The Memorial of John J. Haley of New York and Robert Collins of Georgia and their associates,

Respectfully represents, That your Memorialists have been and are engaged in building and constructing lines for Telegraphic communication under Professor Morse’s Patent.

That the line from Washington City to New Orleans being now complete and in successful operation, your Memorialists now propose to extend it through New Mexico and California to the Pacific Ocean, touching and establishing offices at all important Towns and military Stations on the route. They are willing to take such particular route, ^even^ embracing the city of Mexico, as the Government of the United States may indicate.

That in view of the many great and important advantages which the Government of the United States will derive from having this speedy medium of communication with these far distant stations, your Memorialists respectfully ask and confidently expect some aid from your Honorable bodies in a work so important and so national in its character.

That they ask nothing in advance but only that the Government will lend them, as certain portions of the work are completed, one half of the actual cost of building and completing the same, to be paid back to the Government by the transmission of intelligence on the line at one half the customary charge to individuals, until the full amount of Principal and interest shall be paid; the Government to make the

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loan only on such portions of the said line as shall be first actually completed and in successful operation.