doctrines of the Grove series. Experience of many years has demonstrated its superiority, and he delights in witnessing its perfection. It must afford the early projectors of electric telegraphs great pleasure, to find the old veterans in practical telegraphing, like Mr. Smith, dispel all the new doubtful schemes, and hold to that which has proved to be profitable and wholly such cessful for many years.

CUBA TELEGRAPH LINES.-We see announced, through the press, the suspension of the further erection of the telegraph lines in Cuba, by the Government.

WESTERN TELEGRAPH.-The stockholders of the Texas and Red River Telegraph Company assembled at Shreveport, and organized by electing the following officers:

President D. S. Welder. Secretary-J. G. Battle. Directors—B. P. Crane, D. F. Roysden, J. W. Morris, of Shreveport; L. R. Walmesly, T. H. Aives, of Natchitoches; H. Lynch, M. Ryan, T. C. H. Smith, of Alexandria.

The stock was very fully represented, and the best spirit prevailed. No doubt is entertained of the completion of the line at an early day. The yellow fever has greatly hindered the builders in its construction, but their energies are equal to the most extraordinary difficulties. The line is built by

Messrs. Smith & Ward.

WILLIAM TANNER, Esq.-We had hitherto neglected to mention the fact, that this gentleman, who has been so long and favorably known to the public as an editor and telegraph proprietor, has recently been elected President of the St. Louis and New-Orleans Telegraph Company, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Tal. P. Shaffner, Esq., who goes to Washington City, as Secretary of the American Telegraph Confederation. Two better men for the posts they have been called to fill, could not be found; and we congratulate them both, upon their upward tendency.—Pad. Penant.

SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CABLES.-We shall, in future numbers of the Companion, discuss the various modes of crossing rivers. From sad experience, we are convinced that masts are not the most reliable nor economical. The following notices, from the press, are a few pertaining to the electric cables submerged in the Western waters. The newspapers throughout the country have favorably noticed these cables, and their superior excellence is evidenced from the tests applied. Though they pertain to our own work, yet we hope their republication will not be considered out of place, contemplating, as we do, to give the progressive movements in the entire telegraph enterprise, and the subject of submarine crossings is one of great importance to the prosperity of many lines. Since the construction of the cables, mentioned in the following notices, the same gentlemen have invented very great mprovements thereon. Here are a few notices:

SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH AT PADUCAH.-The great Submarine Telegraph Cable, on the St. Louis and New-Orleans Telegraph Line, was laid across the Ohio River at this place, on Monday last, the 26th inst. We examined this strange piece of mechanism a few days previous to the time it was deposited

in its watery abode, and was not a little astonished at its wonderful strength.

The whole forms a cable of near two inches in diameter, and it is much the largest and most substantial cable of the sort in the known world.

We are told that the great cable across the channel from England to France is inferior in size to this, and by no means as well insulated for electrical application; while, in point of strength, it will not compare at all with the one at this place.

This stupendous wire, which now conducts the lightning from shore to shore, beneath the bed of the majestic Ohio, is 4,200 feet in length, and the longest one to be found in the United States. It has been constructed by that amiable and accomplished gentleman, Tal. P. Shaffner, Esq., late President of the Company, and now Secretary of the American Telegraph Confederation, assisted by J. B. Sleeth, mechanical engineer. These gentlemen have made improvements in the construction of cables, both scientific and mechanical, which will entitle them to Letters Patent, and the country may well be proud of them, as men of skill and ability, in whatever they may undertake.

The wires on this line, we understand, have been exceedingly troublesome and expensive to the Company; upwards of $20,000 having been expended in unsuccessful efforts to cross the Ohio River in such a manner as to secure them against accident; but this great effort has accomplished the object, and there can be no future loss sustained, on account of breakage of masts, wires, &c.

We rejoice that the work has been successfully accomplished, and that it has proved fully equal to the most sanguine calculation our friend Shaffner had made of its utility. We had the pleasure of receiving the first dispatch which ever passed under the Ohio, on this mammoth cable, which run as follows:

"ILLINOIS BOTTOм, July 26, 1853. "COL. PIKE:-I send this through the great cable, successfully laid to-day. "SHAFFNER."

Success to Shaffner! He may well be styled the "Lightning King," after this! May he live a thousand years, and succeed in everything which he undertakes, as he has in this instance! We regret to learn that he will soon go from amongst us, to engage in his new duties at Washington City; but even from that far-distant point, we shall expect to hear from him occasionally through the medium of electricity, which seems to be his favorite element.

SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CABLE.-Tal. P. Shaffner, Esq., the former enterprising President of the St. Louis and New-Orleans Telegraph Company, arrived in our city on Tuesday last, and was engaged yesterday in laying the Submarine Telegraph Cable. It was put down about half a mile above here, and was towed over to the other shore of the Mississippi by the steam ferry. Its length is about 3,710 feet.

From the size and great strength of the wire, we have no doubt it will withstand the swift current and snags of the old father of waters for a century to come. May unbounding success attend its projector.

There is another roll of this cable on our wharf, intended for the Merrimac River. We understand it will be laid in a few days.—Cape Girardeau Eagle.

SHAFFNER'S LIGHTNING FERRY.-On Monday, the 26th July, Tal. P. Shaffner, Esq., whose pet is lightning, laid across the Ohio River, on the NewOrleans and St. Louis Line, about a mile below town, his great tee graph cable, the longest in America, and the largest in the world. This cable is 41

inches in circumference, fourteen hundred and forty yards long, and weighs eleven thousand pounds.

Last fall Mr. Shaffner constructed and laid across the Tennessee River his first cable of this kind. During the winter and spring the freshets were greater than usual, and the great cable triumphantly resisted all forces coming in contact. The experiment confirmed the most sanguine hopes of the constructor, and Mr. Shaffner has commenced laying the cables at every crossing on the line. This line has more submarine telegraphing than any other line in the United States. Heretofore the companies have been much annoyed by the inefficacy of their submarine apparatus. Mr. Shaffner has been assisted in the construction of this cable by J. B. Sleeth, mechanical engineer.

The cable between England and France is inferior to this in strength and non-electric incasements.

It would not surprise us if Col. Shaffner should, before long, mount his pet and pass over to Europe, to offer his improvements to the trans-Atlantics. His energetic efforts and improvements in rendering subservient to man the fierce element, merit not only the admiration of the world, but a most fruitful reward.-Paducah Journal.

These are a few of the hundreds of notices of the cables crossing the Ohio, Mississippi, Merrimac, and Tennessee rivers. They have proved their efficiency. The torrents of the mighty floods roll over their powerful forms, and never in a single instance have they failed to perform their functions. We have received many letters from telegraphers, asking information upon submarine cables, and it will afford us great pleasure to give any aid in our power, tending to advance the enterprise. For nearly five years, amid storms, tempests, ice, and floods, we tried to conquer these mighty rivers. proud in being able to enjoy the conquest.

We feel

COMPLIMENTARY.-We feel very much gratified in finding the following flattering good feeling entertained towards us, from the gentlemen connected with the St. Louis and New-Orleans Telegraph Line; some of whom have been associated with us for several years past. May richer blessings crown their efforts than have been realized by them in times gone by. Their kind co-operation in the management of one of the most difficult lines in the country, will ever be cherished by us with the warmest affection. By request we insert the correspondence :—

MERITED CONFIDENCE.-The numerous friends of Tal. P. Shaffner, Esq., the great telegraph man of the West, will read the following complimentary correspondence with pleasure:-Paducah Journal.

LOUISVILLE, KY., August 1st, 1853.

On leaving the St. Louis and New-Orleans Telegraph Company, I cannot refrain from expressing to you, and the other gentlemanly officers of the line, my profound thanks for your liberal encouragement and energetic cooperation for, and in behalf of the line.

There is no telegraph company in the United States that can boast of a more true and faithful corps of officers than this, and I cannot refrain from expressing to you in this voluntary manner my sincere acknowledgments.

Your zeal, capacity, and moral worth, I trust, will always be respected as

pre-eminent, and equal to the full requirements of your station, and deserving of the same confidence you have so nobly won by your services for this company.

In resigning the Presidency of your company, I give place to one who is worthy of your confidence and esteem. An intimate association of many years with Col. Tanner, my successor, has established in me an abiding assurance of his ability and integrity to serve the interest of the line with the utmost fidelity.

I leave you, gentlemen, to assume new duties in the East, called by the wishes of those deeply interested in the enterprise, though much I regret to part with you, so early after the triumphant re-election as your sole manager by the late meeting of the stockholders.

In the hour of prosperity or adversity, weal or woe, the recollection of our past association in the fulfilment of our official relations, will be pleasant and felicitous.

With sentiments of high esteem for each and all of you,

I respectfully bid you adieu.

TAL. P. SHAFFNER,

Late President of the St. Louis and New-Orleans Telegrayh Co.

August 15th, 1853.

TAL. P. SHAFFNER, Esq. :-Dear Sir:-We have each of us, at our respective stations, received your complimentary letter, announcing your withdrawal from the Presidency of this Company. We thank you kindly for the expression of confidence and regard for us, individually and collectively, as the corps of managers and operators on said line, and we assure you that those feelings of confidence and regard are fully reciprocated by us. Since our connection with this line, over which you have exercised a vigilant supervision, and exerted a most creditable enterprise, our intercourse with you has been one of uninterrupted pleasure. That we regret to part with you, it is unnecessary to add; but in our separation we beg you to rest assured that you have with you our warmest friendship and highest regard, and we shall ever cherish for you a most timely esteem. And with our best wishes for your future prosperity, good health and happiness, we are Yours, most respectfully,

HON. AMOS KENDALL. THE ARBITRATION.-It is known to the public' that recently an arbitration, on telegraph affairs, took place in the city of

Philadelphia. The case was one of difference between the Washington and New-Orleans Telegraph Company and the Morse Patentees, including their energetic agent, Hon. Amos Kendall. With a view of finally settling disputed points in a business affair, as to respective rights, the questions in dispute were amicably referred to three disinterested gentlemen, and their award to be final in the premises. These gentlemen were distinguished lawyers from New-York, Philadelphia and Charleston. The news reporter of Philadelphia was indiscreet enough to promulgate a slanderous news item for the press, charging Mr. Kendall with fraud, &c. The recollection of the base slander must mantle the news-reporter with shame and mortification. How a man can bring himself so low as to wantonly assail another in this wholesale manner, totally reckless of truth, is a question not easily solved. He stands behind a curtain, and is presumed to be just in his message to the world, never permitting a false statement to issue from his position. The flag intrusted to his charge he trailed in the dust, in heralding forth a fabricated statement, relative to this transaction.

With a view to place the matter before the country in its proper garb, we addressed a letter to Mr. Kendall requesting information upon the subject. His letter nobly unfolds the bright page of truth. Here is the answer, viz. :

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10th, 1853.

TAL. P. SHAFFNER, ESQ. :-Dear Sir:-At your request I proceed to state the practical results of the arbitration, lately held in Philadelphia, in which the Washington and New-Orleans Telegraph Company, Prof. Morse, the Messrs. Vails, and myself, were parties.

It was an amicable proceeding, in which the Company claimed that we had no right to a certain amount of stock acquired through the construction of the line, and we claimed a right to additional stock, in consequence of the putting up of a second wire on a portion of the line, which the Company denied.

Before the arbitrators entered upon the case, I called their attention to a telegraphic message in the New-York Herald, which appears to have been sent all over the Union, charging me, by name, with fraud in these matters. The following is an extract from the award, viz. :

"It being the opinion of the Referees that THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTUAL "FRAUD, and that the circumstances of the transaction are not such as to "induce the charging of these expenses on the parties in any other manner, "or to any greater extent, than they will bear them in common with all the "stockholders of the Company."

The author of the libellous message thus finds his malice defeated by his own act, inducing an express acquittal of his charge.

Of the questions submitted, the arbitrators decided the first in favor of the Company, and the second against them. By the first branch of the decision, Messrs. Morse, Vails, and myself are required to refund $20,000 in stock, and $2,200 in dividends; in all

The second branch of the decision will give us amounting to about .

Balance in our favor.

$22,200 00

additional stock,

39,861 12