United States Statutes at Large/Volume 5/27th Congress/3rd Session/Chapter 84
[Obsolete.]
Chap. LXXXIV.—An Act to test the practicability of establishing a system of electro-magnetic telegraphs by the United States.
Act of Aug. 19, 1841, ch. 9.
Bankrupt act repealed.
Proviso.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the sum of thirty thousand dollars be, and is hereby, appropriated, out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, for testing the capacity and usefulness of the system of electro-magnetic telegraphs invented by Samuel F. B. Morse, of New York, for the use of the Government of the United States, by constructing a line of said electro-magnetic telegraphs, under the superintendence of professor Samuel F. B. Morse, of such length, and between such points, as shall fully test its practicability and utility, and that the same shall be expended, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the application of said Morse.
Payment of Prof. Morse, and others.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized to pay, out of the aforesaid thirty thousand dollars, to the said Samuel F. B. Morse, and the persons employed under him, such sums of money as he may deem to be a fair compensation for the services of the said Samuel F. B. Morse, and the persons employed under him, in constructing and in superintending the construction of the said line of telegraphs authorized by this act.
Approved, March 3, 1843.