled your rates of tariff and compelled us to pay one
hundred and fifty dollars, or three or four times the rates charged to
the public. E\ en this imposition we submitted to until you recently at-
tempted to compel us to pay these extortionate rates for stale news, news
that liad been autii^ipated via Newfoundland, but we were even disposed
to allow ourselves to be fleeced by you for the stale news provided you
would pass over your lines a brief free despatch of news by steamers
bound to Halifax whenever the same should be obtnined off' Cape ilaee;
this you as!?ente<l to for a while, but in a moment of folly you allowed your-
selves to be seduced into the attempted trickeries of a !ret of unprincipled
knaves, and, hoping to force off your dilapidated lines upon the Anu'ri-
can coH.pany, or compel us to submit to still greater extortions, you
gave us notice that you would put an end to all special arrangements

for sending the European news on the 1st May instant. To your deter-
mination on this point we have made no objection and have none to
mlike: "Ydur assmioh that you broke oflF with us because we would not
act harmoniouwly or because of any improper or discourteous language
to you is entirely destitute of truth as what I have before stated proves
conclusively. It strikes me that gentlemen of honor occupying the
highly responsible position you and your associates do, would hardly
stoop to the trickery you openly acknowledge to be your future manage-
ment of your lines; for ourselves w^e scorn to follow your base example.
Our arrangements are now, as they before have been, open and above
board. We shall endeavour to place the steamers news in your office in
advance of nil other parties for the future as we have done for the past
ten years, and wc expect that you will send it ahead. We have no favors
to ask of you, and wotild scorn to accept from a telegraph company so
lost to every sense of decency as to declare publicly, at least in ettect,
that it will discard all honorable and open rules and usages, known
among telegraphers, and resort to trickery and the Peter Funk game.
In conclusion I will say that we ask only for justice and fair and open
competition, this we shall try to secure even from you and your com-
pany, and if we fail utterly it will be some time hence and not until we
shall have exhausted every legal and business expedient open to us.

(fnr.Qro^^

D. H. Craig

[The foregoing was answered by merely acknowledging receipt of it,
by telegraph, ami more fully in Mr. Cogswell's letter of 2nd instant to
Mr. Craig, which he is at liberty to show you if agreeable. As speci-
mens of Mr. Craig's style, which he considers " courteous and respect-
able,'' &c., the following telegrams from him are submitted.]

(10.)

New York, Jan. 2, 1869.

(Tel.)
D. H. Craig to F. N. Gisborxe.

One of the Fog Smith thieves has reported that you have assured
your Boston friends that the Newfoundland company have violated their
contract with the Nova Siotia company, and that the agreement of
1855 has been superceded. Now you and the stupid people who are
putting you forward to make a fool of yourself, know that that state-
mciit of yours is a base lie and you may be sure that the Boston people
have now got their eyes open and will not take your word or More's.
So come down with your documents. Fog Smith has been here f^everal
days, aad is trying haid to have American company take his Boston
line. Fred, vou are surely and most damnably fooled.

D. H. Craio.

^."XiaS^^^Stii-WMM^.— .

k I

I r

(11.)

(Tel.) _ Nkv! Yohk, Jan. 7. ISG^).

D. II. Craio to Tiios. Bolton. (ikx-Ci- c^«vfi/»*.**i.UCu lli ^fLCo

Gisborne will not get a favorable report from the Boston committee,
but even if he should he coulil not raise ten thousand dollars there, or
one thousand here, if his life depended upon it. Your directors are
surely huinbug.;ed by Gisborne and that vile scoundrel trickster Fog
Smith. I pletljjje you my honor this is true. The committee of the Mag-
netic company, south, have agreed with regard to consolidation, and a
stockholders meeting is called for next Fi-iday week to confirm tiie doings
of the committee; every telegraph company in the country, therefore,
except only the Fog Smith line, between New York and Boston, arr vir-
tually united in opi)Osition to your company aiiU Gisborne, and your
company will surely be ruined if it does not change its course with I'e-
gard to the Auierican and Newfoundland companies.

D. H. Craig.

(12.)
(Tel.) Nrw Yobk, Jan. 8, 1859.

D. H. Craio to F. N. Gxsborxk and Wiswell.

The telegraph convention adjourned to-day; everything passed ott
harmoniously, and the consolidation of the magnetic and other southeru
lines with the American was cimsummated, so far as the pi-esident and
directors of the several companies could effect it. Your dear friend
Fog Smith has offered terms which will pi'obably lead to a surrender of
the union line to the American conipanj'; now you see that you have
been damnably fooled. You and the Nova Scotia comp<iny have been
humbugged I should think to your hearts content.

D. H. Craiu.

Nkw York, April l), 185U.

(Tel.)

D. H. Ckak; to Tiios. Boi.tox.

(Drop to WiswioLi,.)

Tiie Fog Sinitii, Gisborne, and Tobey would-be swindlers have ))eeii
kicked out of the Senate of Massachusetts with all their bogus bills.
Fog Smith offered to sell out and his offer has l^ien accepted, and all the
lines east and south will pass uniler tlie control of the American com-
pany as soon as the papers can be drawn up. I think even the stupid
people in Halifax will get their eyes open to tlie scoundrelly conduct of
Gisborne and company bye and i)ye.

1). 11. CHAUi.

»Sf

(^Eitii uj Knilosares.)

■MRMM

mm-^

New York, May 10, 185'.>.

(Tel.)
Peter Cooper to J. C. Cooswell,

Your letter of 10th instant received. I do not wonder that you have
been provoked. I earnestly urge you, h o wever, to draw a proper dis-
tinction between the just rights of the puUnc and the demands of private
individuals. Your letter will be submitted to the directors and answer-
ed by mail.

I'eter Cooper.

(Letter.)
W. H. Wiswell to .John Hunter.

Halifax, April 80, 18o0.

'Sir, — In answer to your last letter of the 2'.>th iiist., as also to several
preceding ones I am directed to reply as follows :

Your communication of the 8th instant (being in extension of that of
the 1st, v.hich simply requested information as to our being open to an
offer) was duly laid before the executive committee. They were perfectly
prepared before receiving it to meet you in a candid and business like
spirit, making, of course, the best terms they could, without being too
exacting. In fact, they would undoubtedly have consente<l to the very
same arrangements as they consider had previously existed between
them and the New York Associated Press, but wliicli the latter to a cer-
tain extent, disputed. In consequence of the dispute the committee ter-
minated the contract. Your letter of the 8th inst., with enclosures,
however, is couched in such terms that the committee would hanliy
consent to entertain it for an instant. It was threatening and dictatorial
and its tone Avould have been bad enough at the close of a hostile cor-
respondeaoe instead of being the commencement of a professedly friendly
one.

We were told tliat should your offer be rejected " no news whatever
should pass over our wires to the American press," tliat Mr. Stuart's
Liverpool business should cease, and that arrangements to dispense with
transmission over our wires being already completed any expectation to
make up for the loss of the Associated Press payments, &c., would cer-
tainly prove fallacious, and a hint was then thrown out that, did we not
submit to your terms, we must be intending to share in the "simils of
speculators." From a corrcspo'- jence opening in such a spirit on your
side the committee did not anticipate much. As gentlemen and men of
ordinary spirit tliey could not consent to deal with parties holding such
language.

The telegrajdiic messages from Mr. ('raig which were laid befitre the
cominittce were also so harsh and inimical that it was felt to be impos-
sible to hope for any satist'actoi-y arrangement with him, and, therefore,
tlie subject was juit out of sight. All these messages set us at defiance,
speak with taunt and contempt of our opposition, and hardly conde-
scend to treat us as men of ordinary feeling.

Mr. Craig's letter of the 18th, wliich you only laid before the com-
mittee on tiie 2'.ltli, is very differently worded — courteous in its tone and
unexceptionable in its requirements. Had all the proceedings been con-
ducted in that style the result wouhl probably have been very difterent.

^iMM

As to your remarks about our not being allowed to enter intoarrarn^e-
meiits with other parties, tor sending preferential despatches, tiie coni-
uiittee Iiardiy understand them. You yourself, personally, and also on
behalf of .Mr. Craig, make Mma proposition for transmission of such
jireferential ilespatclies. Such preference has been given to the New
York Associated Press for years. It was given by the Government of
Nova Scotia, when it owned the lines, and was continued by the com-
pany on its assumption of the rights and liabilities of the government.
It seems strange that you should now hint at contesting the legality of
proL'eediti^s which you and your friends have participated in for a great
length of time, which you yourself and Mr. Craig have offered to renew,
and tlio principal objection to which, therefore, seems to be, that they
are to be enjoyed by others *

I have the honor to lie, &c.,

W. H. WiswKLL, Sec'y.

had il

to us I

utorsl
Comil
to yol

mentl
the p|
consij
and
reply!
opiuiJ
our
ters c
to ha
As

New York, April 18th, 1869.

Lettkr from D. H. Craig to the President of the N. S. Electric
Teleuraph Company, Halifax.

Sir : This note will be handed to you by Mr. John Hunter, who has
to-day been appointed our Agent and Correspondent at Halifax, from
and after tlie first of May next.

Mr. Hunter has full autliority to act for us in relation to all telegraph
and other news business, and we trust that you, your officers and em-
ployee,-: will extend to Mr. Hunter such facilities and courtesies as are
usual and proper to the patrons of your lines.

As your Company has seen fit to dissolve and put an end to all special
arrangements with us, from and after the first of May, we cheerfully
acquiesce in your decision, and have made such arrangements as will
enable us to compete, we trust successfully, with the public in the de-
liveiy of the European News at your office. Presuming that the rule
will lie, " first come, first served," we have no right to ask anything
more, and of course you will not expect us to submit to anything less?

Very respectfully, &c

i). H. Craio,
Geul. Agt. N. Y. Assd. Press.

(Letter.)
W. H. WiswELi, TO D. II. Crakj.

Halifax, 2nd May, ISoii.

Sir: A letter from you to tiie President of the Nova Scotia Company,
dated l^th inst., inis been laid before the Executive Committee by Mr.
Hunter, tdgetiier with some proimsitions from Mr. Hunter himself upon
the subje^it referreil to in ihat letter.

It i« to be regrettc'd that that comiuunication or one similar in tone

m^::^

oU.

hiifl not been sooner made. But the style of the proposition firist ma'i?
to us by Mr. Hunter and of the tclegnipluc communications to our oper-
ators and other parties was such that it could not be expected that the
Company should look favorably upou tljem. On the liotii we telegraphed
to you in perfect good will that should you wish to continue the arrange-
ment legally terminated on the first May for one message more under
the peculiar circumstances of the case, to prevent any dispute we should
consider the lines at your service. To that Uicssage iMr. iloyt received,
and of coui'se, as you must have expected, laid before tiie Committee, a
reply so violent and harsh that we think you must have formed a strange
opinion of us if you imagined that we could feel disposed to go out of
our way to accommodate you. We regret extremely that business mat-
ters cannot be settled, when controversies arise, without ha\ ing recourse
to hard language.

As to the " shameful conduct " of our Company we cannot see where-
in we have been so guilty. Our bargain with you was a very simple
one. When a Cunard Steamer arrived we were to send on so many
words at such a price. That agreement w ith you shut us out from every
otter. We acted honestly and fairly and refused large sums for prefer-
ential Uise of the wires. At length a Cunard Steamer is intercepted ott"
Newfoundland and because you get all the news you want by lier, you
tell us that the residue of the news despatcli will not be paid tor on the
same terms. In answer we simply told you that such a state of things
would be one-sided. You would have complained if we had broken our
part of the contract if it had suited us, and the remedy in all such cases
was expressly provided should either party find that a better bargaiu
could be made — six months notice would terminate the contract. You
might have given it but did not. We therefore did — and that you call
shameful conduct, besides denouncing us in no measured terms in a
Boston paper intended for very great circulation. You have continually
talked as though it was a very great favor and condescension on your
part to pay us such a sum not allowing us to hint that the obligation
was mutual. When we endeavor to prove that we think so by telling
you that we want it no longer your indignation seems to know no bounds.
Vou " have no favors to ask, none lo give, and least of all do you want
any extension of peace." Three days after this message we receive your
letter of the IHth with a note from Mr. Hunter, much more courteous
than your first communication, using language of the most unobjection-
able kind. As alreudy remarked it is to be regretterl that you had not
alv.ays observed a style of conimunicatioii which Mwwt liave disarmed

hostilities

led to most amicable arrangements.

UmJIjC

Mr. Hunter's letter to us of the 1st April, as also your telegram of
the 2''»th above alluded to, seem to allude to something threatening to
us and to any witii whom we may dare to have dealings. We hardly
understand yuu. You have for many years hutl the preferential use of
our wires and thevetbre it hardly computes with fairness that you should
object to our continuing the system with others. What your intentions
may be we cannot imagine. Certain threats fnUowed by certain facts
may have an injurious effect upon the opinion of the public.

It is because we look upon tiie telegraph as a great commercial engine

'ifeitei^i^®^'

«mEf?£BkjJ

■U:-M^h

km^.

r^: ^^^ ■!%; ^M -^t^-^^^-^^- ' ^^^

_ ■■ ■ ^- 1^ iT-lTTriTT" -

^ml public concern that we are willing to risk the loss of diviilends ra-
ther than submit to the dictation of one. Had we looked only to tlio
former we might have been alarmed at the prospect of withdrawal of
your favors. Kut though not receiving much return from the telegraph
as a speculation we could not consent to yield our independence and be
treated as though our opinions were not worth consulting. When the
time i-etiuires it we shall lay before the public our proceedings, we shall
let the world see and hear what we have done, the commuuicatious which
have passed between you and us and the tone which has been assumed
towartls us, and we shall ask the public whether they would have re-
spected us, whether we could liave respected ourselves had we quietly
permitted ourselves to be driven into a contract with parties whose
treatment of us has been such as has been described.

It is with extreme regret that the Nova Scotia Company terminate
an agreement of so long standing. A few courteous words on your part
and a conciliatory disposition on the part of your agent would have
prevented the rupture. But we ask of you to turn to a few of your
niessages upon the subject, especially that of the 28th, and to see Mr.
Hunter's letter of the 8th April, and to consider how you would have
ncted yourself ha<l our positions been reversed.

I am Sir, yours &c.

W. H. WiswELL, Sec'y.

J. H

(Tel.) New York, May 2, 185S+.

1). \i. CrAIO to J. r, CofiSWELIi.

It has been intimated to us by parties intimate with prominent mem-
bers of your company, and professing to know your views, that you
will exLiludo our agent's report of steamer's news from passing over
your wires, until after tiie news shall have been forwarded by other
parties. Is this your intention ? If you propose to adopt any peculiar
rules aifecting our interests, will you favor us with proper notice of the
same, and apprise our agent, Mr. Hunter, with aU such rules?

D. H. Craig, Gen. Ajent Ass. Press.

■ ' i

li (

(Tel.) Halifax, May 8, 1850.

J. C. CooswKLL to D. H. Ckaio.

Do you think it reasonable t« ask ua to inform you of all our ar-
rangements. We have not en(|uired concerning yours. When we found
that you would not act harmoniously with us, but persisted in hostility,
and in using abusive language concerning us hard to be borne, we sim-
ply said good-bye to you. We must leave you to discover our intentions
from our acts. Vou will, I think, tind them all legal and born out by
the very best precedent.

J AS. C. Cogswell,

( III «

INf"^!

^'^m^-^tmf^ '■"c:pM&&.:

{Copy of a Letter and Enclosure omitted at ptnje 8.)

Halifax, April 8, Ibi")'.*.

J. HuNTKR to the Skcretary of the N. S. Tei. Co.

Dear Sir, — Yours of to-dtiy's date received. As u portion of the
communication to which it refers rests on my assertion, I enclose three
telegraphic despatches, which please bring to the notice of the Executive
Committee, — who, I have no doubt, will give my otter a just and candid
cunsldcratiou.

I am, dear sir.

Your obedient servant,

JouN Hunter.

The following is a copy of one of the enclosures above referred to :

I), n. Craig to .John Huntkr.

Y'our communication received. We expect to continue the same
payments as heretofore from Sackville to New York, but we cannot con-
sent to pay for Halifax line over 7-j dollars when news is frisli, and
ordinary rates when anticipated at Cape Race. We have made arrange-
ments for competing with the crowd, and care not a straw for Gisborne or
any other humbug. Wo neither exj)eot nor ilesire any speoial business
arrangements with Halifax line after the 1st May, but would purchase
the news from you at Sackville at jibove rates; but we will have nothing
to do with any party that co-operates with (Jisborne.

D. H. Craiu, Gen. Aijent JV. Y. Ass. Press.

Iiir ar-
I found
kility,
je sira-
Intions
jut by

SLL.

(Tel.) New York, May 13, 185',».

W. II. Aiu;r, to J. C. Cooswet.u

Your despatc'n of 7th inst. is received, and has been laid before the
Directors of the American Telegraph Company. In view of the large
public interests involved in the unfortunate dilHculty, the Directors
have ailopted the following resolutions : —

" Wkcri'its, it is roprescnteil to this Board, that the Nova Scotia
Telegraph Couijjany have given the preference in the despatch of
steamei-'s news to special parties, in violation of the c.-iriinal principle
of telegrapliing — first come, first served, —

" 2Vteri'fon\ rcsolve'l. First, that the superintendent of the 1st divi-
sion of the Amoiican line be instvu>.^teil to detail a tried and faithful agent
to the telegraph ottice, whose duty it shall be to report to the agent at
S-ickville tliat the steamer's news have been forwardeil for the party who
first tcuders it at the otHce at Halifax, and until such report is rec ived
at Sackville no steamer's news shall be transmitted over the American
lines, unless it shall be delivered at the office at Saekville by other
means of transmission than the telegraph line from Halifax.

¥ jiS^^i €t;a;i^iy?^y

few

" Resolved, Seconrl, that the object of tho above resolution Is solely
to scoure to the public at larnje tlie benefit of the steamer's news in ad-
vance of" spnuulators, in accordance with section 12, chapter "Jtii'*, of the
laws of tiie State of New Vork, 71st session, passed April \'l, 1H4H, as
follows : — ' It shall likewise be the duty of every such owner or associa-
tion to transmit all despatclies in tlie order in wliich they are received,
under the like, one hundred dollars to be received with costs of
suit l)y the perjion or persons whose despatch is postponed out of its
re;j;ular order as herein prescribed ; provided, however, that arrange-
ments may bt; made with the proprietors or publishers of newspapers
for tlie transmission, for the purpose of publication, of intelligence of a
TCncral iiud public interest, of its regular order.' "

The Directors instruct me to request that you will direct their agent
to be received at the othce at Halifax, in order that tiiese resolutions may
be carried into effect. We assure you that we entertain the most kindly
feeling towards your company, and regret that it has become necessary
to adopt any re,:;ulations in order to protect the public interests.

W. H. Adel, Sec. pro tern, Am. Tel, Co.

(Tel.)
H. VViswKU. to W,

Halifax, May 10, 1851).

H. Am-.h.

Vilur request is a very singular one. AVould you permit an agent of
ours to sit in your chief office to superintend and report upon your pro-
ceedings? We think not; anil we must decline your request as
unreasonable.

W. H. WiswELL, Sec. JN". S. Tel. Co.

(Tel.) Nkw YonK, May 17, 1850

W. H. Abel to W. H. Wiswei.l, Scc'y N. S. Tel. Co.

Your despatcli of IBtli inst. is received. By the laws of this State
and the settled practice of telegraph companies, tlie press are fairly en-
titled lo tlie prefeiunoe in obtaining the steamer's news, in order that
speculators may not operate at the expense of the puulic. It is alleged,
and you do nut deny, thai you have agreed to gi\e a preference in the
traiismissiim of the foreign news to a private party; this arrangement
is not only unre:isonable but unjust, and it/ is rendered particularly ob-
jectionable at this time, by the excited and interesting state of foreign
affairs. If this company should transmit such a despatch in advance of
the public news it would bci^ouie a participator in the wrong, hence the
request was maile to be allowed to place a tried and faithful agent in
your office to see that puulic news aie first despatched over your
lines beibre private despatclies are allowed to l)e transmitted. This re-
quest, so far from being unreasonable, is only the reasonable and natu-

^ITv -^

is solely
i in ad-
■), of the
1H4«, as
assooia-
I'eceivetl,
costs of
)ut of its
arm n ne-
wspapers
eiioc of a

eir agent
ions may
ist kindly
necessary

Tel. Co.

ral conseiiueuce of yonr prior unreasonable action, in availing your-
selves of your local position at the end (tf forty thousand miles of tele-
f^rnpli lines, to place the foreign news, in which all the lines have an
equal interest, under the control of any private parties to whom you may
see tit to sell so valuable a privilege, witliout consulting or obtaining the
connent of the other companies, who are bound in honor to see that the
telegraph is not perverted to private speculation. When you retui'n to,
or establish, a system by which the public interests are properly guard-
ed this company will withdraw its re<iucst, and, in the meantime, beg
to inform you that it will be perfectly agreeable to them for your com-
pany to detail an acceptable agent to exercise the same supervision in
regard to foreign news in their office at Sackville as they ask at Halifax.
Until the rights of the public are properly guarded you may be assured
that the directors of this company will adhere to their action, sanctioned
as it is by the law, and their plain duty to the public.

W. H. Abel, Secretury, pro tern.

I, i85y.

n agent <>;"
your pro-
equest as

Te[. Co.

1859

his State

fairly en-

l)rder that

s alleged,

5e in the

angemcut

ilaily ob-

f foreign

dvanue of

lence the

agent in

ver your

This re-

md natu-

(Tel.)

H. WiSWELL to W,

Halifax, May 18, 1859.

H. Abel.

Your message dated 17th received. You persist in mistaking our ac-
tion. You have been told, repeatedly, that we did not break with the
New York Associated Press until they violated the contract, and their
agent and others connected with them used the most dictatorial and in-
sulting language. Your charge against us as to speculation is most un-
founded. Our committee are guiltless of any such intention. Had your
company used its influence with the New York Associated Press to per-
suade them or their agent to abide by a well-understood arrangement
wiiich we have always honorably carried out in the face of high oflFers
for a preference, or, at least, to speak in a courteous and business-like
manner, we think that there would have been no difficulty. You now
ask us to comply with your demands simply because you see that we are
not in 3'our power. We ai-e glad to find that you at last recognize the
superiority of our local position. We have always been aware of it, and
take credit to ourselves for not having ever used it improperly or dig
honestly. We have charged a reasonably high price, as all men of
sense would \vi\e. done, and then have been ready to fulfil our agree-
ment. You, or the Associated Press, have not. T)ie present course of
action will probably continue, being consequent on your attempt to
coerce us; tlie advantages to your interests appear doubtful. We can-
not think ourselves amenable in any way to New York legislation, and
no supervision of our office or details of its operations by strangers can
lie allowed on any pretext. Every honorable and reasonable courtesy
will be extended to parties who display the same towards this company.

W. H. WiswKLL, Secretary.

(Tol.) WewYobk, May 21, ISoO.

W. H. Abkl to W. H. WiHswKi,!,, See. N. 8. Co.

Your (h'S|tiitch of Iftth roceiveil. You niistiikc our grouml. We
couipliiiu tli!it yi)u will not ti'iinaiiiit iiK'SMafjjes in tiie order in which they
are teniloruil at your otiice. Will you iij^roe to do so, and let the Asso-
eiiito'l I'reHs take their chance on the only true telegraphic principle —
lirst come, tirat served. Answer, please answer.

W. H. Abel, Secretary, pro tern.

!(fl

(Tel.) Boston, May 21, 185'.).

To .I.vMKH C. Cons WELL, Esq.,

President of the N. S. Telegraph Co.,

Sir, — Your letter of the 10th instant to Peter Cooper, Esq., Presi-
dent (if the Auieiicau and the Newfoundland Telegraph (.'ompanies,
with enclosed copies, is received; and, so far as the contents thereof re-
late to matters between your Company and the American, I am in-
structed by their Directors to sny, " That they very much rej^rot the
events wiiicii h.ive rccenlly occurred to disturb the harmony hitherto
existing between said companies — a harmony, the preservation of which,
in tlieii" business relations, is necessarry, not only for their own comfort
and success, but indispensable in the performance of their duties to the
public. That you have been annoyed by the telegrams, copies of which
you sent us, we can readily understand, but you will do our com-
pany the justice to believe that they have neither been parties to these
discourtesies, nor, until the receipt of youi letter, were they aware of
tiieir existence; and, although they are well calculated to produce the
asperity of feeling which seems to exist between your company and the
newspaper press agent here, yet we cannot believe that your sense of
right will make us responsible for the acts of a party over whom we
have no control. Furthermore, tlie business interests of our respective
companies arc so connected and blended, especially in respect to the trans-
mission of the foreign news despatch, that what is injurious and detrimen-
tal to one equally affects both. By the adoption, however, of a simple
rule, it seems to us that all difficulties ))etween ourselves or with the pub-
lic may be at once disposed of. The rule with us, and we believe with
all the telegrapli companies in this country, is this, that •• The first
come, first served." This is the only fair and practicable rule that can
be adopted, giving satisfaction to the public; whenever it has been de-
parted from trouble has as surely followed. In the strife for precedence
let superior activity, as in everything else, have its reward. In this
view nJay we not hope you wdl readily concur, and your coiapauy at
once return to this practical rule?

These ditterences, we think you will agree with us in saying, should
not exist, and, if not at once ended l)y the above suggestions, we should
be li ippy to meet: you at IJiiston, New York, or elsewher", that we may
confer together ou a subject, the speedy udjustoieut of which is 6o im-

port!
of ol

atlbil

us til
bene!
us,

uate(|

less

BPi"

jjiT"

, 1859.

mil. We
hich they
the Asso-
'inciple — •

>ro lem.

, IStV,).

portaut to the interests of both oui-selvos and the public. The revenues
uf our respoctive lines, at best, are so meagre, tiiat neither of us ean
atlord to sulijciit our companies to any unnecessary collision, resulting,
a.-j tliey always must, in more or less loss. In such controversies no
benelit, in any event, can result to either conipuuy; nor can eitiier of
us, as the managers of this important means of communication, iledi-
cated to the public use, justify ouri^elves to that public lor these need-
less annoyances. Uu receipt of this let us hear from you.

Very respectfully yours,

H. (). Aldkn, Vire-Prcsii/ent.

P. S. — This letter will be telegraphed you from lioston and then sent
by Favor's Kxpresa. It is from New York,

q., Presi-
Dmpanies,
liereof re-
, I am in-
regret the
r hitherto
of which,
n comfort
ties to the
I of which
our corn-
to these
aware of
uce the
and the
sense of
whom we
•espective
le trans-
etri men-
simple
the pub-
ieve with
The first
that can
been de-
■eoedence
In this
pany at

should
e should
we may

so im-

{Copy of a Circular of D. H. Craiy.)

Office op the xVssooiaticd Puiias,

New York, May lo, 185'.).
To the AoKNT of the Ass. Press.

Dear Sir, — I do not think it at all necessary to make any public
reply to the scandalous falsehoods of Johnson & Zabriski, and of their
half dozen beggarly newspaper buckers, who h.ive been excludeil from
our news arningements because of their inability to pay their weekly
telegraph bills; but I comply with your retiuest for a brief statement of
our present troubles with the Nova Scotia telegraph managers.

The line to Halifax was built some ten years ago, for the special ac-
commodation of the Associated Press of this city, as is eviilenced by the
fact, that, before the contractors would proceed to build the lino, they
exacted from the Association here a pledge that they would use tlie line
for at least three thousand words on the arrival of every new regular
steamer at Halifax. The rates agreed upon for us to pay to the Nova
Scotia line from Halifax to Sackville (about one hundred and thirty
miles), were about double tlie rates charged to the public, their propor-
tion of the whole tolls amounting to seventy-tive dollars for each dis-
patcii. Thus, the only peculiarity of our arrangement with the Nova
Scotiii line was, we paid them about double the rates which they charged
to tlie public, and we had a i-ight to occupy the wires continuously from
the moment our report reached the telegraph office until it was all sent
through to this city. But, if other parties got their reports into the
office in season to get them ott before ours arrived, the line was at
liberty to send them; and this actually happened on two occasions dur-
ing the past ten years.

Afier the lines and the Associated Press had worked harmoniously
together for two or three years, tne present Nova Scotia Company bought
up the lines in that province, and, although their charter expressly
prohibited them from raising the rates of tariff previously established,
tney disregarded the law of tlieir organization, and violated their agree-

■■

ihiii

iiipnt with tlio As8oci:ite<l Prows, l)y lininpiliiitely inoreasing tlipircluu'jres
to ns tVdiii xt'vi'tity-liv(> ilollars to one Immlroil ;inil tit'ty ilollars for uiicli
report oC tluvo tlioiisiiiil wohls. Our protects ugainst this iiii|M).
sitioii were milteodeii; uml t'vutn tliat time up to tlie begiiiiiiiig of
the pref^eiit mouth we suhiiiitted to tlio extortion, ami were even ilisptised
to continue the arraiigeiiieiit, mo C.ir aw relates to rial iieim. l»ut, the
Nova Seotiu Toiiipany, liaving iniposeil upon us once, thougiit they
ei.ulil tlo so with iiu()iiiiity a setoml time, ami tliey thercfnre (leninnded
tiiat wc ><huuld not only pay them one hundred and titty dollars tor send-
ing three tliousands words of lutm one liundre I and thirty miles, but
they actually insisteil u|H)n our paying this large sum tor stale news —
that is, news which had been anticipated l)y previous arrivals in New
York, or elsewhere.

The Assucialed Press resisted this imposition ; the majority of the
Niiva Scotia directors insisted upon their tlcmands, and finally l)roke oft
all fiiondly relations with us They are now trying, through Johnson
and Zahriski and other poor tools, to coerce us into their measures; and
this they hope '■> do by violating all honorable rules of telegraphing.
Thus, our re})oit of the Niagara's news was held back from nine o'clock,
V. .M., on the 4th inst., (VVednes lay,) until the afternoon of the Otii,
( I'hursilay,) while in the nieantiuie they sent forward, from Halifax to
jSickvdle, a despatch of that news for certain private speculators in
lioston (but not to Johnson & Zabriski, as they falsely assert), whick
despitlrk u'lis luiiiilfl to the Jlulifiix o/terntur J'lom one to three huiirs
lifter our iles/Hitrk was in the operator's hands, with the tolls prepaid
from thtit city to A'ew York. At the same time, they sent an imperti-
nent message to the m:inager of the New Brunswick line, to the etfect
that no messages, public or private, should pass over the Nova Stiotia
wires until they (tlie directors) should icceive special notice from the
Boston speculator — an iiresponsiblo individual connected with the Kx-
change News lloom in that city — that he had received his report in full,
and "all right."

True, in part, to their word, the Nova Scotia directors did actually
hold back our report, and also all the other most important private mes-
sages by the Niagara, some fifteen hours, for which gross conduct the
company have made themselves liable for heavy damages.

But si'hemes of villiany, however shrewdly laM, rarely succeed for
any length of time; and this attempt of the Nova Scotia directors to
fleece the public, in which they were strenuously seconded by a score or
two of disreputable persons in and out of Halifax, was not an exception
to the general rule. Their scheme resulted in a miserable failure, but
not, as has been falsely charged by the discomfited gang of speculators,
thvouifli any lu-each of good f.iith on the part of the telegraph company
this side the Nova Scotia line, for [ ha\ e the best reasons lor knowing
that the New Brunswick telegraphers had made no rules for the emer-
gency, nor did they violate any old ones. The fact is, that ten hours
before the advance despatch to the speculators had reached Sackville,
the agent of the Associated L'ress at that place had occupied the wires
this side of Sackville, and continued, uninterruptedly, to occupy them
whilbt they were in a condition to do business, until after he received and

trans
New
[t

wick
futun
that
I)ub

;^!!

'"^^„

C(!Ocl for

tors to
score or
xccptioii

re, but
ulat(»rs,
omptiny

tiowiiig
le emer-
II hours
ickville,
wires
>y them

eil anil

triuisinittpcl the jtrcrts desputch of the N'iusinv's news to Boston iiiiil
New York.

[t is unnecessary now to say uihUt wiiat nile of tlie New llnins-
wick line the ai^erit of the Associated Press will act on the arrival of
future steamers at Halifax, hut you ".ml your friends may rest assured
tliat no k'^itimate ellorts will l)e wanting to protect the interests of the
puhlie. whiidi, in this mittei-, are also the interests of the press.

I ohserve that tlio Nova Scotia diieofors call .lohiiSi)n iS: Zahriski,
rather facetiously, tlie agents ol' the United Stales Associated I'ress.
Kut there is no man of eonunon ohservatioii who ihics n<it know that
this claim is destitute «)f every particle of truth. There is n(tt a solvent
newspaper l)etweon Halifax and New Orleans for whidi dohiison and
Zahriski, .lohn T. Smith, or any of that t^ant; of adventurers, can fairly
claim to act a8 agents. I know there are three or four journals whose
editors, feeling dassatistied with me because I clmose to respect j/ciicral
interests instead of their .s/JtTui/ interests, would gladly i)reak loose from
nil our arrangements, if they could do so safely ; but I appreiiend thct
the good time so long predicted by these gentlemen is now nmch further
otl than it nppeare<l to tiiem t<» be tive or ten years ago; and the longer
they live, I venture to hope, the better they will like us.

Mr. Johnson, as I suppose you already know, is a gentlepuin from
Philadelphia, who for nniny years past has lived by hia ivifs, nd has,
semi-annually, or as often as he could tind a green-horn who would en-
gage to pay his bills, started sonie immense news-ieporting business for
the special pu'Mo.sc of extinguishing the New Y'ork Associated Press,
and blowing it ngents out of their boots. Those spasmodic etiorts of
that gentleman usually result in securing to him a neat tile, a glossy
coat and shiny boots ; atid all goes on swimmingly as long as his (ad-
mitted) cliKiuence enables him to use the pockets of the verdant fools
he entraps. But when they fairly get their eyes open, and tind they
are bankrupt, or in a fair way to become so, then there happens a
serious collapse, and Mr. Johnson retires to the shady side of the Phil-
adelphia small beer shops, until he can tind some other youth who his
more money than brains, when the same manipulations are gone through
with, and in due time the same result is reached.

Thus it has been for eight or ten years past, and thus, I presume, it
will be to the end of Mr. Johnson's natural life. In the meantime, the
affairs of the Assoinateil Press will go steailily onward, its agent caring
no more for Mr. Johnson's, or Mr. Zabriski's, or Mr. J. T. Smith's op-
position, than he would for a special bull of the Pope.

Very truly yours,

D. II. C'KAKi.

The annexed communication from Peter Cooper, Esq., President of
the American Telegraph Company, to the President of the Nova Scotia
Telegraph Company, will enable you to form a correct idea of the views
of gentlemen here 'viiose position is such as to place their acts beyond
even a suspicion of impropriety or unconcern for the true interests of
the commercial public. I). H. C.

[Here follows a copy of the telegru to Mr. Cogswell, which will be
found on page 1.]

V-:':M'uM

I ri

•> t r ii . .i ii « l g^rf»»> 'OT Ii ai l Ml i m i i*.-^4 » , »,i.^ ,

'' !i<

i 't

Halifax, May liS, 1850.

(Tel.)
To II. O. Alpen, Ks(i.,

VicL'-l'iTst. Am. Tel. Co.,

Your tflegram of 21st received. In answer thereto I have to re-
iniirk, tli;it tlie discourtesy of .Mr. Craig has a very great deal to do with
the matter. We know nothing, speaking in a business way, of your
cum[)any, .save that it lias a line connecting with ours at Sackvilie, and
we must protect (lur own interests and independence. With the Asso-
ciated i'ress we hail a contract which we were ready faithfully to fultil,
but wliicli they violated, and then tlie contract was brought to a close.
During the six months from notice you must have been aware tif the
fact, and you should then have used your exertions to make a new
amicable arrangement. We were ready to abide by, what we still are
prei)aied to assert before the world was the eijuitable reading of the
contract. But we have been met with nothing but domineering language
and vulgar threats. Accordingly we Tuade a new contract with other
parties, and the only course that I can recommend you to pursue is to
purchase that contract. We shall be ready, for the sake of the public,
to do business as before with the Associated Press upon what we main-
tain are the old terms, i. e., .SI-jO for oOUit words by each fortnightly
steamer at Halifax — no matter whether received previously at New-
foundland or not. Your talk of good feeling to us seems strange, and
stranger still your request " that we would do your company the justice
to believe that they have not been parties to Mr. Craig's discourtesies,"
when I look at a circular from ^Mr. Craig, date<l lOth May, speaking of
us in his usual coarse language, to which Mr. Cooper has given hi.s
sanction by allowing to be appemled to it his communication to me, thus
lending his name to a vulgar attack upon the company of which I am
T>araded in print as the President. IJeibre I would have given a letter
of mine to -Mr. Cooper to a third party, for similar publication, I would
have taken care to see the documents with which it was to be connected,
and had it been such a one as that of Mr. Craig's I would for shame's
sake have refused. But my name is now })assed through the Union as
President of a "dishonorable, villainous and scheming'' company, and
Mr. Cooper endorses the abuse. Then, on the "Jlst, eleven days after
this th)cument has been publishetl, I am informed gravely that your
company regrets that the harinon}' subsisting ijetween the companies
shuulil have been disturbed. Ho do I; but I never lent my name to any-
thing del'iunatory of Mr. Cooper, or your company, and, whatever be
the result of this controversy, shall take care not to do so. Now, I ask
of you, in common justice to us, who have hud our name vilitie I in all
the New Yiirk papers, to publisli my letter to Mr. Cooper with the ex-
tracts and correspondence annexed, or at least to call together the editors
and allow them to hear both sides. I have no fear of the result. Mr.
(.'raig talks of law. I would fearle,--sly meet him before the New York
jiublic with that letter and correspondence, and I .should pity the spirit
of your people if they ilid not pronounce us right. You also, by way
cf further shewing your amicable feeling, [icrsuaded .Mi'. Stevens to re-
fuse to receive message.^ fiom over our lines at Sackvilie, unless prepaid.
I have requested him to give up the attempt, and to let the Associated

Press I

ainityl

your

divi del

divide!

York

lines

I I
i I

■WHP*

rvr"

j-.y

AV'----

fMv

. j.1' v^-

' .yfeit i>,fcil .

language

dth other

rsue is to

le public,

wc uiain-

rtuightly

at New-

iige, and

he justice

irtesies,"

leaking of

given his

me, thus

h 1 am

a letter

I would

nnectcd,

shame's

Union as

uiy, and

1} s after

|hat your

mpanies

to any-

evcr be

iv, 1 ask

I in all

the ex-

|o editors

. Mr.

w Yoi'k

le spirit

by way

lis to re-

jropaid.

ociated

9 Press question stand by itself, to which he has consented, and, so far,
il amity is restoreil. What you tell me about the " meagre revenue " of
W your lines astonishes me. Why, I personally know tiiat you declared a
divi lend of 1<> per cent, last yoir. I have received no notice yet of your
dividend for tliis year, but your stock stands at i' p.ti.ii'im in the New
York market. If you re-invest your dividends in tlie puichase of more
lines you must be quibbling to say that you receive no profits.

Jas. C. CoaswKi.r-, Prc&i. ^V. H. Co.

P. S. — We intend to publish the whole correspondence in justice to
oursel ves.

(Tel.) Nkw York, May 12."), 185'.».

W. H. ABKf, to J. C. CoiiswELL, Prcst. IN. S. T. Co.

Your despatch of 'l\\.\\ received. Tliis ("oinpany disclaims all con-
nection with the ditlerences between you and the Associated Press, or
their agent, Mr. Craig. Wc merely insist tiiat a preference over our
lines shall not be given witiiout our consent, nor to any parties who are
not by law authorized to iiave such preference. AVe were not aware of
your diiferences with Mr. Craig until tlie breach actually occurred. We
do not buy and sell c(jntracts, and must therefore decline to act on your
suggestion We have never seen Mr. Craig's circuhir of Inth May until
to-day, and did not know of its existcnt;e until your despatch was re-
ceived. Mr. Cooper's letter was attached to it without his knowledge
or consent or that of the Directors. We will comply with ycur rcijuest
to lay the whole correspondence before the .Associated Pi'e!>s. Wc have
no doubt they will be satisfied with the position assumed by this com-
pa!iy — that the first who comes, shall be first served, — and will yield the
preference heretofore accorded to the press, it they pny only regular
rates.

Bv ordei- of the Directors,

W. II. Aiii!;r.j Secretary, /iro (cm.

(Tel.)

. COGSWKM, to \\ . JI.

IlAiatAX, May 2(1, ISoU.
Abkl.

Yours of -;")th received. Wc have given no preference over your
linf'S. We only claim the management of our own. You say that you
were not aware of our difference with Mr Craig. We saj in w\)\y that
we know nothing of your differences with the agent of tiie United States
Association. We liave made a contract within our own borders and
know nothing beyond them. I am not aware of anything dishonorable
in buying and selling contracts. Assignments and transfers are in.ade
every day. As for Mr. Cooper's telegram to me, published by Mr. Craig,
I think you had better not p iss it by so carelessly. If Mr. Cooper
knew nothing of its jjublication, where did Mr. Craig get it ? Was it
from your telegraph cilice ? If he had the run of that office tlie public
may lose confidence. Mas all the correspondence lietween us lieen »nh-
4

t:fe'i

MM,

,'^^:

^H]

jfe

maimm

''■■il 'w'm- v

l»,l JUll .wi J^

ijxi

^.«£*-^^^ -

4W .Willlll'lllUlinnliHl ,

^^ ill

; - J.

i! ' III

2r)

jcct to l\is ' ispcction ? Sii ;li ii thing could not liavo occurred with us.
[ tliiiik Mr. Coiiper is liouiul Inr his own .sake to (li.<ct)vor who hii.s been
tiiniperiiiji with his iniviitu i;oi'i'<'S|)onik'nce. In the inciintiinc, as he
denies all kiiowieduie of tiie all'iir, [ shall assume that your company
does not keep its messages secret, and that, if its offices are open to .Mr.
Craig, whom you persist in speaking of as a stranger, they are open to
any speculator, altiiough you profjss so cautious avoidance of sucli per-
sons. .Mr. Craig must liave some strange power over your company if
Le has dared to take such a liberty witii its ['resident.

J.V.MKS C. COGSWKLL.

(Tel.) Nkw Vokk, May 30, 18,"yj.

W. II. .Vi!i;l to J. C. Cor.swKU,.

Your telegram of "jidth received. The directors of this company re-
gret that you are so willing to impute im|-voper nioti\es to them or their
employees. M Craig was fiunished with a, copy of the correspondence
as the agent of the .Vssociated Press, the party most inteiested in the
establishment of the rule that messages should l)c sent in the order of
their I'cception. In this respect, we merely anticipated your request to
lay the curres])ondence i'ofore the editors. Mr. (,'raig publishei.l .a por-
tion of correspondence on his own responsibility, without any consultation
with the directors. Your formal request will, however, probably lead
to the publication of the whole correspondence.

W. II. Abel, Secretary, pro ten.

SI
T':n,\
C.ainl
niissil

\Vf iirl

'.VMr.l

JHIVIMI

any iii'l
Ciii.liril
WW* \\
that wi
iiii|ii<n

If tliHi
arouijtl
tied iin

'islii

(Tel.) Halifax, May 81, 185'J.

J. C. CofJswEr.r, to W. II. Anfx.

Your.s of ;!Oth received. We lind it ditticult to separate you and Mr.
Craig. .\t one time you tell us that you cannot be responsible for any-
tliiiig he says or does; at another we find that you furnish him with all
the ilocuments passing between us, and that he makes an improper use
of them by publishing oidy parts appended to libelous attacks of his
own ujKn this compaiy. We asked you to lay the matter before the
.Vssociatcil I'ress, tliat they might judge between us and their agent.
In.stoail of doing so you give him tlie papers, ami you see the use he
makes of them. We are now publishing the whole of the cori'espondence,
being willing to abide by the verdict of the public. We shall send copies
to the editors of the Associated I'ress, if such a body can be found, —
at least we shall send them to all the editors of tiie New York Press.
We wished you to call them together, and ask their opinion as to their
agent's behaviour. You have not done so; and now we must wait till
the matter is laid before them by ourselves. Everything is to be pub-
lished, down to this telegram, without note or comment.

Jas. C. Cogswell.

,v.

W>^

«««fc^.

ifl with us.
I hii.s been
nc, as he
r coMipiiny
pen to Mr.
re open to
r siicli per-
joiiipany if

)GSWKLL.

I), 18o'J.

>inpiiny ro-
L'ui or their
eypcndence
ed in the
10 ortler of
request to
iiiei.l !i por-
unsultation
jbably lead

nro tern.

1850.

II and Mr.

e for any-

11 with all

)roper use

ks of liis

before the

ir agent.

he use he

iiondeiice,

nd copies

found, —

rk Press.

to their

wait till

be pub-

ISWELT..

ADDENDA.

Since the above was in typo, a copy of the JVcw Vnrk Courier and
I'JiKiiiirrr, i)f tiic 17th May last, has been furnished to the Kxecutive
Oaiiinittoe, containing tlio foliowinu; paragraph bearing upon the trans-
mission of the V'kjo's news by way of Newfoundland :

"llert! tlie Novii ScDtia line clnsed, n'p'ii'tiiif; tli"ir lii.^' (Imvii east of Antifrnnisli. —
We iiiv ciiMS (lU'Mitly left without iiiiy iifws in rchitimi to tlic \V;ir in Italy, or tin' (li'st
'.vnril tif ("(lUiiiMiriiil Inti lli'jciicrf. It is sus|i.'cti'(l tliat t'lcir oInsiiiK is more for tlic
imriiusi- iri' ilcpriv iiii; ilii- Ass(iciati'<l I'ri's.i lif iiiiiiiirtant furciirn iiitelli;.'(.'iici; tliiiii from
uiiy liri'iil^ iij the line. VVf trust, lor tin- cn-'dit ol' ti'l"f;riii]liiiifr, tht'ir story may he
CMi.lirinol. That th' ir si iry, h iwcver. is not trii", ami that the War anil ConiintTcial
lu^u-i is I'vi'lciitly kept hacK thronirh <!esi;;n, wouM seiin to ho evldont from the fact,
that what tlii'y have ii'|i.'i:raplR' 1, tlu\v have taUeii care slioulil not, Iv of ilie sliiihtest
ini|jonaiic ', ami shoiihl m.t ln' exactly that for which the wliole c nnniunity is aiiNiously
lookiiiK- There arc no terms of condeimiation too stroiijr to aiiply to such a transaction.
If their story lie fuo, then all we say is, that there is a c oi.ceutration of st\ipiility
around the hea Is of the telejrrapliers at St. John's, thicker tiian any foe; that ever set-
tled around the le adlaiids of Newfoundland "

Our readers may draw their own inference from the style of the
above para.grap!i, as to its writer. Several cliarges, intended to injure
the character of tlie Nova Scotia lines, have continually appeared in the
American newspapers — none of which ai'O based on tact. As to that
above quoted, the Kxecutive Con, mittee repudiate tiie charge contained
in it as utterly baseless. Such conduct they leave to men of Mr. Craig's
stamp.

And as to the charge going through the New York papers, most
probably furnished Ity the same gentleman, that the Executive Commit-
tee of the Nova S;;otiii Tclegrapli Company are lending themselves to
gamblers and speculators — thoy repudiate that charge also as utterly . ^J ///
untrue. The contract made with the United States As.sociated Pre.ss \^^f^CMCM4f^
^gtKUff the same as that previously made with the New York Asso-
ciated Press; and the Nova S otia Committee are satisfied that no efforts
were wanting on the part of their operattu's to transmit as promptly as
the state of the lines permitted the messages above alluded to.

The New York Dnilij Tribune, of 4th June, publishes a portion of
the above correspondence, omitting the documents appendeil to Mr.
Cogswell's letter to Mr. Cooper. This portion is prefaced by a letter
from Mr. Craig, in which, among other erroneous statements, ho says
that "there is good reason to l)elieve that the Nova Scotia Company
desired to break with us in order that it might more etl'ectually second
the efforts of the unscrupulous parties who were striving to break up
iiur foreign news arrangements for their own benetit, ami the foregoing
letters (alluding to ono of the Pith October, 18")H,) were seized upon by
the '"ompany as a pretext tor putting an end to the arrangements with
tlie Association, on the 1st of May of this year."

It was late in November that Mr. Gisborne made his first proposition,
and it was not till last April that the Agent of the U, S. Associated

iiiiiiiiiii

«HM

:,^

,; »

Press first communicated with the Nova Scotia Company, — so that the
pretext above alluded to could not have existed; for the notice of ter-
mination was given by Mr. Craig himself, in his letter of the 12th
October, 18GH, and the answer, accepting and I'cciprociting his notice,
was dated iJOth. We append both letters :

Office of tiik Associatkd Press,

New York, October 12, 1858.

W. n. WiSWKLL, Esq.,

Seo'y N. S. Tel. Co., Halifax.

Dear Sir, — The absence of a member of the Executive Committee
of the A.ss(ici.ite(l Press has unavoidably delayed an earlier reply to
your communication addressed to Messrs. Hudson and .\ndrews of
ult.

The Kxecutive Coniniittoe have instructed me to say to the Nova
Scotia J'.k'ctric 'I'elegrapU Company, through you : Eirst, that the As-
sociated Press will pay a draft for Europa's news (August 5th, 18o8,)
for one hundred and fifty dollars, less the sum previously p:ii<l for the
news by that steamer, via Cape Race, as in the case of the steamer
Canada, in July.

SeuontUy, I am directed to state to your company, that, inasmuch as
the Cape Race arrangement is attended with large expeiise, entirely in-
dependent (if all telegraphic tolls, the Associateil Picss, after May 1st,
IbtV.t, will not pay more than the ordinary rates of taritl charged to the
public for the details of news, by any steamer at Halifax, that may-
have been anticipated, wholly or in part, by arrivals at Newfoundland
or elsewhere.

Respectfully, &c.,

D. II. Craig, Ji/ent jX. Y. Ass^^^^

Rkpj.y of tiik Executive Committee of the Noa'a Scotia Ei,ectric'
Telegraph Company to the auove.

Nova Scotia Electric Tel. Co.'s Office,

Halifax, Octolter 30, 1858.
D. H. Craig, Esq.,

Agent Associated Press, New York,

Dear Sir, — Your letter of Pith inst., was received on 24th, and has
had the consideration of the Executive Committee, who desire me to
state ill reply, that in order to have the Draft in dispute arranged with-
out further trouble and annoyance to either party, they have drawn for
!ij;lot».57, for the Europa's despatch, being amount due after deducting
tolls on 440 words of the same sent via Newfoundland. This is exclu-
sive of damages on the Hill protested by you which we have paid, be-
eide waiting since 2t)th July for the amount. Enclosed is a memoran-
dum of these charges, which the Executive Committee consider the As-

L^. ii^

'"'■■-j»<k'

;i^>W^

.mk.

i>Li-s--'.l<.

«uia

i that the

ice of ter-

the 12th

liis notice.

:, 1858.

Committee
r reply tci
.luliews of

I tlie Nova
it tlie As-
.th, 1858,)
id for the
he steamer

lasmuch as
ntirclv in-
[■ May 1st,
iged to the
that may
IbuncUand

s>mm

sociated Press in justice bound to repay. The transaction exhibits, on
the part of the Associated Press, a great want of that integrity in busi-
ness relations which is characteristic of honorable dealing, and a dis-
regard of the terms and conditions of the agreement existing for some
years between the Association and this Company, the latter being ex-
pected to observe every particular while the former may set the agree-
ment aside without hesitation or notice.

Suppose that immediately after the arrival of the steamer at New-
foundland and the transmission of her news over the wires, the English
steamer were to arrive at Halifax, and a party were to offer us a large
sum of money for the transmission of the first message : we should
hold ourselves obliged to decline, because we should consider ourselves
bound to you ; and yet your agent might not furnish us with any com-
munication because it might be considered that all the important news
had passed already. Such an offer, in fact, has been made to us and
has been declined for the reasons stated. You wish to keep us strictly
bound to you, but whenever it suits your convenience or interests to
break a contract, you unhesitatingly do so and seem to think that, as a
matter of course we must abide by your judgment.

I am also directed to state that tlie Executive Committee accept the
closing paragraph of your letter as a notification of discontinuance, and
to prevent misunderstanding they hereby give you formal notice that
the agreement referred to shall be terminated and cease on the first day
of May, 1859.

I am, dear sir,

Yours truly,

W. H. WiswELL, Sec'y.

EUECTVLW
•FIOK,

I), 1858.

|i, and has

5re me to
tigcd with-
lilrawn for
|deducting
1 is exclu-
jpaid, be-
inemoran-
Ir the As-

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