England to China, and at the same time the land lines of this route have their maintenance guaranteed by a strong European power, through whose territory alone they have to pass. This route is already recognised as the shortest means of telegraphic communication with the northern ports of China, and as many as 30 to 40 messages, of 20 words each, have been sent through it from China to England in one day,
The concession, for which there were several applicants, was, after long investigation, granted by the Russian Government to Danish parties connected with the Great Northern Telegraph Company. By the terms of the concession the Russian Goverument has granted the Company, besides other special privileges, the exclusive right for thirty years of connecting China and Japan with Europe through the Government wires on Russiau territory. The concession provides for a renewal of these exclusive privileges on preferential terms at the expiration of the thirty years, and in any case secures to this Company the continuance of the right of transmission of their messages through the Russian land lines.
The caution money of S.R. 150,000 has, in accordance with sec. 8 of the concession, been duly deposited with the Russian Government by the Concessionaires, and reverts to them. The consideration for the transfer of the concession to this Company by the Concessionaires is fixed and agreed at £25,000.
The Russian Government further undertakes to connect their system of land lines with the landing points of the Company's cables, and to increase their number of wires as the requirements of the traffic may demand.
A working agreement between this Company and the Great Northern Telegraph Company of Copen- hagen, by whose lines the traffic will be conducted from Russia to England, has been concluded with a fair rebate on the tariff of that Company.
The first cable will be laid from Posietta to Shanghai, either direct, or, if deemed advisable, touching at Nagasaki, or other convenient point in Japan. The next section will extend from Shanghai to Hongkong. Ultimately the other important ports in Japan and China will be included in the system of the Company; and to construct these further lines the necessary extension of the Company's capital will be applied for under the regulations of the statutes.
Preliminary contracts have been entered into with Mr. William Hooper for the manufacture of the cables, the insulation being "Hooper's India Rubber," similar to that employed by the Great Northern Telegraph Company, in their cables, between England and Denmark, and Scotland and Norway, say for 1,200 nautical miles from Posietta Bay to Shanghai, and for 1,100 nautical miles from Shanghai to Hongkong; and the cost of these two sections is £396,000,
For the laying of the Cables the Directors have, on due consideration, made no contracts. The Danish Government will aid the expedition with a Steam Frigate, which will take out a large portion of the cable, and assist in completing the necessary soundings.
For the transport of the remainder of the cables, and the laying of the same, the Directors will take measures to ensure its being done at the lowest possible cost, whereby a great saving on the ordinary cost of laying cables at remote distances will be effected.
The Russian Government provides a War Steamer to accompany the expedition, to assist and convoy the ships laying the cables.
The maximum tariff for messages, from any of the stations in China or Japan to the western frontier of Russia, has been fixed by the concession at 100 francs per single message of 20 words (of which 60 franes accrue to this Company, and 40 francs to the Russian Government), consequently the charge for messages between China and Japan and England, including transit rates, can never exceed £4 68. per single message of 20 words.
The contracts with the manufacturer stipulate that the cables shall be ready for shipment within three and six months respectively. Whatever other Telegraph lines may ultimately be established between Europe and China there can be no doubt that this Company, with its exclusive privileges from the Russian Government, will be able to maintain its position and make a good profit on the capital invested in the enterprise.
The Shares of this Company will be issued to bearer and pass by delivery, unless any Shareholder should specially require to have his Shares registered for transfer, which, in such case, can be done both in London and Copenhagen. The liability is by the Danish law strictly limited to the amount of the Sharos.
A translation of the concession, and copies of the preliminary contracts for the manufacture of tho cables, may be seen at the Office of the Company.
Prospectuses, with printed translations of the Statutes, and forms of application for Shares, may be obtained at the Office of Messrs. C. I. HAMBRO & SON, 70, Old Broad Street, and of Messrs. WALKER & LUMSDEN, 25, Austin Friars, E.C.
London, 14th January, 1870.
song đông Je 208..
$714520
5.
Colonial Scentary & Mr Helland.
Colonial Secretary' Office 3ld 5th May 1870.-
Sir,
your
کو
I have the hover to acknowledge
letter of this date making
application
on behalf of the Great
Northern Telegraph China and Japan Extension Company" for formision, to
Land a Cable on the deland of Hong Kong
and to establish a Felegraph Station at Victoria.
In reply I am directed by His Excellency the Lieutenant. Bovernor to inform you that,
George I. Belland, Rogue.
as in the
Case
EX