Glass _ Book_ COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/centralsouthamerOOalla '» ijgesttcgggggaao&acsa i ©i-f^ . FHbl ■ Af-z- aii I n MEXICAN TELEGRAPH COMPANY, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH COMPANY. [From The New York Herald, May 30th, 1893.] The Central and South American Telegraph Company and the Mexican Telegraph Company, known as the " via Galveston " route, are American corporations and are operated in unison, and through their connections with the Western Union Telegraph Company and the twelve Atlantic cables, control to a large extent, the telegraphic traffic between Europe and the United States, Mexico and Central and South America. These lines have been established so quietly that many of our readers will undoubtedly be surprised to know that American enterprise and capital amounting to ^10,000,000 have established a system of telegraphy connecting the United States with seventeen different nationalities " via Galveston." Their system of ocean cables comprises 9020 miles of submarine cable and 1800 miles of land lines. Messages are often transmitted between Buenos Ayres, Argentina and London, England, within an hour, and between the city of Mexico and London frequently within fifteen minutes. The establishment of these lines has been carried out in the most thorough and business-like manner. The lines of both companies have been built for cash, and, unlike many enterprises, instead of having a large indebtedness, both companies have a large and increasing surplus derived from earnings, and are free from all bonded and other debt. Operations of the Companies. The following figures, showing the operations of the companies, will be of interest : The receipts of the Mexican Telegraph Company from March, 18S1, to December, 1892, inclusive, were $3,215,299; expenses, $783,988 ; dividends, 51,544,991, and surplus, $886,319. The receipts of the Central and South American Telegraph Company from October, 1882, to December 31, 1892, were $5,109,509 ; expenses, 81,654,949 : dividends, $2,259,844, and surplus, $1,194,715. As the tariffs, of the companies are on a gold basis their dividends will always be in gold. In a report made by the Company's engineer and electrician in November, 1887, he says : "Our cables have now been laid for, say, five years, and I do not think there is in any other part of the world a stretch of 3000 knots of cable enjoying an equal immunity from interruptions. The cables are electrically and mechanically excellent, and are laid for the most part over such a thoroughly good bottom that deterioration is a factor so small that I do not think it need be taken seriously into account. As to the weak links, but few have so far shown themselves, and links that can hold out for over five years are not very weak. Traffic must continue to increase, and an extension of our system cannot fail to be remunerative." As to the durability of submarine cables, the following will be of interest to our readers : Perhaps the most remarkable history of an ocean cable is that of the Light Cable, laid in 1853, between England and Holland. It was picked up in 1859, and part of it was used for the Isle of Man Cable, where it remained until 1885. It was taken up and relaid in 1886, in the Hebrides, where it is now doing as good work as forty years ago. The cable laid between England and Dieppe, France, in 1861, is still working. Therefore it can be fairly claimed that the durability of submarine cable property is unsurpassed by that of any other commercial plant, be it railways, bridges, steamships or machinery. In the Hands of Experienced Men. The management of the lines of these two companies has from the beginning been in the hands of experienced and practical men. The promoter and president — James A. Scrymser — was also the leader in the establishment of the Florida and Cuba Cable, laid in 1866, which was subsequently extended throughout the West Indian Islands, and, as is well known, is the most profitable piece of telegraph property in the world. It was the success of that scheme that suggested to President Scrymser the "via Galveston" route to Mexico, Central and South America. It required faith and pluck to overcome the many discouragements certain to arise in distant lands and in unknown ocean depths, and many predicted insurmountable obstacles. It is true great difficulties had to be overcome, and that they were overcome is evidenced by the very remarkable financial exhibit previously referred to, which shows, unlike many schemes in Wall Street that are made attractive by pools and extra dividends, that the policy of these companies has been to pay liberal dividends and place to reserve sufficient of their earnings to meet all contingencies. This policy brought into the companies a most conservative and wealthy class of shareholders, a class of investors who are not influenced by the speculative events of the Stock Exchange. Progress of Submarine Telegraphy. The progress that has been made during the past few years in the science of submarine telegraphy is very remarkable. A few years ago work of this kind was confined to a few men whose experience was limited to that of laying the early Atlantic cables. Since that time every department of the work, from the beginning of the manufacture of the cable to its successful laying, is carried on by a staff of scientific men so efficient that a contract for thousands of miles of cable laid and guaranteed can be accomplished with the same ease that one would purchase a suit of clothes. It was on July 26 last that a contract was made between the Central and South American Telegraph Company and the India Rubber, Gutta Percha. and Telegraph Works Company, Limited, of London, for the manufacture of 2622 miles of cable ' to be laid on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, Central and South America, and it is a surprising fact that this 2622 miles of cable was manufactured in London and laid in the Pacific Ocean within the short space of nine months and twenty-two days. While the cable was being manufactured, deep sea soundings were taken upon the route on which the cable is laid, and an analysis made of the specimens taken from the ocean bottom, which was found to be unusually good. The cable lays on a remarkably even and safe bottom, at 'an average depth of about 1200 fathoms. The laying of this 2622 miles of cable completes a double line from Galveston, Texas, to Buenos Ayres, Argentina. The Central and South American Telegraph Company's twin screw steamer " Relay," equipped with all the most modern improvements for picking up and repairing cables, is kept in readiness at Callao, Peru, for repairing purposes. Steady Reduction in Rates. The policy of the "via Galveston " route has always been a most liberal one to the public and the press. It has practically a monopoly of direct telegraphic communication between the United States, Mexico and Central and South America. On the opening of the lines in 1882 the rate between Peru and London " via Lisbon " was $7.50 per word, and between Argentina and London "via Lisbon" it was $9.10 per word, "Buenos Ayres" being counted as two words. The "via Galveston" route has steadily developed traffic and reduced rates from these exorbitant charges to $1.23 per word, and promises still further reductions as rapidly as the growth of traffic will justify. For a company to be in hourly touch with seventeen different nationalities requires the greatest watchfulness and most con- siderate and just treatment of all concerned. Notwithstanding the frequent political disturbances in these distant countries the affairs of the companies have been so conducted by the managers as to give the greatest satisfaction to governments and customers. The companies have a staff of local operators unequalled by any telegraph system elsewhere, and it has been their policy to c , guard against sickness at their stations, particularly in the tropics, by building suitable station houses for the accommodation of their employees. ) 3 The Herald's Exclusive News. The commercial working of the companies is so well known by those who use the lines, as to require no comment as to their efficiency, but the Herald takes this opportunity to relate its experience. It would read like a romance if the Herald should explain in detail how it was enabled to keep the world exclusively informed from hour to hour of the progress of the Congressional Chilian army and its battles about Valparaiso in 1891. Foreign Ministers were unable to communicate with their governments, while the Herald reported fully every military and political move from hour to hour. This was accomplished through the foresight of those in charge of the cable station at Valparaiso, who, anticipating that martial law would be declared on the approach of the Congressionalist army, had stretched a wire from the cable office to the heights back of Valparaiso. All business was suspended in the city of Valparaiso, the streets were patrolled by soldiers who had orders to shoot any one seen outside of a doorway, and yet the Herald, through the means of this special wire, kept the world fully informed as the battles progressed, and was the first to report the victory of the Congressional party. In fact, that victory was known in New York and London through the Herald before it was known in Santiago de Chili, eighty miles from Valparaiso. Efficiency of the Service. Through the courtesy of the Officers of the Central and South American Telegraph Company the Herald is enabled to publish the following letters bearing on the efficiency of the service during the Chilian war : " U. S. Flagship San Francisco, "San Francisco, CaL, Nov. 19, 1891. "James A. Scrymser, Esq., President Central and South American Telegraph Com- pany, Nos. 37 and 39 Wall Street, New York : " Dear Sir — On behalf of the Captain and Officers of this ship, and for myself personally, I desire to express to you our high appreciation of your kindness in extend- ing to us the free use of your cable for personal and family messages. In doing this you could not possibly have realized how many you helped to make happy by your courtesies extended to us and our loved ones at home. Your kindness will ever be remembered. " Mr. Baker, at Barranco ; Mr. Turner, at Valparaiso, and Mr. Atherton, at Iquique, were polite at all times, and your company is fortunate in having such representatives on the south coast. " The perfect accuracy with which the operators in your offices received and transmitted the very difficult cipher code of the Navy caused frequent commendation from those officers whose duty it was to translate them. "Trusting that it may be in my power to reciprocate at some future time, " I remain, yours very truly, "GEORGE BROWN, " Rear Admiral U. S. N., Commanding U. S. Naval force, Pacific Station." " U. S. S. Baltimore, "Valparaiso, Chili, Dec. 10, 1891. "My Dear Mr. Turner: I will sail in the next day or two for the United States, but before leaving I wish to say to you, as the Agent of the Central and South American Telegraph Company, that I have experienced the greatest satisfaction in the accuracy and rapidity with which the large number of cipher dispatches have been sent and received through the office under your control at this place, and I can sincerely compliment the company in having such capable, skillful and polite operators. " None of the messages sent or received has required repetition or correction, and this is an achievement of which you may justly feel satisfied, particularly in handling a cipher such as that used by the Navy Department. " Very truly yours, "W. S. SCHLEY, Captain, Commanding. " The Agent of the Central and South American Telegraph Company, Valparaiso, Chili. " " U. S. S. San Francisco, "San Francisco, Nov. 19, 1891. "James A. Scrvmser, Esq.. President, &c. : "Dear Sir — Permit me to thank you most heartily in my own name and in that of *the junior officers of this ship for the inestimable privilege you extended to us of telegraphing to our families during our recent sojourn on the coast of South America. It was this alone that made it bearable for many of us during quite a trying time, and I can assure you had it been necessary to defend the interests of your company it would have been done with great satisfaction by the officers of the ' San Francisco.' " Thanking you again for your liberality and consideration, which I was quite prepared for by my previous experience when in charge of the Hydrographic Office, " I am, very gratefully yours, "GEORGE L. DYER, Lieutenant, U. S. N." Courtesies Extended. The Mexican and Central and South American Telegraph Companies continue their liberal policy, as evidenced recently in extending to the Argentine and Brazil Naval Officers the free use of their line for family and social messages while here partici- pating in the naval festivities. The Western Union Telegraph Company has also co-operated in extending these courtesies. Through the " via Galveston " route the Herald has been enabled to keep the world fully informed of the exciting political and financial events, particularlv in Chili, Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela, and can bear testimony to the splendid working of the " via Galveston " lines. Submarine Cables of the World. There are 130,583 miles of Submarine Cables owned and operated by Incorporated Companies, representing a capital of $182,392,620. There are besides 15,252 miles of Submarine Cables owned and operated by Government Administrations. 6 The Central and South American Telegraph Company. Elsewhere in the Herald this morning is announced the opening of the Central and South American Telegraph Company's duplicate Pacific Cable to South America. It is an event of general interest and importance. The system of this company and the Mexican Telegraph Company, which are operated in unison under the efficient supervision of President James A. Scrymser, is an American enterprise which has brought seventeen republics to the south of us in quick touch not only with the United States, via Galveston, but also with Europe by that way and direct. It has been built up with cash and managed with financial success. Although it has had a practical monopoly of the telegraph business within its vast domain, the policy of its management has been to give press and public an efficient service at reasonable rates. It has greatly lowered the high charges of years ago and promises to reduce future rates as a reduction may be warranted by the development of traffic. The value to the world of this great telegraphic system of submarine cables and lines can hardly be overestimated. The countiies to the south of us comprise more than fifty million people. They have a yearly commerce valued at a billion dollars. The telegraphic communication which brings them in quick touch with the United States and Europe cannot fail to promote not only financial and commercial prosperity all around, but also peace and friendly relations. The telegraph, even more than railway and steamer, is an agency of civilization and international progress. Our readers have special reason to appreciate the Central and South American and Mexican Telegraphic service. With it as an agency the Herald has been enabled to give to the world daily the news gathered by its ubiquitous correspondents on the South American continent. Foreseeing the importance of that news field, it was not only the first journal to establish, but has been the only one to maintain a special service there! To say that the governments and press, as' well as the reading public of both America and Europe have depended on its despatches for South American news, is simply to state a fact universally known and recognized. In these despatches has been written for the world the important history of the day as it has been made in the ever active republics to the south of us. That this history has been important and exciting is shown by the stirring events that have lately succeeded one another in rapid succession in Chili, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Nicaragua and other South and Central American countries. That 'i it has been eagerly read and valued is attested by the rare tributes which have been paid to the promptness and efficiency of the Herald's news service by the press and government officials of two hemispheres, and also by special testimonials such as any journal seldom has the good fortune to receive. Among these last will be remembered the high compliment paid the Herald by the successful revolutionary leader, General Crespo, when he chose its columns through which to address the world in the name of Venezuela ; by the business men of New York engaged in the South American trade when they formally thanked the Herald " for the manner in which it defied press censorships and surmounted every obstacle to furnish its readers with news vastly more trustworthy than the official bulletins," and by the French Academy of Sciences when it declared unprecedented the publication in our European editions on Monday morning of a full report of the eclipse observations made twenty hours before on the summit of the Chilian Andes. These signal journalistic achievements have been rendered possible by the Central and South American and the Mexican telegraphic service "via Galveston." Editorial 3^ew York Herald, cMayjotli, /Spj. t «JJj«« 11( "T§» is a com P a , rison of the average time occupied in the transmission of messages for the past year between Te?e"fp"" o"L*e" en ° S ^ ™ GalveSt °» and ™ U-bon, as timed and reported by The^ Inglo American via Galveston. ed ^^ tim6S ^ "* ^ aV6rage tim6S ' MMy messa S es are transmitted considerably within an hour Date. 1894. August .... 7th, August. • . . 21st, September. 4th, September. 18th, October . . . 2d, October.. . . 16th, October. . . . 30th, November. 15th, November.. 27th, December .nth, 1895. January.. . . 4th, January . . . 22d, February.. 6th, February .19th, March. - .5th, March. . ..19th, April 2d, April 17th, May 2d, May 15th, May 28th, June 13th, June 25th, J ul Y 9th, J ul y 23d, August.. . . 6th, TIME Via Galveston. Via Lisbon. 63m 50s 92m 00s 49m 56s 70m 42s 106m 38s 102m 12s 121m 33 67m 59s 67m 57s nom .52s 69m 25s 79m 56s 73m 50s 60m 50s 92m 45s 88m 41s 60m 25s 75m 10s 81m 38s 57m 4 s 89m 24s 65m 24s 119m 48s 78m 52s 57m 30s 71m 24s 58m 00 s J S3m 30s 61m 00s 43m 30s 72m 00s 55m 00s 86m 00s 128m 00s nom 00s 101m 00s 142m 00s 95 m 00s 94m 00s 1 08m 00s 167m 00s 72m 00s 95m 00s 77m 00s 76m 00s 87m 00s 107 m 00s 210m 00s 64m 00s 138m 00s 137m 00s 267m 00s Difference. 5m 50s 61m 30s 11m 04s 27m 12s 34m 38s 47m I2S 35m 3S 60m OIS 42m 03s 9m 52s Average time of transmission 72m 35s 15m 04s 20m IOS 47m IOS 74m 15s 16m 41s 34m 35S im 50s S m 38s 29m 56s 17m 36s 144m 36s 55m 48s 59m 08s 79m 30s 195m 36s Via Lisbon Route, Via Galveston Route, In Favor Of. Via Lisbon. Via Galveston. Via Lisbon. Via Galveston. 11 (i Via Lisbon. Via Galveston. Via Lisbon. Via Galveston. Via Lisbon. Via Galveston. Via Lisbon. Via Galveston. 108 minutes. 80 minutes. In favor of the Galveston Route, 28 minutes. OFFICERS OF THE MEXICAN TELEGRAPH COMPANY: JAMES A. SCRYMSER, WILLIAM GASTON HAMILTON, SENOR DON SEBASTIAN CAMACHO, SAMUEL C. BLACKWELL, • JAMES R. BEARD, CLARENCE RAPKIN, President. Vice-President. Resident Vice-President, City of Mexico. Treasurer. Secretary. Accountant. JOHN E. ALEXANDRE, EDMUND L. BAYLIES, WILLIAM G. HAMILTON, DIRECTORS: CHARLES H. MARSHALL J. PIERPONT MORGAN, PERCY R. PYNE, W. EMLEN ROOSEVELT, JAMES A. SCRYMSER, GEORGE G. WILLIAMS. OFFICERS OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH COMPANY: JAMES A. SCRYMSER, EDWARD D. ADAMS, - SENOR DON SEBASTIAN CAMACHO, SAMUEL C. BLACKWELL, JAMES R. BEARD, - CLARENCE RAPKIN, EDWARD D. ADAMS, GEORGE S. BOWDOIN, T JEFFERSON COOLIDGE, President. Vice-President. Resident Vice-President, City of Mexico. Treasurer. Secretary'. Accountant. DIRECTORS: WILLIAM R. GRACE, WILLIAM G. HAMILTON, CHARLES LANIER, J. PIERPONT MORGAN, JAMES A. ROOSEVELT, JAMES A. SCRYMSER. General Office, 37 and 39 Wall Street, New York. VERA CRUZ, MEXICO, FROM THE SEA. ORIZABA, MEXICO. MEXICAN TELEGRAPH COMPANY'S OFFICE, CITY OF MEXICO. CITY OF MEXICO. TEHUANTEPEC, MEXICO. CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH CO'S CABLE OFFICE, SALINA CRUZ, MEXICO. \ z o UJ LU o o z o 1- I HI > < z i% I CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH CO'S CABLE OFFICE, PANAMA. TUMACO RIVER, COLOMBIA. ■ GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR. CALLAO BAY, PERU. LIMA, PERU. CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH CO'S CABLE OFFICE, BARRANCO, PERU. CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH CO'S CABLE REPAIR STEAMER RELAY. IQUIQUE BAY. VALPARAISO BAY. COCHRANE STREET, VALPARAISO, CHILE. TELEGRAPH LINE NEAR SANTA ROSA DE LOS ANDES, CHILE. JUNCAL VALLEY, ANDES MOUNTAINS. ROUTE OF UNDERGROUND CABLES ACROSS THE ANDES. SUMMIT OF ANDES, SUMMER SEASON, ON ROUTE OF UNDERGROUND CABLES, ELEVATION 12,750 FEET. CANON, ORCONES RIVER. MOUNTED LINEMAN OF CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH CO. CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH COS OFFICE AT PUENTE DE VACAS, ARGENTINA. SOUTH DOCKS, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA. AVENIDA DE MAYO, FROM THE PLAZA, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA. MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY. ,0 • ■X- / w, m, tm. ■ -v-"— r- Tmmrrptt^-fimir:- jBmgpg ■■■ U— s£ r iJJLfe IWIUr^iJi V " t_l ■ LIBERTY SQUARE, MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY. ft** The CeW United States and Europe "Via GALVESTON." * S °°Ii^?' C4A ' 7> y- ^ S7/j94/?s CONDICIONES. La Compaftia se rcserva el derecho de rcchazar un telegrama aiin despues de haberse liecho cargo de su trasmisidn, pero en tal caso devolverd al expedidor la cantidad que satisfizo para su trasmisidn. Si un telegrama no llegaae A su destino por consecuencia de descuido d negligencia de la Compaftia d de sua einpleados.nuentras que el teldgrama se hallaba a su cargo, se devolvera al expedidor la cantidad que hubiese satislecho por su trasmisidn. Sin perjuicio de la devoluci6n de que se hace inerito en la clausula que ante- cede, la Compaftia no respondera de las pcrdidas, daftos 6 perjuicios resultanles de la talta de trasmisidn d entrega de un telegrama, d de retraso d error que se verifique en la trasmisidn d entrega del mismo, cualquiera que sea la causa que haya motivado tal falta de trasmisidn d de entrain/ atraso 6 error. Para los efectos de estas condiciones la respon- sabilidad de la Compania, por motivo dc la trasmisidn dc un telegrama, cesard absolutamente desde el mommjo en que la confie en cualquier punto de su transito a otra red de scrvicio, dlineatelegiafica, que sea de propiedad d bajo la direccidn de cualquiera empresa d autoridady6u6 no este* subordinada exclusivamente a la Compania, reservandose al efecto el mas umplio podcr, aun cuando el scrvicio de aquella se haga en todo d en parte, en conexidnosi efdre dsta. Sirvase trasmitir el anterior telegrama de conformidad con las condiciones precedentes, a la^$Jiale^consiento en someterme. Fi-rma del Expedidor,- -e