SIMONTON, President Hispano-American and Intercommunication Co to William H. Seward, September 17, 1867

Mr. Simonton to Mr. Seward

Dear Sir: The Hispano-American Intercommunication Company has been organized with a view of establishing telegraphic communication between Panama, New Grenada, and the republics of Chili and Peru, by means of a deep-sea cable.

The cable already laid between the coast of Florida and the island of Cuba is designed, as you are aware, to be extended to the isthmus of Darien at an early day. The completion of that work and the success of our enterprise will put the several capitals of the United States and Chili and Peru into almost instantaneous communication with each other.

The international advantages of such a work as this are so manifest that I am sure the proposed enterprise will enlist your sympathies and command your official aid, so far as in your judgment it can be properly extended.

I take the liberty, therefore, of asking that the representatives of the United States at the capitals of Chili and Peru may be instructed to assist the agents of this company, so far as they properly can, in obtaining from the government of those republics concessions, and aid which are essential to facilitate the speedy completion of our work.

Our agent at Santiago (de Chili) is Don Justo Arosemeña, an eminent lawyer; and our agent at Lima is Don Mariano Arosemeña, each of whom is well and favorably known to the governments within whose jurisdiction they respectively reside.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,