SOUTHERN TELEGRAPH COMPANY GROUPING Fine and rare grouping of nine war-date manuscript letters pertaining to operations of the Southern Telegraph Company from September, 1861 to May, 1863, 18pp. total, 4to., one on a "converted" Adams Express letterhead, from various company officials. The first letter, Sep. 5, 1861 is from the Director to M. R. Ethridge of the Telegraph Company asking to purchase stock. In a letter written on Sep. 11, 1861, Ethridge declines the offer: "...I have seen these parties, & find them unwilling to part with their stock on any terms. They say it is the best paying stock in the Confederacy ". Of course, such optimism could not last forever. In a letter to the company president from the general superintendent on Jan. 9, 1862, the superintendent provides figures showing that the company had greatly increased sales the previous year. However, already there were signs that operators were seeking higher pay. In October, 1862 the superintendent again writes the president discussing the need to reorganize the company and the problems caused by Gen. Braxton Bragg taking temporary control of some of the lines as a matter of military necessity. In August, 1862 a letter advises that Bragg had not only taken over the lines his area of authority, but was withholding the income generated by that area as well. Finally, in a letter dated May 20, 1863 the superintendent advises: "...For every office I visited, and I visited al the principle ones, the cry came up: I cannot live upon my salary... ". With revenue statement for Jan. - April, 1862 vs. 1863, statement of receipts from September, 1862 to May, 1863, and some manuscript telegrams (poor). With what the company paid versus army wages, telegraph operators were leaving the company's service in droves. Needless to say, as time went on it became more and more difficult for any telegraph service to continue doing business as the Southern military command assumed all use of the companies heretofore private lines. Additionally, telegraph lines were a prime target for Union attacks, and as such became obliged to the military for protection. In the end, all Southern telegraph companies suffered disastrous losses by war's end, if they even remained in business at all. Very good condition. $1,000-1,500