The telegraph manual: a complete history and description of the semaphoric, electric and magnetic telegraphs of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, ancient and modern.

SECRECY OF DISPATCHES. 763
rator has no superior, and he can receive and transmit a greater
number of dispatches than I have ever seen attained, or
claimed, by the operators of other countries. This subject,
however, will be discussed in another part of this work.
The qualifications, therefore, demanded of a candidate for
employment on the American lines, are but few, and very simple, viz., a moderate English education, honesty, energy of
character, and a few months' practical service as a manipulator.
PROTECTION OF THE TELEGRAPH.
In most of the American states, penal laws have been adopted,
from time to time, for the protection of telegraph lines. At
the opening of the courts, the judge embraces the question in
the charge to the grand jury, requiring that body to indict
every person who may be guilty of a violation of the law.
For the honor of the people, however, but few cases have occurred requiring the exercise of the duty. In the early history of
telegraphing, the most formidable objection to overground
lines, was the liability of interruption by malicious and mischievous persons, in the breaking of the lines, &c. Experience
has proven that the people do more to maintain the lines in
order than to disturb them. The penal laws adopted are more
or less severe, and it cannot be doubted, but what they have
had a salutary influence. The laws are of the following form
and tenor, viz.:
": Any person or persons, who shall intentionally and unlawfully injure,
molest, or destroy, any of the lines, wires, posts, instruments, abutments,
or any of the materials or property of any telegraph company, association,
or owner, or shall by any means whatever, interrupt the working of any
line of telegraph in the transmission of despatches or otherwise, shall, on
conviction thereof, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and be punished
by fine not less than $500, nor more than $1,000, or imprisonment in the
penitentiary for a term not less than one year, nor more than three years,
or both, at the discretion of the court having cognizance thereof."
SECRECY OF DISPATCHES.
Penal laws have been very generally adopted, to secure the
secrecy of messages transmitted over telegraph lines. The
ordinary rules of the companies upon this subject, have been
sufficient, however, in a general sense, to protect the public in
this respect. The following is an extract from one of the
penal statutes, viz.:
"Any person connected with any telegraph company in this state,
either as clerk, operator, messenger, or in any other capacity, who shall