We observe by the English papers that, at the general meeting of the Atlantic telegraph company, the directors reported that our government had offered, in a very handsome manner, to cooperate with the British in order to secure the relaying of the cable between Newfoundland and Ireland, and for rendering it inviolable in time of war. Taking into consideration the fact that the cable, when laid down, and that the company, with one or two exceptions is composed exclusively of British subjects, it is not difficult to estimate about how much the above assurance would be worth in time of war. Who imagines that England, the most unscrupulous power in the civilized world, where her own interest is at stake, would scruple, if at war with the United States, in using this cable for her own exclusive propose? And does any one suppose for a moment, with the recollection of the Trent affair still fresh in our memories, that war with England is not likely to occur at any moment, unless we are prepared to submit to every indignity which British arrogance may offer? Even now they are “working up” a new cause for a rupture, in the matter of the capture of the Steamer Labuan, which was engaged in evading the blockade on Rio Grande. When the old cable was in operation who does not recollect the mean, supercilious manner in which our people were treated by those having the cable in charge, from Whitehouse and Thompson down to the foggy and mysterious galvanic creation – De Sauty? – When one of our government vessels visited the Bay of Bull’s Arm, with certain Gentlemen engaged in the coast survey, to witness the operation of this great international telegraph, they were coolly informed that they could not be allowed to go into the building, and so they went away as wise as they came.
Under these circumstances we cannot see that our government is called upon to aid in this undertaking. But there are other reasons why we deem it impolitic to put money into this scheme, - even supposing our government, which is running at a daily expense of two millions of dollars, was in a peculiarly flourishing pecuniary condition, - the chief of which is the great uncertainty of success in laying the cable, and the equal uncertainty attending its operation if laid. Fortunately we are not quite so much in the dark in regard to the working of long submarine cables as we were before the submerging of the Atlantic cable in 1858. The fact that they can be worked across the Atlantic has been demonstrated, but that they can be made a practical success is not so clear. The transatlantic end of the cable was landed August 6th, the Cis-Atlantic end August 7th, and the first complete message was received through the cable on the 12th. The cable worked from this time until the 1st of September, and yet the total number of messages sent and received was only four hundred, or about teen hours work for land lines. It is true that some time was wasted in experiments with different kinds of apparatus, and that a subterranean or submarine magnetic store of twenty-four hour’s duration, prevented any messages from being sent during its continuance, still the fact is apparent that the operations through the cable were so slow and uncertain as practically to amount to a failure. – The cause of this difficulty is a retardation of the current, caused by static induction along the inner surface of the gutta-percha. This retardation is always observable on submarine or subterrean lines, and the amount depends on the extent of the cables. On lines of three hundred miles in length the retardation does not cause any very serious difficulty, but upon lines of two thousand miles in extent, it is so great as to admit of several distinct waves traversing the wire at the same time.
If the Atlantic cable is to be a reality, we are of the opinion that the distance across the Atlantic must be divided twice at least by means of relay stations situated upon some of intervening islands. The rout via Iceland, Greenland, and Faroe Islands is too far north and too much under the control of roving and filibustering icebergs to answer the purpose, and we must therefore look further South. – We cannot see why a line run from Cape Cod to Jacquet Island, thence to the Three Chimneys, and thence to Valencia, would not better answer the purpose than any other which has been suggested. Relay stations could be established upon these islands, and the distance would be reduced from one long stretch of two thousand miles to three comparatively short sections of from five hindered to eight hundred miles in length. Another great advantage obtained by this plan is that of securing a much larger and stronger cable, and better able to resist the action of the currents in the sea, and abrasion upon rocks, which it is well known was the cause of the destruction of the old cable. We hope our government will sped no money upon any Atlantic cable but if it should decide to do so, that it will make it a condition that the Cis-Atlantic terminus shall rest upon the soil of the United States.
– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862
Under these circumstances we cannot see that our government is called upon to aid in this undertaking. But there are other reasons why we deem it impolitic to put money into this scheme, - even supposing our government, which is running at a daily expense of two millions of dollars, was in a peculiarly flourishing pecuniary condition, - the chief of which is the great uncertainty of success in laying the cable, and the equal uncertainty attending its operation if laid. Fortunately we are not quite so much in the dark in regard to the working of long submarine cables as we were before the submerging of the Atlantic cable in 1858. The fact that they can be worked across the Atlantic has been demonstrated, but that they can be made a practical success is not so clear. The transatlantic end of the cable was landed August 6th, the Cis-Atlantic end August 7th, and the first complete message was received through the cable on the 12th. The cable worked from this time until the 1st of September, and yet the total number of messages sent and received was only four hundred, or about teen hours work for land lines. It is true that some time was wasted in experiments with different kinds of apparatus, and that a subterranean or submarine magnetic store of twenty-four hour’s duration, prevented any messages from being sent during its continuance, still the fact is apparent that the operations through the cable were so slow and uncertain as practically to amount to a failure. – The cause of this difficulty is a retardation of the current, caused by static induction along the inner surface of the gutta-percha. This retardation is always observable on submarine or subterrean lines, and the amount depends on the extent of the cables. On lines of three hundred miles in length the retardation does not cause any very serious difficulty, but upon lines of two thousand miles in extent, it is so great as to admit of several distinct waves traversing the wire at the same time.
If the Atlantic cable is to be a reality, we are of the opinion that the distance across the Atlantic must be divided twice at least by means of relay stations situated upon some of intervening islands. The rout via Iceland, Greenland, and Faroe Islands is too far north and too much under the control of roving and filibustering icebergs to answer the purpose, and we must therefore look further South. – We cannot see why a line run from Cape Cod to Jacquet Island, thence to the Three Chimneys, and thence to Valencia, would not better answer the purpose than any other which has been suggested. Relay stations could be established upon these islands, and the distance would be reduced from one long stretch of two thousand miles to three comparatively short sections of from five hindered to eight hundred miles in length. Another great advantage obtained by this plan is that of securing a much larger and stronger cable, and better able to resist the action of the currents in the sea, and abrasion upon rocks, which it is well known was the cause of the destruction of the old cable. We hope our government will sped no money upon any Atlantic cable but if it should decide to do so, that it will make it a condition that the Cis-Atlantic terminus shall rest upon the soil of the United States.
– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862
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