JZ"" Duke University Libraries D03209694X ^fl^. lAGE OF THE PllESIDENT. Confederate States of A metric a, ^ Executive office, \ Richmond, Ya., Feb. 23', 1863. ) To the House of Representatives C. S. : I herewith transmit a communication from the Postmaster Gene- ral, with accompanying papers, in reply to the resolution of your body, of October 13th, !862, asking information relative to the Tele- graphic Companies in the Confederate States ; the expenditures of the Government in that connection, tind "such other information as may be deemed useful in determining the policy and pract cability of merg- ing the telegraph in the postal system of the Confederate States,"" The documents presented contain all of the information that it is practicable at present to furnish. As to the propriety of merging the telegrapli in the postal system, it may well be doubted whether the development of the art of telegraphing would be better promoted by withdrawing the management of the lines from private companies, and placing it in the hands of the Government, and it is also doubted whether the present is an opportune time so largely to increase the administrative labors of the Executive Departments. The extension of executive patronage involved the political effect of giving the government control of the transmission of the first in- telligence, as well as the question of constitutional power, were, it is to be supposed, considered by the House before trans nitting the reso- lution, and are therefore not regarded as proper subjects for remark on this occasion. JEFFERSON DAVIS. t REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, IN ANSWER TO THE RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA- ^TIVES, OF OCTOBER 13, 1862. On the 13th of October, 1862, the following resolution was adopted by the House of Representatives of the Confederate States. BESOLUTION OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ADOPTED OCTOBER 13, 1862. ^* Resolved, That the President be reqested to communicate to this House, at the commencement of the next session of Congress if not, in his opinion, incompatible with the public interest, all the informa- tion that he may be able to obtain relative to the Telegraphic Compa- nies in the Confederate States, the names of said companies, the date of their formation, and Avhether incorporated or otherwise; the names of the presidents and directors of said companies and when and by whom elected ; tlie capital stock of each of said companies, and the amounts held respectively by citizens of the Confederate States and by alien enemies thereof; the amount of earnings of said companies since April 15, 1861, and how and v.hen said earnings have been dis- posed of; the amount expended by the Government in the construc- tion and repair of Telegraphic lines, and salaries of agents and ope- ratives, and the revenue derived therefrom; the amounts paid by the different departments of the Government since April 15, 1861 tolls on telegraphic dispatches, and such other information as may be deemed useful in determining the policy and practicability of merging the Telegraph into the postal system of the Confederate States." A copy of this resolution was received at this Department on the 20th of November, 1862, and on the 22d of that month the following letter was prepared and copies thereof addressed to the proper officers of the Telegraph Companies hereinafter named. letter of postmaster general, november 22d, 1862. ** Post Office Department, > *" Richmond, November 22d, 1862. ) Siu : That this Department may be able to comply with the provi- sions of a resolution of the House of Representatives of the Confede- rate States, adopted at their last session, I have to request, respect- fully, that you will furnish me at your earliest convenience with your response to said resolution, an extract froin which is as follows: '^Resolved, That the President be requested to communicate to this House at the commencement of the next session of Congress, if not, in his opinion, incompatible with the public interest, all the informa- tion that he may be able to obtain relative to the telegraphic compa- nies in tlie Confederate States ; the names of said companies, tlie date of their formation, and whether incorporated or otherwise; the names of the presidents and directors of said companies, and when and by whom elected; the capital stock of each of said companies, and the amounts held respectively by citizens of the Confederate States and by alien enemies thereof; the amount of earnings of said companies since April loth, 1861, and how and when said earnings have been dispo;^ed of. " The above has boen communicated under this date to the prg^si- dcnts of the several telegraph companies in the Confederacy, and it is desirable that their answers should be received at the earliest mo- ment practicable, in order that I mny make my report to the President on or. before the reassembling of Congress, on the 1 3th January next. " A^ery respectfully, " Your obedient servant, (Signed,) -JOHN II. RE.VGAN, *' Fostmastcr General^ TALtGRAPII COMPANIES TO WHOM THL FOREGOING LETTER WAS ADDKtSSED. Dr. W. S. Morris, President Southern Telegraph Companies, Rich- mond, A^irginia. John Van Horn, Esq., President South- Western Telegraph Com- pany, Jackson, Mississippi. A. M. Gentry, Esq., President, or C. C. Clutc, Es(|., Secretary Texas Telegriipli Company, Houston, Texas. C. P. Bertrand, Es(j., President Arkansas State Telegraph Com- pany, Little Rock, Arkansas. Messrs. Snow & Ketchum, Managers l*ine Bluff Telegraph Com- pany. Pine Bluff, Arkansas. William S. Rockwell, Escj., President and acting Superintendent Cuba Telegraph Company, Savannah, Georgia. The President of North Carolina State Telegraph Line, care of Governor Z. B. Vance, Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Witherspoon, Manager Kingsville and Camden Telegraph ]iine, Camden, South Carolina. n. T. Plant, Es(| , President Southern Express Company's Line, Augusta, Georgia. Mr, Howe, Alanager Columbus and Apalachicola Telegraph Com- pany, Columbus, Georgia. L. F. Zantzinger, Es(|., President or Manager Mobile and Point Clear Telegraph Line, Mobile, Alabama. The President or Manager of Yicksburg and Texas Telegraph Jiine, Vicksburo;, Mississippi, Gen. William Mahone. President Norfolk and Peter&burg Telegraph Company, Petersburg, Virginia. From the following Companies, to whom copies of the foregoing letter were addressed, this Department has received no response and is not possessed otherwise of any information that will enable me to communicate the information contemplated by the resolution of the House of Representatives, viz : COMPANIES FROM WHOM NO RESPONSE HAS BEEN RECEIVED. Texas Telegraph Company. Arkansas State Telegraph Company. Pine Bluff Telegraph Company. !North Carolina State Telegraph Company. Columbus and Apalacliicola Telegraph Company. Vicksburg and Texas Telegraph Line. The following report comprises all the information received at this Department fi'om such of the telegraph companies as have responded to my letter of November, 1882 : 4 WASniNGTOX AND ^lEMPHTS TELEG:iAPH COMPANV. Tbis line extends from Washington, D. C, to Lynchburg, Virginia. It was chartered by the county court of Campbell county, Virginia, in 1857 Of 1858, in confornity to the statutes of Virginia. Capital stock §25,ni)l). William S. Morris, President. Directors — Charles Scott, R. W. Crenshaw, J. S. Langhorn, elected by the stockholders. LVNCHBURG AND AFIXGDON TFiJ GRAPH COMPANV. This line extends from Richmond, A'irginia, to Bristol, Tennessee. Chartered by the Legislature of Virginia in 1851. Capital stuck $34,700. President — William S. Morris. Bircctvrs — C. M. Blackford, T. J. Kirkpatrick, J. Tyree, W. Daniel, elected by the stockholdci%. EAST TENNESSEE TELEGRAPH COMPANV. This line extends from Bristol, Tennessee, to Chattanooga, Ten- nessee, chartered by the Legislature of Tennessee in 185t) or 1857. Capital stock $3i),()(){). F resident — J. J. Craig. Llrccfors — William S. Morris, S. Morrow, W. Swann, elected by the stockholders. CHATTANOOGA AND ATLANTA TELEGRAPH LINE. Tbis line extends from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Atlanta, Georgia, being a portion of the wires built by the Augusta, Chattanooga and Nashville Telegraph Company, which was chartered in 1853 by the Legislatures of Tennessee and Georgia. This line was sold under decrees of the courts of the counties in (?reorgia through which it ran and w;is purchased by xV. D. ILimmett, from whom it was bought in 1857 by Vrillialii S. Moriis, R. W. Crenshaw and J. S. Langhorne. It was then rebuilt and operated in connection with the East Tennes- see Telegraph Line. If RICILMOND, CH\RLOTTI:.sV;lLE AND STAUNTON TELEGRAPH COMPANV. This line extends from Richmond, Virginia, to Staunton, Virginia, chartered by the county court of Henrico county, Virginia, in 1857. Capital stock, $ 15,000. President — James Lyons . Directors — 11. II. Maury, Geo. "\V. Doiinan, P. T. Moore, E. Fon- taine, R. 0. Cro.vley. This company leased their line in 1858 to Wm. S. Morris, Charles Scott, and R. W. Crenshaw, and since that time it has been operated in connection with the Washington and Memphis telegraph lines. SOUTHSIDE TtLtGRAPII LINK. This line extends from Lurkeville. \'iririnia. to City Point. Vir- ginia; was built by the Southside railroad company, and leased to the Lynchburg and Abingdon telegraph company. It cost % 5,600. The report of W. S. Morris, President of the Southern ti^legraph companies, which organization comprises the above named companies,' states that *' all these lines of telegraph were cliartered in the States where they are located, and built by Southern men," but the amount of stock in the said companies hekl by citizens of the Confederate States, and by alien enemies thereof, is not reported. WASHINGTON AND NEW ORLEANS TELEGR \rn COMFANV. This line extended from Washington City to New Orleans, Loui- siana. AVas chartered by the Legislature of Virginia in 1857, and in many, if not all, of the States through which it passed. The capital stock in 1.S5G, is reported at % ^G 1,750. Of this amount, stock to the value of S I78,25i), was owned by citizens of the Confederate States, and the balance of the stock, amounting in value to % 3^3,500, is owned by stockholders who reside withouj|the limits of the Confedo- late States. In 1S5G, the lines of the Washington and New Orleans compan}'- were leased to the Magnetic Telegraph company. In 1850 the Mag- lictic Telegraph compan^T- was merged into the American Telcgrapli company, and the lease of the lines of the Washington and New Or- l(i;ins to the Magnetic company was transfe)"red to tlic American Tcle- gi-aph company. And m January, 18G0, the following telegraph lines licretofore mentioned, viz. : the Washington and IMempliis telegraph line, the Lynchburg and Abingdon telegraph line, the East Tennessee telcgrapli line, the Chattanooga and Atlanta telegraph line, the Rich- mond, Charlottesville and Staunton telegraph Lne, the South-side telegraph line, were leased to the American company, and continued To be opci-ated by that company until April or May, 18G1, when Di-. Wm. S. Morris, as president, Thos. II. Wynne, as treasurer, and J. 11. Dowcil, as general superintendent, assumed the control of all the above named lines, under the name of " The Southern Telegraph Companies." * The cost of operating these lines, and the revenues derived from them have been charged and credited in gross, and tlierefore the proper cost and revenue of each separate line cannot now be ascer- tained. The gross earnings and disbursements from April, 18G1, to February 1st, 1863, are stated, in a report made by Mr. Wynne, the treasurer, to bo as follows, viz. : Total receipts from all the lines worked as Southern Telegraph Companies, $ 031,101 00 Expenditures of all kinds, $ 530,236 IG Rents paid stockholders tn the Wilming- ton and New Orleans, and other com- panies, whose lines were leased by the American .Telegraph Company, 23,So4 00 Dividends paid stockholders in Amcvican Telegraph Company, 12,20-1 0(1 ° ^ 566,204 16 Balance on hand, ^ 64,806 b4 Deduct rents due on alien stock in Wash- ington and New Orleans Telegraph Company, unpaid, ^ 48,406 00 Dividends due and unpaid on American Telegraph Stock in the Confederate # ^ States, 606 00 # 49,012 00 Net balance, ^ $J 5, 794 84 It will be seen, from the foregoing statement, which is the substance of the report of Dr. Morris in response to the resolution of in- ((uiry, that the portion of the capital stock in each of the above named companies, except the Washington and New Orleans company, which is held respectively by citizens and alien enemies of the Confedtratc States, is not given. *Nor does it appear, by this report, when, by whom, or when the American Telegraph Company was incorporated. A copy of the report of Dr. Morris, marked ''No. 1,^' and a printed copy of the letter therein referred to, marked "No. 2," are hereto an- nexed. And also a printed copy of a pamphlet over the signature of C. P. Culver, bearing on the same gubjcct, marked *'No. 3," is hereto annexed. SOUTH-WESTERN TELEGRAPH COMPANY. This company was organized in June, 1854, and is incorporated. John Van Home, Tresident ; George L. Douglas, Treasurer ; and Thomas L. Carter, Secretary. The President, Secretary and Treas- urer constitute the executive board. The Secretary and Treasurer were elected by the stockholders of the company, at their annual meeting in May, 1861, and the President was appointed by this board in July, 1862. The capital stock is $600,000, of which sum $500,000 is owned by citizens of the Confederate States; §40,000 by citizens of the District of Columbia ; and $6(1,000, held at the beginning of the war by a citizen of the State of New York, was sequestrated in the fall of 1861. The.net earnings of the company, from April 15th, 1861, to Novem- ber 1st, 1862, amount to $90,324.12. Of this sum $18,000 has been 6 loaned to Southern stockholders ; more than half the remainder is in- vested in Confederate bonds. These bonds and the balance of the net earnings are held by the treasurer of the company, for the purpose of repairing damages sustained by the property during the war. Neither the gross amount of receipts, nor the expenses of this line are shown. A copy of the report is herewith marked No. 4. The lines designated iu the foregoing as the Southern Telegraph Companies' lines embrace most of the telegraph lines in* the States of A^irginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, East Tennessee and Central and South Alabama, and a line from 2\Iobile to New Or- leans. The South- Western Telegraph Company's lines embrace a portion of the telegraph lines in Kentucky, most of the lines in mid- dle and West Tennessee, North Alabama, Mississippi and a large part of the lines in Louisiana. And, together, these control the main lines, and the greater portion of the telegraph lines in the Confede- racy. CUBAN TELEGRAPH COMPANY, Incorporated by the Legislatu»j of Georgia February loth, 1854, by the title of "The Submarine and Terrestrial Telegraph Company." Incorporated also by the Legislature of Flori'la and sanctioned by the Captain General of Cuba. Fresident—\\\ S. Rockwell. Directors — Antonio M. Mora, Jose M. Mora, J. T. Navarro, elected by the stockholders April 2oth, 1859, to serve until their successors were elected and qualified. Capital stock $8i-)0,0lU), all owned by Spanish citizens in Cuba, except J 10,000 held by the executors of C C. Walden, deceased, and $2,000 by W. S. Rockwell. No report is made of the earnings of this line for the reason, as stated, that the line in the State of Florida was taken possession of by military au- thority, and no returns therefrom have been made to the President of the company. On the line in Georgia, the earnings have been barely sufficient to keep up the line. No report of the earnings of this line, or of its expenses, is given. A copy of the report of W. S. Rockwell, the President of the com- pany, is hereto annexed, marked No. 5. NORFOLK AND PETERSBURG TELEGRAPH LINES. This line extends from Norfolk, Virginia, to Petersburg, Virginia, and is incorporated as among the rights and franchises of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad Company. President, General^ William Ma- hone, president of the railroad company, and elected by the stock- holders of said company. Capitol stock, part of the whole invest- ment in the railroad which is said to be "owned by much the larger part by the Commonwealth of Virginia," the balance by citizens of Virginia, except a few shares held by aliens. , The cost of this line is not shown; no separate report of the earnings or expenses of this line is made, nor is the amount of the stock held in it by alien'ene- mies given. A copy of tlie report of Gen. Mahone is hereto annexed, marked No. 6. SOUTHERN EXPRESS COMPANy's LINE. The Southern Express Company own and operate a line of telegraph extending along the roadway of the Charlotte and South Carolina Rail- road and the North Carolina Railroad, and running from Columbia, South Carolina, to Raleigh, North Carolina. Has the same organiza- tion as the express company to which it belongs ; H. B. Plant, Presi- dent. No* separate capital stock. The earnings, from April 15th, 1861, to December 1st, 1862, amount to $8,238 96, which has beeu disposed of in operating and maintaining the line. The cost of the construction of this line is not shown, nor is there any statement as to the amount of the capital stock of the company by which it was built, which is owned by alien enemies. A copy of the report of H, E. Plant, the President of the Southern Express Company, is hereto " annexed, marked No. 7. CAMDEN AND KTNGSVILLE TELEGRAPH LINE. 'This line w^as built by private subscription in 1859. It has never been incorporated; was put up for the accommodation of the citizens of Camden, South Carolina, ancf with the amount of its earnings and private contributions the line is kept up and maintained, but is a source of profit to no one. J. K. Witherspoon is the manager and owner. A copy of his report is hereto annexed, marked No. S. POINT CLEAR TElWraPII LINE. This line was built by private subscription in 1858. It has never been incorporated. Was put up for convenience during the summer and is owned entirely by citizens of the Confederacy — has no capital stock, and the earnings barely suihce to maintain the line in operation, A copy of the report of Mr. Zantzingcr, manager, is hereto annexed, marked No. 9. A copy of the following letter was also addressed to the heads of the several Departments of the Government : PosTOFFicE Department, ) * Richmond, Nov. 22, 1862. S Sir : I have the honor to submit to you for answer, at your earliest convenience, the following extract from a resolution adopted by tho House of Representatives of the Confederate States at their last session, in so far as your department may be concerned, viz : *' The amount expended by the government in the construction and repair of telegraphic lines, and salaries of agents and operators, and the revenue derived therefrom ; and the amounts paid by the diflferent departments of the government since April 15th, 1861, for tolls on telegraphic dispatches." It is desirable that your response should be received in season to enable me to make my report to the President on or before the re- assembling of Congfess on the 13th January next. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) " JOHN H. REAGAN, Postmaster GeneraL 2 10 Copies of the answers of the heads of the departments, to the fore- going^ letter are hereto annexed, marked respectively A, B, C, D, E, F, G. The following is the nmount paid by the different departments of the goverenment since April 15th, 180 1, for tolls on telegraphic dis- patches : Executive Office, April 15, 1861, to Nov. 1, 1862, $3,447 08 State Department, April 15, 1861, to Sept. 1, 1862, 1,316 28 Treasury Department, April 15, 1861. 3,959 71 War Department, April 15, 1861, to Nov. 22, 1862, 35,799 30 Navy Department, April 15, 1861, to Nov! 31), 1862, 10,258 64 Postoffice Department, April 15, 1861, to Nov. 22, 1862, 515 26 Department of Justice, April 15, 1861, to Nov. 22, 1862, 395 73 Total, $55,592 00 The amounts shown above are for tolls paid on dispatches sent over lines, other than those built by the government. All government dis- patches over the lines built by the government, and known as miliiary lines, being sent over thqm free of charge. The amount paid by the War Department does not represent the real amount expended by that department. It is only the sun|. paid by the department proper and its bureau in this city, and d%gb not embrace the sums paid by the disbursing agents of the department for the several commands in the field, officers of posts, and officers on separate duty connected with the various branches of the military service, which are presumed to "be very large, and which, though chargeable in the accounts of such agent and officers, had not been audited at the date of the Secretary'ii report, and could not on that account be embraced in the amount of expenditures for telegraphic dispatches at the date of his report. It is also to be observed that a number of telegraph lines have been built and operated under the direction of officers of the army, in the absence of any order or authority from this department, the accounts for which are not settled in this department, but it is presumed are to be settled in the War Department. 1 have no means of giving, the cost of building and operating these lines. The accounts against the War Department for the transmission of dispatches, other than those sent by the department proper and its bureaux in this city, and by the several departments as tolls on telegraphic dispatches, and exclu- ding the amounts expended by tlie military authorities, and not yet audited, gives an aggregate amount paid out by the government on account of telegraphing of one hundred and thii ty-five thousand eight hundred and twenty-tour dollars and fourteen cents, $135,824 14). The concluding portion of the resolution to which this is a response, calls for " such other information as may be deemed useful in deter- mining the policy and practicability of merging the telegraph in the postal system of the Confederate States." The foregoing contains all the information which this department is enabled to furnish in answer to the resolution of the House of Repre- 11 « sentativcs, unless it be to state that from the improvements Avliicli have been made in the art of tele^i^raphing, and the facility and dispatch >vhich the telegraph lines furnish for communicating intelligence, they are becoming, to a greater extent than formerly, the rivals of the postal service. And it is fair to presume that in the progress of their improvement and usefulness they ^yill ultimately, to a still greater extent, supersede the mails in the conveyance of all intelligence requiring dispatch where they come into competition. To merge the telegraph in the postal system, it would be necessary for the Confederate Government to purchase the existing lines of tele- graph, or provide for building rival lines, and to obtain the consent of the several States through which they pass to hold nnd usotliem within their respective jurisdictions. I have the honor to be, With great respect, Your obedient servant, JOHN II. REAGAN, Postmaster General. The l*Ri:siKD.\T. REPORT OF WILLIAM S. MORRIS, PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHERN TELEGRAPH COMPANIES. Office of tiv Soutiiekn Telegraph Companies, ) Riclimond, Va., Dec. 20th, 1883. I Si?.: Yours of the 22d of November, enclosing an extract from & resolution of the House of Representatives of the Confederate States^ adopted at their last session, is before me. Y'ou request, that I will furnish you at my earliest convenience with a response to said resolution. In obedience to your request, I will cheerfully furnish you with, the information in relation to the telegraph companies which were before, and have beei^ since the war, under my management in the Confederate States, so far as I am by my position authorized so to do Fiist. "The Yv^ashington and Memphis Telegraph Company." The wires of this company extend from War>hington City, via Gor- donsville, and Chnrlottesville, to Lynchburg. It was chartered by the county court of Campbell county in IH57 or ^S5S, in conformitv to the statutes of Yirginia in such cases provided. Capiral stock' §2:5,000. William S. Morris, President; Charles Scott, R. W. Crenshaw and J. S. Langhorne, Directors — elected by the stockholders. Second. ''The Lynchburg and Abingdon Telegraph Company. '^ The wires of this company extend from Richmond, via Lyncbburg and Wytheville, to Biistcl. Chartered by the Legislature of Virginia in 185!. Capital stock $34,700. William S. Morris. President ; C. M. Blackford, T. J. Kiikpatri-k, J. Tyree and W. Daniel, Directors- elected by the stockholders. Third. "The East Tennessee Telegraph Company." The wires of this company extend from Bristol, via Knoxville, to Chattanoog-i. Chartere.l by the Legislature of Tennessee in 1S56 or 1857. Capital stock. $:30,000. J. J. Craig, President; Wm. S. Morris, S. Morrow and W. Swann, Directors — elected by the stohich the wires passed. This is one of the oldest companies on this continent, and its lines were built at an enormous expense, and hence the capital stock is large, and has been operated to very little profit to the stockholders before it was leased. I was not a stockholder in this company before the commencement of the war, and can only give its history from some of the published proceedings which have come into my possession from time to time. The business office of this company was in Washington City. There its proceedings were had J^nd its executive officers resided. This company, in 1856, leased its lines to the " Magnetic Telegraph Company," at four per cent, upon the capital stock, which was at that time $561,75;). The directors at that time were B. B. French, Edw'd G. Hyde, S. Mowry, Jr., Charles T. Pollard, James Reid, Benjamin Jones, R. R. Cuyler, Samuel Tait and W. M. Swain ; Amos Kendall, President. 15 In 1859, when the consolidation of telegraph lines was effected, the '' Mngnetic Company" leased its own lines and transferred the lease of the lines of the ''Washington and New Orleans Company'* to the "American Telegraph Company." Of these '' directors," only four now live in the Confederate States, and of this capital stock $178,25 I is held by citizens of the Confederate States, leaving a bal- ance, :f?.383,5iHI, held out of the Confederate States. As the books and' records of the company were kept in Washington City it is impossible now to ascertain who are the individual stock- holders, outside of the Confederate States or in what States of the United States, they reside. Some of them may be residents of coun- tries foreign to the United States. For information in relation to all these telegraph lines and interests since the comn encement of the war^ I refer you to the letter addressed to you on the 19th of May, 1862, a copy of which is herewith en- closed, which contains a detailed history of events and proceedings of stockhohlers up to that date. A^ery respectfully , Your obedient servant, 4 WM. S. MORRIS, President Southern Tikp'oph Cornpanus,. To Hon. J II. Reagan, Postmaster General. Richmond, February 7th, 1363'. Dr. W. S. Morris, President Scut hern Ttlegraph Companies : Dear Sir: In reply to your note of the 5th instant, requesting me to furnish you with a statement of the receipts and disbursements of the Southern Telegraph Companies, I have to report as follows: Uot.il receipts from aMthe lines worked as Southern telegraph companies from April, 1861, to February 1, 1863, ♦■ $631,101. Qih Expenditures of all kinds. $530,236 16 Renrs paid stockholders in the Wash- ington and New Orleans and other companies whose lines were leased by the American Telegraph Company, 23,854 GO Dividends paid stockholders.in the Ame- rican Telegraph Company residing in ^ ' the Confederate States, 12,204 0.0 566,294 16" Balance on hand, $64,806 84 16 From wliich is to be de'lucted^i-ents due on alien stock m the Washington and Kew ()ih\ins I'elegraph Company and unpaid, S^8,4()6 00 Dividends due and unpaid on American telegraph stock in Confederate States, G(i6 00 49,012 00 E. 0. E. Kett balance, $15,794 84 All 01 which is respectfully submitted by Your obedient servant, TilOS. 11. WYNKE, Treasurer Southern Telegraph Companies, Officj.^ Sout|iern Telegraph Companies. ) llichmond, Va., May lO.th 18(32. I Hon. J. II. ItEAGiN, PoHmaster General : Sfp. : On the 1st of this month it became necessary, in ray opinion, •to dismiss from the service of the Telegraph Companies L. F. Zant- zinger, manager of the office at Mobile, because of the report to me by the 8up'jrintendent, of his inattention to the duties of the ollice — his indisposition to obey any instructions which were given to him by said Superintendent; and ako because it was reported tome by our Treas- nrer, that he, Zantzinger, was in arrears up to the 1st of April, in the Bum of q|cven hundred and forty-eight dollars and thirty-one cents, and had failed to make any deposits during the months of March or April. I also ih iught it necesviry to dism-iss from the serviae of the com- panies William Tanner, who had been acting as local superintendent of the division of the lines extended from Columbus, Georgia, to New Orleans, Louisiana; because of the great irregularity in the working •of that section — the a^thfulness and tardiness, of the operators under his control — the imp^sibility of getting any information as to the condition of his lines earlier in tlie day than from 12- to 2 o'clock — his failure to correct these evils, after repe.ited remonstrances— en- gaging in the cDnstruction and operation of other lines of telegraph withoiit the authority or consent of these companies, and his attempt to charge the Government for ex«tra scr\Mce, when his salary had be.'n recently increased by the companies, and was considered sufficient re- jrecompense'tor all the duties assigned to him. Mr. W. Sanford, of North Carolina, who had for many years been in t'he service of the companies of which I had the control, was sent to Mobile as manager of tl^at office, in place of L. F. Zantzinger. j\Ir. C. T. Campbell, of Virginia, who had served many years on the same 17 l-nes, was directed to take charge as superintendent of tbe division of the iine^ up to that time under the supervision of Wiilinm Tinner. When Sanf jrd and Campbell, in obedience to instruuctions, arrived in Mobile and presented leu ers of dismissal to those gentlemen, and their authoiity to assume the positions, they were informed that (general Br.-igg liad taken m litary possession of the lines, and had appointed^ William Tanner military superintendent over the lines in AlaiKima and Florida, and that Mr. Zantainger had b^en appointed iieneral su- pentendent. They positively declined to deliver money, batik books, or any other property belonging to the companies to my appointees, and refused to allow them to enter the operating department at Mobile. An order was also sent by telegraph to Montgomery by Zantzinger, to arrest Mr. Roache, one of the operators in that office, for what cause I have not yet been informed. As soon as I was apprised of these facts, I presented tlie dispatches upon the subject to yourself and General Lee. In reply to the message of General Lee of the 1st or 2nd of May, ordering the in- Btallinei|t of Messrs. Campbell and Sanford, in the respective positions which had been assigned them, the following was received from Corinth, dated May, iird : • . **To Gen. R. E. Lee: "The order placing our telegraph under the supervision of Morris, Dowell & Co., a Yankee concern, will break up all operations in the South-West — stockholders, operators, agents, all rebels. See my correspondence in war office of November or December last. • (Signed.) BiiAXTON Bragg. In reply to your message of the 2nd the fdlowing was received, dated Mobile, Srd : *'To John II. Reaga.v, Postmaster General. ^ " *• The reason why it is desirable to retain the -old officers of the telegraph line is explained by General Bragg to General Lee. Gene- ral Bragg has directed me to send to Richmond a proper per.von to further explain the deranged state of telegraph affairs out here. I think, with General Bragg, that meanwhile the old officers had best be retained. ^ (Signed,) J. H. Forney, Brigadier General Commaiidingy These two dispatches, and also the correspondence with the War Department of December last, you permitted me to see when I last had a personal interview with you on the subject, and you at the same time expressed your dt termination to await tUe arrival of the person, alluded to in General Forney's message, before taking further action \ti the matter. Many days have elapsed since that interview, it is now the nine-* teenth day of the month; and I am infojmed that General Withers 18 arrived in this city some days ago, charged with the duty referred to in the dispatch of (feneral Forney to yourself. A copy of the Mobile Tribune, of the fourth instant, containing an anonymous communication in relation to this whole subject has been sent to me, and no doubt your attention has been called to it. Tho ■ correspondence of General Bragg, the article in the Mobile Tribune, and your deferred faction in the premises, make it my duty, however urgent the demand upon my time may be, to submit for your consid- erd^tion, the following facts in relation to my connection Avith the tide- graph lines in the Confederate States, in vindication of myself and in justice to those I represent, and also to induce you after this exposi- tion, to take such action as your duty to yourself, your duty to your country, and a regard for right and justice may prompt. On the twenty-third of May last, in answer to my letter of. the twenty-first, offering to co-operate with the governmevit of the ('on- federate States in making the lines of telegraph under my control subserve the public good, you say, after thanking me, '' I have to say that the President, without knowing the precise extent of youf autho- rity, accepts your offer, and has adopted such regulations for carrying into effect the act of Confess relating to telegraph lines in the Con- federate States, as will best secure that object, w^ith the least possible inconvenience or injury to the telegraph companies ; and he will do whatever he lawfully may, to protect the rights and property of all telegraph companies acting subordinately to, and in good faith towards the Confederate States. I will furnish you copies of the acts of Con- gress relating to this subject, and of the instructions adopted by the President to :secure their execution ; and shall be obliged by your friendly co-operation and assistance in giving them full effect to the extent of your authority," &c. On the twenty-fourth of May last, at Montgomery, you addressed the following letter to Mr. Dowell and myself : " I beg to request that you will furnish to the respective agents and operators on the lines of telegraph under your control, a copy of, the instructions of this Department, isr,ued on the tvventy-second in- stant, and addressed to the telegraph agents, operators, and others, ■connected with the supervision and management of telegraph c(5mpa- ni(3s or lines in the Confederate States, for the purpose of securing the due execution of the provisions of the act of Congress of tho eleventh of May, 1861, relating to telegraph lines in the said States, and also that* you, or either of you, will take the necessary step-} to Jiave the oath prescribed by said act duly administered to said agents, -operators, &c., and returned to this dep irtnient." In order to carry out your instructions, it was necessary that myself or Mr. Dowell should visit in person the several offices. When I reached Charleston, I was informed that there had been a meeting of stockholders of the Washington and New Orleans, Telegraph Company in that city, and I addressed to the committee appointed by that meeting, the following letter, which is explanatory of my then relatipns to the stockholders of the company : 19 CiiARLESTOiN IIoTEL, June 4tb, ISGl. ** Messrs. Henry Gcurdin, Hon. diaries McBUh and L. D. Mowry : Gentlemen : In a recent number of the Charleston Courier, my attention was called to a notice of a meeting; of a portion of the Btockholders of the Washington and New Orleans Telegraph Com- pany, the object of which, as explained by the chairman of the meet- ing, was with the view of adopting or ascertaining what measures were necessary for the protection of their interests in the company under the new order of things. You, gentlemen, were appointed a committee of three to obtain all necessary information and report to an adjourned meeting of the stockholders. On the 2Gth of April labt, the General Superintendent of the tele- graph lines South of Washington city, requested me, as a director of the American Telegraph Company, to meet him in the city of Rich- mond. He stated that communication between the North and South was so in<-errupted, that it was absolutely necessary to the efficiency and proper management of the lines of telegraph in the South, that a Souihern auditor and treasurer should be jippointed in the Suuth ; that the earnings of the line^^ had been, and were beirtg deposited to the credit of the Treasurer of the American Telegraph Company, who resided in New York, subject to his check ; that in the disturbed re- lations between the two sections it was impossible to make rcjiorts to, or obtain drafts from the American company; that independent of considerations of public policy, 'the interest of the lines South and South-West require the appointment of an auditor and treasurer in the South. I was the only director of the American company in the Sourh. I have been connected as President with lines cxten.e authorities there, and expressed my willingness to co-operato with them in any measure which it might be necessary to adopt to make the telegraph lines in the Confederate States subserve- the pub- lic good ; I found them disposed to adopt such.regulntions only to carry into effect the act of Congress relating to lines in the Confederate States, as ^Y0uld best secure that object with the least possible incon- venience or injury to the telegraph companies, and was assured that they would do whatever they lawfully could, to protect the rights and property of all telegrapli companies acting suhordinately to, and in good faith towards the Confederate States They also accepted the tender of my services to institute enquiries as to the means of procur- ing the manufacture of wire for such military lines of telegraph as may be wanted by the government, and also for the manufacture of iii-^ 21 fiulators of glass, and urged the importance of ascertaing ^vhere these supplies could \)e had at the earliest day practicable. The earnings of the Southern lines have been, since April 27th, and will conrinue to b3, deposited to tlie credit of Mr. Thombs II. Wynne, Treasurer, at Richmond, Va. I design to pay punctually j'^nd promptly to the stoclcholders, both of the 'Vashington and New Orleans company, and the srockholdors of the South-Western lines, their rents when due them, and the sur- plus after paying all neccssury expenses will be retained to the ere lit of the Treasurer, subject to tke order of the parties legally and right- fully entitled tp it. In my interview with yon to-day you desired me to comm^nnicate these facts and events. I have endeavored to do so plainly, brietiy and as succinctly as I could. You are thus made acquainted with my connection with your interests and the interests of others up to this dare. The action of the State of the Virginia, the contemplated action cf other States, and the apprehended action of the Confederate States, and the proper discipline and enforceraeni of the rules and regulations prescribed for telegraphic agents and operators, made it absolutely ne- cessary that sonie one should act promptly to protect the interest of stockholders and fecure promptness antl efficiency in the telegraph lines in the Confederate States. This I have endeavored to do, and trust that I will have the approval of the stockholders of the Wash- ington and New Orleans company, in my efforts in this behalf. 1 cannot conclude this comunic rtion without urging upon you the importance oT harmony and united action of telegraph companies in the South in these times of trial and danger, when the wants- and in- terests of individuals and companies, §hould b'e made subordinate' to the general and universal desire to promote the public good and na- tional safety. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, 'WM. S. MORRIS, President Southern Telegraph Comparivs. (Copy.) A short time after I left Charleston, a copy of the Charlestoa Courier was sent to me with the following publication of proceedings : WASHINGTON AND NEW ORLEANS TELEGRAPH COMPANY. A meeting of thp stockholders, in this State of the Washington and New Orleans Telegraph Company, was held at the bank of Charleston yesterday, when the Hon Charles Macbeth, Mayor, was called to the chair, and L. D. Mowry requested to act as Secretary. Mr. Henry Gourdin. Chairman of a connnittee appointed at a pre- vious meeting, submitted the following report which was unanimously |dopted : 2f The committee, appointed at a meeting of the stockholders of this State in the Washin^^ton and New Orleans Te-le.i^rapk Company, re- port respectfully : That within a day or two after the adjournment of ^aitl meeting, they were waited upon by Dr. W. S. Morris, of Rich- mond and Mr. J. 11. Do well, the former President of certain compa- nies known as the South-Western lines of Telegraph, extending from Washington through Knoxvillc and Chattanooga to Atlanta, and now acting President of the Washington and New Orleans Company, and the latter gentleman superintendent of the several lines South of Wash- ington under the appointment of the American Telegraph Company, to which company the several lines South of Washii^ton had been leased. • These gentlemen state thfit "being in Augusta, on their way from Montgomery to Richmond, their attention was called to a notice in the (Charleston papers of a meeting of a portion of the stockholders in the Washington and New Orleans Telegraph Compjxny, and that ignorant of the purposes of the meeting, and desiring themselves to promote harmony and unity of action among the stockholders in the several Southern States, as well as between the several Southern and and AVestern lines, they had deemed it best to come at once to Charleston to explain in person their connection with the company, and what they had done to protect the interest of tj|e stocldiolders m the several companies, and to insure the faithful and efficient working of the lines. * • Dr Morris states, thiit on the 2Gth day of April last, Mr. D )\vell, for many years the General Superintendent of all the telegraph lines South and South- West of Washington, re(iueste I him.*as a direjtor in the American Telegraph Company, to meet him in the city of Richmond; that, at that meeting, .Mr. Dowell informed him that com- munication between the North and the South ha/l become so interrupt- ed, that the appointment of a Southern auditor and treasurer became absolutely necessary to the efficiency, safety, and proper manage- ment of the lines of telegraph in the South; that the earnings of the Soiitliern lines had been,^and were still being desposited to the credit of the Treasurer of the American Telegraph Com.pany. who resided in New York, subject to his check; thiit, in the disturbed relations be- tween the two sections, it was impossible to mtike reports to or obtain drafrs from the American Telegraph Company, and that independent of considerations of public feeling, the interests of the lines South and South- West requirel the immediate appointment of an auditor and Treasurer in the South. Dr. Morris further states, that he was the or»ly director of the American Telegraph Company at the time ir» the South ; that he had been connected as President with lines of telegranh extending from Washington city, by way of Richmond, Lynchburg, Bristol, Knox- ville and Chattanooga, to Atlanta; that they were oganized under several separate charters, and that in the consoli lacion of the several companies in 1860, these being under his control, and known as the South-Western lines, were leased, as were the Washington and New Orleans Coupany, to the American Telegraph Company; but that the 23 • organization of these companies had been preserved, and that he was still President of them. Dr. Morris further sajs, that when called on by the Superintendent to meet him in Richmond, he retjuested Mr, Thos. H. Wynne, of Richmond, a largo stockholder in both the Washington and New Or- leans and the American Telegraph Companies, to be present and con- fer with the General Superintendent and himself, as to the best means to be adopted to preserve and protect the telegraph interest of the South. ]Mr. AVynne was the only stockholder in the Washington and New Orlenns *Comp;j,ny with whom he was acquainted, and with whom, in the emergency that existed, it was possible to consult, and that the posi- tion of trust and responsibility occupied by him in connection with the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad — his business qualifications, identity of interests, unexceptionable character, and place of na- tivir/v and residence, were reasons which induced him to urge Mr. Wynne to except the place of auditor and treasurer, he giving a bond of fifty thousand dollars, with securiry, for the faithful discharge of his duties. Mr. Wynne having consented to act, orders were issuetl to tlie man- agers of telegraph offices m the South and South-Vrest, to deposit all monies (on and ait"r the 27th April.) to his credit, Subject to his check, countersigne/l by him. Dr. Morris. Thes^ proceedings. Dr. Morris states, were w^ritten ou^., and signed by himself, the Genei'al Superinten-lent, Mr. Dowell, and Mr. Wynne^ aud having been sent to be submitted to the American Telegraph Oompin-y, that Company subsequently, through its President, ex- pressed its approval. On the 9tli of May following, some difficulties having occurred in the management, the General Superintendent again addressed a dis- patch to Dr. Morris, stating, th It to enforce the rales and regulations, and to secure efficiency and fidelity in the operations of the lines, it was imperatively n cessary that Dr. Morris should co operate with him, not only as President of the lines running South-West, but that he should assume the duties of President of the Washington and New Orleans Company also. Hesitating. Dr. Morris says, to assume du- ties and responsibilities under such circumstances, he consulted the ptockliolders residing in LyTtchbiirtr. the only parties accessible to him at the time, and identified- with himself and other stockholders in the South, and that urged by them to comply with the suggestions of the General Superintendent, they utiittd in a dispatch to the Governor of Virginia, setting f)rth the facts of the case, and that, in vieV of them, the Governor ordered him to resign his position in thevolun- t<)er service ot the State. -Dr. Morris further states, that on the lOth of May, he receis'ed a dispatch from^the President of the American Telegraph Company, requesting him to meet him at Washington City, and th-^t in the in- terview had with him on that occasion, the ilth Ma;i , in company with the General Superintendent, he. Dr. Morris, related the events of the few previous days touching the addit onal duties he had as- 24 suineil in connection with the Teleo:raph interests in the Scutli: sta- tinor also that in tlie exi>ting lelanons hetweon the North and the South, the Lines most necosarily be worked separately in the two sections, and that it wa< inipossihhj to foresee what would he tlie rvda- tions of parties in the future; in all of which opinions he concuned. Dr iMorris further says, tliat on the day'following, the 12th ilay, on Ijis wjiy home he was informed by teiegram that hi" inmicdiate presence was necessary in Montgomery to protect the interests of the Telegraph (.'ompanies; that lie went on forthwith to Montgomery, waited on the authorities, expressed his willingness to co-operate in any measures that might be deemed necessary to make the Telegraph Ljnes in the Confeilerate i^tates subserve the public interests, and that he found a disposi ion to a^lopt such regulations only as were neces- sary to carry into eftect the act of Congress relating to Telegraph Lines in the Confederate States, and to secure that object with the least possible inconvenience and injury to the Companies. Dr. Morris says also, that assurances were given him that every thing that could lawfully be done to protect the rights and property of all tbe companies acting subordinately to, and in good laitii to- wards the Confederate States w^ould be done. 'ihe earnings of the Southern Lines, Dr. Morris says, have, since the 27th Ap»?l, been, and will con inue to be, deposited to the credit of Thomas IL Wynne, Treasurer, at Richmond, Virginia, and that ho designs, after payirtg the current expenses incident to the working of the Linos, -to pay to the stockliolders of both Lines — the Wjtshington and New Orleans, and the South-Western Lines-i-the rents or divi- dends, at the rate of six per cent, per annum, when due them, and that the surplus, if any, will be retained, subject to the order of the parties legally and rigiufully entitled to it. Dr. Morris concludes by stating, that the action of the State of Virginia, the contemplated action of other States, the apprehended action of the Confederate States, and the proper discipline and enforce- ment of the rules and regulations for Telegraphic agents and operators made it absolutely necessary that some one should act promptly to protect the interests of stockhoMers and secure promptness and 'effi- ciency in the lines in the Confederate States. This he says he ha3 endeavored to do, and trusts that he will have the approval of the stockholders of the Washington and New Orleans Company in his efforts in this behalf. Finally, he urges-the importance of hai-monidua and united action of Telegraph Companies in, the Conrfederate States in these times of trial and danger, when the wants of couppanics and individuals should be made subordinate to the general and universal desire to promote the public good and safety. From the foregoing statement of Dr. Morris, and the General Su- perintendent, Mr. Dowell, it would seem that these gentlemen, with Mr. Wynne, have already accomplished much that was intended to have been done by your meeting. The management of your company is in Southern hands, the property has been made secure to Southern stockh rata of the nett earnings of their line, reserving the dividends of the foreign stocks as a proper matter of confiscation, and its results would have been far more equitable to the Southern stockholders, who have the highest moral and legal right to every advantage and benefit of the workings of their own property. Were this the case, the Southern stockholders, instead of recerA'ing six per cent, rents, would now be receiving 20 or 30 per cent, per annum divkknds. It was from an assumption of the foregoing facts, that the stock- holders residing in the Confederate States, at a meeting held in Augusta, Ga., on the 9th of August, 186 2, resolved to take such steps as would, enable them- to ol^in control of their property at the shortest posi^ible period, and to this end required the present managers (Messrs. Morris, Wynne and Dowell,) to keep a separate account of the earn- ings and disbursements of their line from the first of September, 1862, • to the second Wednesday in January, 1863, and to report the same to a meeting of the stockholders, ro be holden on the aforesaid second Wednesday of January, 1863. in the city of Augusta, Ga. This meeting of stockholders was duly held, (Dr. ^lorris present,) and it was agreed that no decisive and definite action could be had until the alien interest in said line was sequestrated, and the status oi tho Gov- ernment's interest established by the court, the property taken posses- sion of by the agents of the Government, or turned over to the stock- holders residing in the Confederate States, thus enabling them to effect* an organization under the new dispensation of things with all interests fairly represented. To this end the meeting of stockholders of the 14th of January, 1863, resolved to employ counsel at Richmond, Va., to loiok after its interests, and to urge the sequestration of the alien stock in the coninany. Thus matters stand, and with but a dim prospect of an early action upon the part of the sequestration court, for the sequestration of the alien interest, as 1 am iufoimed, by the Confederate States Receiver; thus keeping the stockholders, residing in the Confederate States, out of both the possession and the earnings of their property, and allow- ing the stockholders in tie American Telegraph Company, owning only 619 shares, to amass vast fortunes at the expense of the Southern stockholders in the Washington and New Orleans line. This ought not so to be, and if the court is not prepared to act in the premises, and that speedily, I would respectfully call the attention of Congress to the matter, as one on which they should take some immediate action. I have said there were 7,570 shares of the Washington and New Orleans company's stock, owned by parties outside of the Confederacy, and, of coulee, owned by alien enemies, and subject to sequestration. I say alien Enemies, because Amos Kendall, though residing in the District of Columbia, is at war with the Confederate States, by giving aid and comfort to the enemy ; and hence not entitled to the benefits of the law exempting parties residing in the excepted States. 39 In the fall of 1860, at a meeting of the Btockhoklers of the Ameri- can Telegraph Company, held in the City of Washington, Mr. Ken- dall represented in his own right 1,772 shares of stock in the Wash- ington and New Orleans line, and some six hundred shares by proxy, the same belonging to his children and grand-children, making in all 2,373 shares. Two hundred shares of this, however, has since been decreed by the Hustings Court for the City of Richmond, as hereto- fore stated, to the heirs of Amos Kendall, residing in the Confederate States, leaving 2,172 shares to be deducted from the whole amount of alien stock, and this would leave 5,198 shares belonging to parties knovy'n to reside beyond those States exempted by the act of seques- tration, which should be sequestrated to tlie use of the Government, and Mr. Kenlall's stock turned over to his heirs residing in the Con- federate States, in compliance of the act of se(|uestration passed Feb- ruary, 1862. C. P. Culver. Berzelia, Ga., January 25th, 1863. ADDENDA. Shares. Whole amount of stock in the Washington and New Orlcins line, $11,130 Value of the same at $50 per shar?, 556,500 Amount of stock owned in the Confederate States, 3,760 Value of the same, 188,000 Amount of xVmos Kendall's stock, and other parties residing in the Slate of Maryland and District of Columbia, 2.172 Value of the same, 109,500 Leaving 5,198 shares of foreign stock or §259, 900 to-be confiscated to the Confederate States. [No. 5.] STATEMENT in relation to the Cuban Telegraph Company, incorpo- rated by the title of the Subinarlne and Terrestrial Telegraph Company by act Jackson, Miss., Dec. 27, 18G2. S Hon. John II. Reagan, Postmaster General. Richrnond, Fa. : Sir : Y^our letter requesting me to furnish certain information in regard to the South-western Telegraph Company, in compliance with 43 a resolution of the House of Representatives of the Confederate States, adopted at its last session, Avas duly received and submitted to the Secretary of the Compiiny. From a statement made by him, I have the honor to report, that the South-western Telegraph Company was organized in June, 1854, and is incorporated. John Van Ilorne is President, George S. Douglass, Treasurer, and Thomas L. Carter, Secretary. The President, Treasurer and Secretary constitute the Executive Board of the Company. Messrs. Douglass and Carter vrere elected by the stockholders, at their annual meeting, in May, 1861. The President was appointed by the Board in July, 1862, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of N. Green. The capital stock of the Company is six hundred thousand dollars ($600,01)0). Citizens of the Confederate States hold about ($5i)0,000), five hundred thousand dollars. According to our last advices in 1861, stock was held by citizens of the Dibtrict of Columbia amount- ing to about forty thousand dollars ($40,000), and sixty thousand dollars ($60,000), held at the commencement of the war by a citizen of the State of New York, was sequestered in the autumn of 1861. The nett earnings of the Company from April 15, 1861, to Novem- ber 1, 1862, amount to ninety thousand three hundred and twenty- four dollars and twelve cents ($90,324 12). Of this amount eighteen thousand dollars ($18,000), have been loaned to Southern stockhold- ers to be returned to the Treasurer on demand. More than half the remainder is invested in ConfedeKatc States bonds These bonds and the balance of the earnings are now in the hands of the Treasurer and Secretary of the Company, held by them for the purpose of repair- ing damages sustained by the property during the war. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN Van hoene, President, [A] REPORT OF PRI'SIDENt's PRIVATE SECRETARY OF AMOU. T PAID KY EXECU- tive office for telegraph dispatches. Executive Department, > Richmond, Va., Nov. 22, 18G2. ] Hon. J. II. Reagvn, Postmaster General : Sir : In response to 3^our communication of this date, to the Presi- dent, in([airing the amount paid by tlie executive ofhce since xVpril 15, 18G!, for tolls on telegraphic dispatches, I beg leave to state : That I have disbursed the fund for this purpose in payment of telegrams sent from this office since January 1st, 1SG2. That for this time I have paid eighteen hundred and sixty-three dollars and twenty-seven cents, being an average per month of one hundred and eighty-six dollars and sixty-three ceiits. That I have no information of the sums disbursed by my predecessor in office, but that, at this rate, the amount expended for this purpose previous to the 1st Janauary, 1862, may be set dowi). at fifteen hundred and eighty-three dollars and eighty-one cents — making the aggregate amount paid for tolls on telegraphic dispatches by this-- office, from April lo, 18GI, to November 1, 1862, three thousand four hundred and forty-seven dol- lars and eight cents. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, BURTON N. HARRISON, Private Stcreiary, IB] report of secretary of state. Department of State, > Richmond, November 24, 1862. 5 Hon. John H. Reagan, Postmaster General: Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22d inst., and in reply, to inform you that since the 15th of April, 1861, this department has expended for telegraphic dispatches, sent and received by it, the sum of one thousand two hundreJ and ninety-seven dollars and one cent ($1,297 01). A further sum of 45 nineteen dollars and twenty-seven cents is due the company for dis^ patches sent and received between the 1st and 22d of this month, I am, sir, respectfully. Your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of State, [C] REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. » Treasury Department, C. S. A., ) Richmond, Dec. 2d, 1862. V Hon. J. H. Reagan, Postmaster General: Sir: Your letter of the 22d inst., in relation to the amount paid^ for telegraphic messages by this department, was referred to th^ First; Auditor, a copy of whose report thereon I enclose herewith. Respectfully, C. G. MEMMINGER; Secretary of Treasury.. Treasury Department, ^ First Auditor's Office, > Richmond, Nov. 27th, 1862. ) Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the reference to this office- for report of letter of the honorable Postmaster General addressed to you, submitting an extract from a resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the Confederate States, calling for the amount paid by the different departments of the government since April 15^. 1861, for tolls on telegraphic dispatches, and to state that upon ex- amination of the accounts of the disbursing clerks of the treasury department which have been received up to September 30, 1862, 1 find the amount paid tolls on telegraphic dispatches up to and including 5 46 July, 1862, 13 three thousand nine hundred and fifty-nine 71-100 dollars. I herewith return the letter of the Postmaster General. With great respect. Your obedient servant, J. W. ROBERTSON, Acting Auditor, lion, C. G. Memminger, Secretary of the Treasury. REPORT OF SECRETARY OF WAR. m War Department, / Richmond, Va., Dee. 2d, 1862. S Hon. J. II. Reagan, Postmaster General, Richmond, Va. : Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22d ultimo, embracing an extract from a resolution of inquiry adapted by the House of Representatives at its last session, of which the following is a copy, viz. : " The amount expended by the Government in the construction and repairs of telegraphic lines, and of salaries of agents and operxitors, and the revenue derived therefrom, and the amounts paid by the dif- ferent departments of the Government since April ]b, 1861, for tolls on telegraphic dispatches." If it be the sense of Congress to ascertain, by the foregoing resolu- tion, not only the aggregate amouiit disbursed by this department since the 15th of April, 1861, for tolls on telegraphic dispatches, but also the amounts similarly paid by the -disbursing officers of the army, who are dispersed over a w^ide area of country, and who have been engaged in active field service, I have to reply that any accurate gtatement of the latter sums [is] impracticable at present. The accounts of many of those officers for the last quarter in 1861 have not yet reached the proper b reau for examination, and an insupera- ble difficulty thus meets the department in affording you even a relia- ble approximation of the amounts thus paid. The aggregate amount, however, disbursed by this office, including the various bureaux, comprising this department proper, for tolls on telegraphic dispatches from the 15th of April, 1861, to the 30th 47 November, 1862, inclusive, is thirty-five thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine dollars and thirty cents. ($35,799 30.) I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War, [E] report of secretary op the navy. Navy Department, Richmond, December 17, 1862 .! Hon. John H. Reagan. Postmaster General, Richmond, Va. : Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22d ultimo, calling my attention to a resolution of the House of Representatives, and requesting a response on the port of this depart- ment, and to state in reply that the amount paid for " tolls on tele- graphic dispatches" by this department from the 15th day of April, 1861, to the 30th day of November, 1862, as far as can be ascertained, is ($10,258 64) ten thousand two hundred and fifty-eight 64-100 dollars. There may be some small amounts which were paid by officers and others, and which cannot now bo ascertained, as they are embraced in other accounts. The amount, however, is small. I am, respectfully. Your obedient servant, ,S. R. MALLORY, Secretary of the Navy. [F] feport of the postoffice department. PosTOFFicE Department, > Richmond, Ya., November 22, 1862. \ Hon. J. H. Reagan, Postmaster General: Sir : I have the honor to inform you that the amount expended by this department " for tolls on telegraphic dispatches" since the 15th 48 April, 1861, to the present time is five hundred fifteen dollars an(|,^^. twenty. six cents. ($515 26.) Very respectfully, JOSEPH F. LEWIS, Disbursing Clerk. report of attorney general. Department of Justice, > Richmond, 22d November, 1862. ) Hon. John H. Reagan, Postmaster General : Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date, and to say in reply that the amount expended by the depart- ment "for tolls on telegraphic dispatches" since the 15th April, 1861, to the present time is three hundred and ninety-five 73-100 dollars, ($395 73,) and of this amount the sum of eight dollars ($8) was due and paid by the patent office. Your obedient servant, T. H. WATTS, Attorney General, 49 o »- O OQ a 1 1 > Pi CO n Salaries of Agents, Operators and Watchmen. O • 5 CO !! t- 03 t> a o 00 CO o o Incidenta expenses. o : 1— 1. a^a 1^ i CO TO i^ 1 to Total cost of construction and repair. o "O.rt J^,ooscJ-^^-otOQ05C.cooo O t«-CC cCOOi— IOJ030>.-sOeOCO'*0'*0 CO 05 O (M -r« o «? CO >— 00 i- OC h- 1— C-l 1- CO o OS Miles length. 05^-rooio-} 'o a. IS «3 ;> 1 III > c > rr C P ^^ 33 a i! wo. Weldon, N. C, to Suffolk. Va Jackson's River, Va., to Lewisburg, Va Wilmington, N. C, to Fort Fisher, N. C Gen. Hill's H'dqrs. to Col. Lee's H'dqrs Harrisonbvirg, Va,, to Winchester, Va Morristown, Tenn., to Cumberland Gap, Tenn Wilmington, N. C, to Topsail Inlet, N. C Giles C. 11., Va., to Narrows, Va Insulated wire, carriages, Ac, for field service Wire nurch.ased t 3 S t a > s » M IS D • 4 a o tn o Pi S) 'Z o a _c "S s c o o u .o c s o a a >■ ■T3 ■■ C S 4 C 1 'S M -a i a a-' B t c M 1 o a til o c u Oi 3 : o 3 a o >■ P5 ! 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