The National Telegraph Company. Prospectus, New Range, 1868

Senter, George B.

Published by National Telegraph Company, New York, 1868

About this Item

Prospectus listing the officers, directors, and executive committee as well as noting plans for expansion of this short-lived telegraphy firm. Founded in 1866, the company was to string wires along existing postal routes, aided by an act of Congress sponsored by Ohio Senator John Sherman, brother of General William T. Sherman; their brother Charles Taylor Sherman was on the company's board, and the company's president was Cleveland mayor George B. Senter. The prospectus touts the firm's plans to connect "New York with all the principle cities of the Union including San Francisco, and a connection to Europe", noting the need to guard against monopoly and the rising demand for telegraphic service. It further comments on the rapid rise of Western Union and other telegraph companies, notes that new lines will have increased business as demand increases even more rapidly, and offers statistics showing the profitability of telegraph companies from 1846 to 1866. Western Union, in an 1869 report, claimed that the NTC "has filled the country with runners begging for subscriptions to its stock, [but] has never set a pole" (WU Annual Report 1869, p. 36); other politicians denounced it as a scheme to sell stock and force WU to acquire the company. By 1870, NTC did have a poorly-performing line from New York City to Washington DC, but had sold it by 1871; though still soliciting funds in 1875, little was heard of the company after that. This, we suppose, was a flyer handed out by the eager runners disparaged by Western Union. Glued pamphlet, about 5½ by 8 inches; 8 pages, counting the covers; 6 pages of text. Folded once, with some minor creasing, stains. Size: 5½" by 8". Seller Inventory # x1181

Bibliographic Details

Title: The National Telegraph Company. Prospectus, ...

Publisher: National Telegraph Company, New York

Publication Date: 1868

Binding: Pamphlet

Condition: Good

Edition: First Edition.