America was on the verge of civil war and needed a reliable connection between the North and South. On the telegraph market of the USA at this time were operated with six large companies: American Telegraph Company, New York Albany and Buffalo Electro-Magnetic Telegraph Company, Atlantic and Ohio Telegraph, Illinois & Mississippi Telegraph Company, New Orleans & Ohio Telegraph Company, and the brainchild of Sibley & Co. - The Western Union Telegraph. In 1920, Western Union has implemented the world's first transmission of images over the ocean. In the 30's of the twentieth century, Western Union has become the world's largest telegraph company. Western Union offers one of the easiest ways for families and friends to send money and stay connected almost anywhere in the world. In 1877, starting from September, New York City residents began to have the opportunity to check the time on clock with the "time ball", located on the roof of constructed in the same year a new corporate headquarters - Western Union Building. Payment systems are one of basic elements of infrastructure of e-commerce. Number of active holders of "Golden Card" of Western Union amounted to 9.5 million people worldwide.