_Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a
Report upon the subject of a System of Telegraphs for
the United States. December 11, 1837._
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, _December 6, 1837_.
SIR: I have the honor to present this report,
in compliance with the following resolution, which passed
the House of Representatives on the 3d of February last,
viz. “_Resolved_, That the Secretary of the Treasury be
requested to report to the House of Representatives, at its
next session, upon the propriety of establishing a system
of telegraphs for the United States.” Immediately after its
passage I prepared a circular, with the view of procuring,
from the most intelligent sources, such information as would
enable Congress, as well as the Department, to decide upon
the propriety of establishing a system of telegraphs.
It seemed also important to unite with the inquiry
the procurement of such facts as might show the expense
attending different systems; the celerity of communication
by each; and the useful objects to be accomplished by their
adoption.