The New York Herald Newspaper, August 7, 1865, Page 2

2 the Atlantic Ocean. 1n 1853 the enterprise was projected by a small company of American capi Jists in New York city. In face of all the objec oms that were urged against ft, they persevered with a determination that was proof against all discouragement. It was supposed by some able across the bed of the Atlantic bility, and that any attempt must end in discomfture and disastrous pecuniary loss to those who should engage in the attempt, But the New York, Nowfoundland aad London Telegraph Company was com- posed of men who were not to be deterred by such fears; and being once convinced of the practicability of the undertaking, they entered upon itwith a will and an earnestness no obstacles could overcome, They contended that if it were possible to lay a submarine telegraph between England and France, with proper means an i be done between America #8 and facilities they asserted we he task which they attempted was, it vssed, a stupe one. The compat all of whom es Taylor... auel F, B, Morse. Ei normician, Dinectors. Cyrus M W. . Marshall 0. Roberts, unewe genilemen, in 1854, obtained a charter from Te colonial » nmiont of Newfoundland, granting thom the exeliisive privilece for fifty vears of running across that island and through any of They also obtained an appropria~ dollars for the construction jon of tho country, which » for the regulation ition to this they dred and tifty wore thousand square m) the libert with other s the New!o ondland nent regarded the enterprise, were wil bestowed upon the company, with the beat wish A charter having§ been previously nent of Prince Edward sland and Lographic conneetion— or rath'r the route of between the Un ' Johns, on the extreme westorn point of Newtoundiand, was established. In tho lutter part of 1856 cou con : tablished between those 1 . by t cable Ds the Gulf of St. Lawrence, North, the land lines having sil: od tWo OF three years pre’ 1@ company hail been suc on Was CO work for which they had o America not bo said to omplished, ‘Through the agency of 3'r, ¥. Kield, the whole amount of capital was subscribed—the shares deing $ The proportions in which these sh: re owe hundred and one in Ameri six in Li in Manch land. The Msequently in- creased to that occurred in the various attr ble. During the idy of $70,000 per annum for twenty nied to the Adantic Telograph Comyn etary of the Navy was also directed to supply y ul Vessels to assist in Iaying the cab'e, ‘The British Parliamont showed itself equally 1 be 1 with the mstman 4 An yanha were deputed to siny; but alter the, first failure in i was withdrawn, ahd the Niagara 'y one of our national vessels that shared in mad atten pt at h tho se ying the cable. THE ORIGINAL CABLE. BE FIRST ATTEMPT to lay a telegraphic across the Atlantic Ocean was made, as will doubtless be remembered, in 1857. On August 5 the shore end was landed at Valentia Bay, and on the lth just. the cable parted. The following ves- gels compos 1. The US. steam frigate Niagava, Captain Hudson, detailed to lay: if of the cabiv (vom Ireland, 2. The U.S. Susquehanna, Captain Sands, convoy of the 3%. The U.S. Captain Berryman, de- tailed to mak: coast of Newfoundiand, 4. ‘Tho Telegraph Company's steamer Victoria, Capuun Sluyter, detailed to ass.st in landing Uhe cable at New- foundiand. 6. H. M. steamer Agamemnon, Captain Noddall, de- tailed to lay the half of the cable on the American side. 6H. M. steamer Leopard, Captain Wamwright, con- of the Agameinon. 7. BL ®, steamer Cy 0 ahead of the steam 8 The steamer Ad ayman, detailed to ‘ourse. nond, detailed to Lope, ¢ ptain th was the ‘on the p —to com- mence paying out tron: Yalentia bi ara to lay the cable on the frish side 0° the memuon on the American THE CEREMONIES OF BE The laying of the cable on Jemnizod with the most interesting Lord Lieutenant end vility Hlarge numbers participated in them. C It fall to tho lot wv American sailors on U antic, and the Ava- viraw the cable to shore and to Land the end of it te the Us crew of the Niagara, that performed that duty. to the und About four 0% the morning tae cable on board the Nagara parted in over two tho ns water, The cause of the calamity tae apprication of the brakes at a time when it was almo=t to use them, There was a pretty heavy swell on, and as usual under such eireum- stances, the stern of the vessel was elevated or depressed as she Tose on euch wave, It wns while her stern was down that the brakes wer) put on, so that in the strain produced by its rising again, Us hi marked upon th bear, and the it parted, as has been stated. were used the wh els stopped, and wh stern rose again they re- mained immoveable, so that, between the strain brought upon the cadle by the vessel and that caused by the ap, plication of the brakes, 1t had to bear more than it v ever calculaiod ta < The indicator showed asirain of throo thousand is impossible to ealeu- late tho etrs the brake not been apple cable would | od it necessary to The cirean , of it, Was most unfortunat ; but if the the »xpe- dition proved one tuning beyond ail possibility of doubt— the practicability of laying a4 biarine telegraph cable wcroas the Atlintc between Ireland aud Newfoundland, The suine mourning, soun alter tho catastrophe, a con- suitation Was held in the cabin of the Niagara, at which heat by which the gutta percha is affected the weaker the electricaf current becomes. THE CABLE OF 1858. The success attained in the first effort to lay a cable, although not complete, was so encouraging that it was immediately determined to attempt to lay another. On the announcement of such intention thesteamer Niagara was again detailed by the United States, and the Aga- memnon, Gorgon, Poreupine and Valorous by the Eng- lish government, The Niagara sailed from this city for Plymouth, England, in March, 1858, and immediately entered upon her new duties. The work of coiling the cable on board of the Niagara and Agamemnon was com- menced without loss of time. The quantity of cable was increased to two thousand nine hundred and seventy miles, andthe plan of commencing work in mid-ocean was decided upon. THE CABLE PARTS, ‘The “Telegraph Squadron,” as the fleet was specially designated, sailed from Plymouth sound at ten o'clock A. M. of June 10, 1858, for mid-ocean. The vessels ex- perienced severe weather, and were sixteen days reaching their destination. Two unsuccessful attempts were made to lay the cable on June 25 and 26, On the latter day, after forty miles of ¢able had been paid out, the commu- nication suddenly ceased, and it was found that the line had parted. The Agamemnon and Niagara at once returned to the starting point. The news of the parting of the cable was brought to Boston by the ship Alice Munroe, and fell ike a thunderbolt on the country, which had already become intensely interested in the project. It was stated that another effort would be made to lay the cable before returning to England, and this revived the hopes of its friends and the holders of the stock. THE THIRD FAILURE. The Agamemnon and Niagara met again on June 28, and again began paying out the cable, ' The friends of the enterprise were again doomed to disappointment. After paying out a little over one hundred and forty-five miles the signals passing between the two ships ceased. The Niagara was brought {oa halt, the ship hanging, as it were, by the cable as an anchor. The weight of the Captain Hudson, Captun Pennock, Captain Wainwright, Mr. Bright, Mr. W Mr, Canning and Professor n question of commencing mm with what cable remail on board doth vessels was disenssed; but as it was found, after due calculation, that (er enough to connect the two points, the propositie se did not prevail. Tho following table and state w the amount paid out and the bulunee of cable on ha . Nawiical Mis. dt Upper deck. Main deck 255 Lower deck. 157 Lo} 257 1,085 made a total 1,005 nauti d out when the cable pai Th son board the Niagara, which, ‘with the bah (p the Agamemnon, left 1,547, of a surplus: of 207 over 1,034 miles-—the distanee between the termini at Nowfoundiand and Ireland—an execss of 12), per cont, This wax, as has been said, red insuthetent, and tho proposition was accordingly re AS tmiprae: ticable. Indeed, it was decmed doubtind whether, if the cable had not parted, there would have been enough wo reach frinity Bay. THE FLERT RETURNS TO ENGLAND. Under these circumstances there was nothing to be done buat for the flevt to revurn to England, That course was pursued, The Niagara and Agamemnon dis od their cable in the naval dockyard at Viymouth, and the former returned to the United Stal her officers having, before leaving Plymouth, given a splendid bail and enter tainment in recoznition of the court they had received from the English people. The prospects for th future of the company looked gloom n although there was nothing in the failure to indicate that the next atlempt might not be successful, mpany received Proposals for the sale of the eable—at an advanced price over that paid—for the purpose of its being used to ex Tish telegraphic communication with India, The India Compony, however, had no cash to apare for that bject, and consequently the negotiations fell through, paswed through coatings of tar, cable was too great for its strength, and at twenty minutes past twelve A. M. of the 29th of June it again parted. In consequence of a want of coal the vossels returned te Queenstown, where the Niagara arrived July 5 and the Agamemnon July 13, THR FOURTH ATTEMPT. After sufficient coal had been taken on it was deter- mined to make a fourth attempt, There yet remained two thousand five hundred miles of the cable on board the two vessels, which on the fourth attempt was all paid out, with apparent success, The following despatch of Cyrus W. Field, announcing the success of the enterprise of 1858, will be read at this time with interest, though it may also be with a smile:— MR. FIELD'S ACCOUNT. ‘Trinity Bay, August 5, 1858, To Tne Associatep Press, New YoRK:— ‘The Atlantic telegraph fleet sailed from Queenstown on Saturday, July 17; met at mid-ocean on Wednesday, the 28th, and made the splice at one P. M. on Thursday, the 29th’, and then separated—tho emnon and Valorous bound to Valentia, Ireland, and the Niagara and Gorgon for this place, where they arrived yesterday, and this morning the end of the cable will be landed. Ivis sixtcen hundred and ninety-eight nautical or nine- teen hundred and fifty statute miles from the Telegray house at the head of Valentia harbor to the Telegraph house, bay of Bull’s Arm, Trinity bay; and for more than two-thirds of this distance the water is over two miles in depth, ‘The cable has been paid out from the Agamemnon at about the same speed as froin the Niagara, ‘The electrical signals sent and received through the whole cable are perfect, ‘The machinery for paying out the cable worked in the most satisfactory manner, and Was not stopped for a sin- gle moment from the time the splice was made until we arrived here. Captain Hudson, Messrs. Everett and Woodhouse, the ongincers, the electricians and officers of the ships, ‘and, in fact, every man on board the Telegraph fleet, has ex- erted himseif to the utmost to make the expedition .euc- cessful, aud, by the blessing of Divine Providence, it has succeeded, ‘Alter the end of the cable is landed and connected with the land line of telegraph, and the Niagara has discharged some cargo belonging to the telegraph com- pany, she will go to St. Johns for coal, and then proveed at once to New York. CYRUS W. FIELD. THE REJOICINGS OVER A FOURTH FAILURE. Mr. Fidld’s confidence was misplaced, but it was a long time before the public discovered it, Tho directors, however, soon found that the cable did not work—tho spark of life or lightning was extinct—and gradually the people began to suspect‘und then become satistied that the cable wasa failure for the fourth time. The first news telegram ever transmitted over the wire was only given to the public on August 25, 1858. Telegrams from London of August 27 and Alexandria of August 9 were received on the following day, but these wore the last. They were received with the wildest demonstrations of joy. New York went into ecstacies over the “fixed fact of the century,” and on September 1 the citizens engaged in acelebration which had had no parallel, and which was almcst equal to some of the displays mado during the Jate war. The officers of the British vessels Gorgon and Indus, Cyrus W. Field and the officers of the Niagara were the heroes of the occasion, and wero toasted and feted in Gotham’s grandest style. Imposing cer:monies were held at Trinity church, in which nearly two hun- dred clergymen participated and an immense choir en- gaged. Broadway was decorated as Broadway never had been before—with hundreds of banners with thousands of mottocs. The military, the trades, the professions of the city; soldiers and sailors of the nation, and all crea- tion generally took part in the procession, David Dudicy and Cyrus W. Field, and Mayor Tiemann made grand addresses in Crystal Palace; but all this time the tele- graph under the manipulation of De Sauty said never a word. The people began to smell a mice early in Sep- tember, and the press began to demand its European news. It thon began to leak out that the cable would not work, and the press said as much, At last De Sauty was forced to open his mouth, and, since the cable could not eay it for itsel!, he was indaced to gay on September 24 that ‘Nothing intelligible had been received from Valen- tia since September 1!°’ Every effort at restoring the insulation failed, and at last the cable came to be con- sidered a failure. Before the attempt could be renewed the American peopie became engaged in a war which ab- sorbed all their energy and interest, and the efforts at a renewal of the attempt to lay a third cable have not been watched with that intense interest which they would otherwise have \ommanded. THE CABLE OF 1865. But this failure served only to dampen the enthusiasm of the projectors of the cable; they did not abandon the enterprise, but shared their interest in the war with their interest in the scheme of a submarine cable, The United Stares public could not be expected to fully share their feelinus, and the directors have endeavored to obtain more particularly the aid ond countenance of our trana- Atlantic consins, and in this last project England has the lion's and the controlling share. THE LESSON OF THE CABLE. The cable of 1868 was an experiment whieh served to prove beyond doubt that a cable properly constructed could not only be laid, but worked to pay, and to point out the defects which were to be remedied. The pro- ceodings and developments attending the laying of the cable of 186% were investigated with great care, and it was shown that there were great defects in its mode of construction, and its treatment after being con- structed until submerged. Tt was nevertheless shown that messages of the highest importance had been transmitted across the Atiautic by means of this de- fective cable, Although this was a matter of doubt io a great many skeptics, it was proved beyond dispute. The English government authorities acknowledged to having countermanded, by means of the Atlantic cable, an order for the transportat‘on of troops from Canada to India, thus saving to the English government, by a sin- pitch, linsee wax, was stored away for future use, and to enable the electricians to continue the iments. Outof S44 wiles paid out in this att were subsequently recovered without injury THE ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY. Tt was feared, that in consequence of the strain which was at times brought upon the the continuity or electrical con: © been destroyed; but the laying of the whole 434 miles the conductor At one time, for two hours and a half, no signal wag received through the cable, and us the cause could not be explained, it was generally believed that the continuity had ceased on of the fracture Of the core or conductor; and everyth ng had been pre- for the winding in of the cable, with the view of discovering the fractured part, when, suddenly and un- expectedly, it was found that the continuity, whieh was was restored, and that ‘the signals onductor. It was aleo found neter of the cable was j Dy its submersion in the great depths, and that consequently worked with much greater ease and more satisfactory results, Now it is known that the insulating qualities of gutta percha are more perfectly developed at 8 tomperature of forty-two degrees; and as that of the the water on the plateau was about the s which we have referred to is thus accounted for. It is, indeed, a well ascertained fact that high temperature faterfores with the insulation, and that the greater the - gle despatch, several millions of dollars. The Hrratp published on August 27 a summary of the news con- taiped in the London papers of August 26; while, beyond dispute, the mersage of Qneen Victoria and the, reply of President Buchanan passed over the wire During the year or two following the failure of 1858, great improvements were made in the construction, lay- ing and working of submarine telegraphs, and it was finally concluded by @ board which was ap. pointed to inquire into all such work and improvements, that there was no reason why a cable ehould not be a success, Farly in 1459 a committee was appointed by the London Board of Trade to investigate the subject. This committee, which was appomted early in 1859, consisted of Douglas Galton, C. F. Varley, 0. Wheatstone, Latimer Clark, Wm. Fairburn, Edwin Clark, Geo, P. Bidder and @ Saward, each of whom was authority on any subject connected with telegraphy. After due deliberation this committee decided, July 13, | 1863, as the result of their deliberations, “that a well me, the result | insulated cable, properly protected, of suitable specific gravity, made with care and tested under water through. out its progress with the Lest known apparatus, and paid NEW YORK HERALD, MUNDAY, AUGUSY 7, 1865. into the ocean with all the most improved maghinery, possesses every prospect of not only being successfully jaid in the first instance, but may reasonably be re‘ied upon to continue for many years in an efficient stave for the transmission of signala.’’ To this testimony Cyrus Field attributed the successful raising of the capital necessary to begin with, since it awakened interest and inspired confidence in the English breast. The company found that tho difficulties of lay- ing and working a wire had at all times been over- rated, and they again resolved to attempt the work. They resolved also that the construction and laying of the cable should devolve on the same party. Attention had. been directed by their success in con- structing and submerging cables to Messrs. Glass, Elliot & Co., of London, and when enough capital had been secured and paid in the directors applied to them for their views on the feasibility of the project and a bid for the construction of the cable. The following is the bid of the firm:— PROPOSITION OF THE BUILDERS OF THE CABLE. No. 10 Cannon Srneer, E. ©.. Lonpow, Oct. 20, 1862. Cyrus W. Fret, Esq., Atlantic Telegraph Campany:— Daan S1i-n reply to your inquiries we beg to siaie:— ‘That we are perfectly confident that a and dura- bietubmaciue fable can ‘be laid direct from Ireland to Newfoundland, and are willing to undertake the contract upon the following condition: First—That we shall be paid each week our actual dis- bursements for labor and material. Second—That when the cable is laid and in working or- der we shall receive for our time, services and profit, twenty per cent on the actual cost of the line, in shares of the company, deliverable to us in twelve equal monthly installments, at the end of each successive month whereat the cable shall be found in working fully carried out that we will make a cash subscription for a sum of £25,000 sterllng, in the ordinary capital of the company, and pay the calls on the same when by the company. You will permit us to suggest that the shore ends of the Atlanjic should be composed of very heavy wires, a3 from our experidnee the only accidents that, have arisen to any of the cables that we have laid have beon caused by ships’ anchors, and none of those laid out of anchor- ground have ever cost one shilling for repairs. "The cable that we should suggest for the Atlantic will be ant improvement on all those yet manufactured, and we firmly believe will be imperishable when once laid. We remain, sir, yours faithfully eras ‘GLASS, ELLIOT & CO. The proposition of Glass, Elliot & Co., with those of other manufacturers, was promptly submitted to a com- mittee, composed of Douglas Galton, Wm. Fairbury, Mr. Whitworth, and Professors Wheatstone and Thompson. ‘The result was the recommendation to the directors to accept the proposition of Messrs, Glass, Elliot & Co. Tho bid was therefore accepted on Sept. 6, 1863, and the work immediately pegun by the formation of the TELEGRAPH CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE GOMPANY. : 0, ero john Pender, Esq., M. P., Chairman. ‘Alexander Henry Campbeli, Esq., Vico Chairman. Richard Atwood Glass, Esq. (Glass, Elliot & Co.), Managing Director. Henry Ford Barclay, Esq. (Gutta Percha Co.) Thomas Brassey, Esp. George Elliot, Esq. (Glass, Elliot & Co.) ‘Alexander Struthers Finlay, Esq., M. P. Danicl Gooch, E: E. rs MP. Samuel Gurney, Lord ohn Hay! John Smith, Eeq. (Smith, Fleming & Co.) RANI ‘Phe Consolidated Bank, London and Manchester. SOLICITORS, Mosra. Bircham, Dalrymple, Drake & Ward. Mossrs. Baxter, Rose, Norton & Co. SECRETARE William Shuter, Esq. . o PFIORS. 64 Old Broad streot, London. ‘wor! Wharf road, City road, North, and East greenwich, Southeast, As the entire cost of making and laying the cable was estimated at three million doltars, and as only one-balf of this amount had been subscribed at the time, it appears that the contractors agreed to take upon themselves one-- half the cost, or, in other words, to become identified with the directors in the success of the cable. If it had not, proved a success, Messrs. Glass, Elliot & Co. would have lost equally with the company, It 1s gencrally: known that the United States Government gives a maximum subsidy of seventy-five thousand dollars a year, and the English Government gives one hundred thousand dollars per year, solong as the cable continues to work, each sum to go in payment of the mossages sent by the respective governments, The two governments also given joint guarantee of eight per cent on the capital expended while the line is at work. On accepting the bid of Glass, Elliot & Co. the direct- ‘ors reformed their board, and the following are the pres- ent actual owners and directors of the Atlantic oable:— THE OWNERS OF THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPHIC CABLE. DIRECTORS. The Right Hon. James Stuart Wortley, Chairman. Curtis M. Lampson, Esq., Vico Chairman. G. P. Bidder, Esq., © EB. Captain A, T. Hamilton. Francis Le Breton, Faq. Edward Moon, Euward Cropper, Bag. Georgo Peabod: Sir Edward Cunard, Bart, John Pender, Esq., M. P. Samuel Gurney, Esq., M. P. Honorary Director—W. H. Stephenson, Esq. HONORAY DIRECTORS IN THK UNITED STATES. ret Archibald, Esq., C.B., H. M. Consul, New ‘ork. Poter Cooper, Keq., New York. ‘William k. Dodge, Esq., New York. Cyrus W. Field, Esq., Now York. ilson G. Hunt, Eaq., New York. A. A. Low, Esq., New York. Howard Potter, Esq., New York. HONCRARY DIREOTORS IN WRITISH NORTH AMERICA. Hugh Allen, Esq., Montreal, Canada. ‘Wm. Cunard, Exq., Halifax, Nova Scotia. Walter Grieve, Esq., St. Johns, Newfoundland. Thomas C. Kinnear, Esq., Hulifax, Nova Scotia, DONSULTING ACIENTIPIO. COMMITTEE. William Fairbairn, Esq., F. R. 8., Manchester. Captain Douglas Galton, R. E., F. RB. $., London. Professor Wm. Thomson, F, R.8., Glaseow. Professor C. Wheatstone, F. R. 8., London. Joseph Whitworth, Esq., F. R. 8. Manchester. Honorary Consulting Engincer in America—General Marshal! Lefforts, New York. OFFICES. 12 St. Helen's place, Bishopsgate street within, London. Secretary and General Superintendent—George Saward, Esq. Electrician—Cromweoil F. Verley, Esq. Solicitors—Mesers. Freshfields & Newman. Auditor—H. W. Blackburn, Exq., Bradford, Yorkshire, Public Accountant. BANKERS. In London—The Bank of England, and Messrs. Glyn, Mills & Co, In Lancashire—The Consolidated Bank, Manchester. In Ireland—The National Bank and its branches. In Scotland—The British Linon Company and its branches. In New York—Messrs, Danean, Sherman & Co. at Ganede an Nova Scotia—The Bank of British North merica, In Newfoundiand—The Union Bank of Newfoundland. THK LINE THAT CONNECTS THE CABLE WITH NEW YORK. NEW YORK, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LONDON: ‘TRLEGRAPH COMTARY. Peter Cooper, Esq., President. Cyrus W. Field, Vice-President. foses Taylor, Beq., Treasurer, re Coc Esq., N. Y. Marshall 0. Robe EB eter Cocper, Esq., N. Y. farshall O. Ir! Moses Taylor, kaq., N.Y, New York. fs Cyrus W. Field, haq., N. ¥. Wilson G, Hunt, Esq, N.Y. SECRETARY. Robert W. Lober, Esq. GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT. Alexander M. Mackay, Esq., St. Jobns, Newfoundland, NOW THE WORK PROGHESRED. he contract signed and delivered, Messrs, Giase, Fl. liot & Co, began their work and pushed it with great energy. The copper wire was completed as early as April, 1864, and the work of covering it with its four layers of gutta percha was begun on the 14th day of that month. During all this time the wire was undergoing electrical tests of such care as must have insured, had they been available, the rejection of the best parte of the cable laid in 1958, It was found that the present core— the copper wire—showed, under these searching teste, a perfection of insulation in ite worst parts more than twice that of the high standard required by the specifica- tions of the contract. The core ie, without doubt, the finest telegraphic wire ever made. The homogeneous iron which surrounds the gutta percha was contracted for and rapidly delivered, while large stocks of the Ma- nilla yarn with which the iron wire is surrounded, and the tanned jute which pads the gutta percha, were aiso forwarded with energy. But, though the work was begun In September, 2863, and pushed with constant energy, it was not completed and stowed away on board the Great Eastern until within the last month. THE VESSELS WHICH LAID THE CABLE. The Great Eastern was chartered by Glare, Elliott &. Co., in February, 1864, and preparations were imme- diately made, to fit her for thie special service. She left Liverpool and arrived at Sheerness in July, 1864. The contractors removed the floor of her upper decks and began the erection of the deck on which the iron tanks in which the cable was stored were placed. At the same time the British government detailed two ships for the service of transporting tine cable as it was made from the works at Malden to the Great Eastern at Sheerness, The Terrible and Sphynx were detailed to convoy the Great Eastern by the British government. ‘The vessels rondezvoused at Valentia on July 19, after ‘8 slow, tedious and stormy voyage. On the 22d ult, the Caroline succeeded, after ono mishap, requiring the under-running of the shore end, in laying that massive cable, On the 23d ult. the splice of the shore end and deep sea cables was made on board the Caroline and thrown overboard, the Great Eastern slowly steaming westward, On the morning of the 24th she was fairly under way, when a defect in the insulation was discov- ered, and the Great Eastern hove to, about eighty miles from shore, in order to repair it, The latest accounts from her represent the defect as repaired and the vessel paying out the wire steadily, but slowly, with every pros- pect of final success. ‘THE PECULIARITIES OF THE PRESENT CABLE. ‘The improvements made on the old cable have natu- rally produced many peculiarities of construction in the new cable, several of which are ag interesting as curious. Among the most important and curious, besides the cable itself, are the paying out and operating machines and the tanks containing the cable as coiled on board the Great Eastern. DESCRIPTION OF THE CABLE. ‘The following end and longitudinal views of the old and new cable—engraved the full size of tho actual wires—will furnish a more graphic description of tho work than could any language:— END AND LONGITUDINAL VIEWS OF THE OLD CABLE. order. We are so confident that thisenterprise can be success- | END AND LONGITUDINAL VIEWS OF THE NEW CABLE. ‘Tho cable now being laid is twenty-six hundred miles in length and one and one-eighth inches in diame- ter. ‘The weight of the mass is said to be over five thousand tons, and the Great Eastern is the only vessel which could carry it. The “core,” or con- ductor, is made of seven fine copper wires twisted into a single strand, and insulated by a compound known as Chatterton’s. Around this “‘core’’ are four layers of gutta percha, insulated with the some compound, and in turn enclosed by eleven strong iron wires, each one of which is carefully wound with Manila thread and saturated with tar, thus at once protecting the gutta percha and adding strongth to the cable. Its strength is equal to a bearing strain of seven and three-quarter tons. As com- pared with the tensile strongth of the cablo of 1858 it is several times greater, while the electrical tests show tho coro of the present wire to be infinitely superior to that of the cable of 1858, ‘THE SHORE ENDS OF THE CABLE. ‘The shore ends of the cable are of u different size, being as large as one’s wrist, and are the strongest cables ever manufactured, for telegraphic purposes. The weight per mile. of the shoro ends is a very little short of half the weight of ordinary railway metal. The shore end at [ Valentia bay is thirty miles in longth, while the New. foundiand end is but three miles long. THR CABLE TANKS. The cable was stored, as finished, in three u.mense fron tanks built upon the lower deck of the Grvat Eastern, and, after being placed in them and the tanks filled with. water, was thoroughly tested by the electri- cians of the expedition. The first tank was located in the forward part of the ship, and was fifty-one feet in -diameter, The midship tank was over the boilers, and was fifty-six feet six inches in diameter, and the after one was fifty-eight feet in diameter. The first contained ‘acoil of six hundred and thirty miles, the second eight hundred and forty milvs, and the third eight hundred and thirty miles. Before the Great Eustern left her moorings at Sheerness the wire was as much submerged in the three tanks as it ever will be at the bottom of the Atlantic, with this difference, that the pres- sure of the immense depths of the ocean will materially improve the condition of the cable by the compression of the gutta percha. In these throe tanks the temperature ‘and quantity of water was kept precisely equal, and a serios of electrical tests were taken, in order to obtain a standard of what the condition of the cable should be while paying out, The contents of the three tanke—that 4s, the entire length of two thousand five hundred miles of cable—were coupled up while the the Great Eastern was still at Sheerness, and signals wero gent through morning and evening. "These signals served to show the insulation and conductivity of the wire to be almost absolutely porfect, even in an eloc- trical sense. It was stated that the -‘forward coil” would be the first payed out, whereas the fact is that, as com mon s*nse would suggest, the sternmost coil was the first “delivered,” then the bow coil, and lastly the one in the centre of the ship. By these means the vébsel was, with the assistance of the enormous quantity of water and coal on board, kept in proper trim throughout the whole voyage. THE PAYING OUT MACIIINES, ‘The noxt great object of interest is the paying out ap- paratus, This beautiful machine is an improved and ex- tended copy, as far as general principle is concerned, of that used on board the Agamemnon during the first memorable attempts. Its improvements and moditica- tions, however, are very great. Though stronger and much larger, it is very much lighter, being almost en- tively of wrought iron, It hax six leading wheels, around which the cable passes in deep grooves before reaching the main wheel or drum, from which it was finally submerged. Each groove in these six wheels is sur. mounted by what is termed a jockey pulley—a sliding wh el, which keeps the rope down in the groove, and provents it overriding or getting out of place. The main drum is about seven (eet in diameter, and in paying out has threo coils of cable around it, with a guiding pirce of wrought iron pressing on them sideways to keep them compactly together, As the friction on the guider was expected to be great and constant, a duplicate was pro. vided in case of heating, which could be put in gear with the rest of the machinery without the lightest stop on any part. A second drum was also fitted, in case of anything going wrong with the first Each of these drums is fitted with a distinct set of simple and most ingenious brakes, invented by Mr. Ap- pold for the first expedition. ‘ The ordinary condition of these brakes maintains @ sufficient check upon the drum to keep a strain of thirty or forty hundred weight upon the rope going out, but provision lias been made fora sud- den rise of the ship's stern from a wave giving the cable a strain that requires the instant removal of the brakes to relieve it. This is acoomplished by a dynameter placed on the cable after it leaves the paying out machine and before it passes over the wheel astern into the Atlantic. ‘This dynameter is only a heavy wheel resting om the rope, but fixed in an upright frame, which allows it to slide freely up and down, and on 1 frame is marked the figures which show exactly the strain in pounds on the cable. Thus, when the strain is low the cable slackens, and the dynameter sinks low with it; when, on the contrary, the strain is great, the cable is drawn “taut,” and on it the dynameter rises to its full height. When it sinks too low, the cable generally runs away too fast, and the brakes have to be applied to check it; when, on the contrary, it rises rapidly, the tension is dangerous, and the brakes have to be almost opened to receive it. The simplicity of the arrangement for opening and shutting the brakes is the most beautiful of all. Opposite the dynameter is placed a tiller wheel, and the man in charge of this never lets it go nor slack- ens his attention for an instant, but watches the rise and fall of the dynameter as asailor at the wheel watches his compass. A single movement of this wheel tothe right would put the brakes on, a turn to the left opens them. A.good and experienced brakesman will generally contrive to avold either extreme of # high or low strain, though there are few duties connected with the laying of the cable which are more anxious and more respon- sible than those connected with the management of the brakes. THE OPERATING INSTRUMENT—THOMPSON’S GAL- VANOMETER. ‘The galvanometer consists of a coil of exceedingly fine copper wire, covered with silk, in the contre of which is suspended a small mirror, about three-cighths of an inch Jong. To the back of the mirfor is cemented a small piece of magnetized iron, which is suspended by a single fibre of silk just as it comes from the cocoon. Opposite the galvanometer is placed a parafline lamp, bearing be- fore it a horizontal scale, The light from this lamp is directed through a slit in the scale, and is thrown upon the face of the mirror, which reflects back on the scale a spot of light, By the movements of this epot to the right and fore we Cemgraph mi@asages are read, The aeeule weighs exactly a grain and @ half. These instruments are of the most delicate and sensitive character. . THE TELEGRAPHIO PLATEAU OF THR ATLANTIC, ON WHICH THB CABLE 18 Lar, Between Valentia Bay, Ireland, and St. Johns, New- foundland, the soundings taken in 1857 showed that the bottom of the ocean possessed the most favorable condi- tions for the successful laying and working of a telegra- phic cable. When the subject was first proposed it was feared that the inequalities which were supposed to exist in the bed of the ocean, between Ireland and Newfoundland, would present an insurmountable barrier to the successful completion of the project; but it has been proved that there are no such inequalities in this part of the Atlantic, These soundings proved the existence of this plateau, which appears to have been placed there especially for the purpose of holding a submarine telegraph. The greatest depth does not exceed two thou- sand four hundred and twenty-four fathoms, The cable passes to the north of the Grand Banks, and rests on the plateau, and ata depth where the waters of the sca, judging from the nature of the bottom when brought to the surface, are as quict and as completely at rest as the bottom of a mill pond. There seem to be no perceptible currents and no abrading agents at work on the surface of the plateau, The engineer who made the sound- ings brought up with the sounding apparatus speci- mens of the bottom, which, when examined with the microscope, were found to consist of shells so minute as not to be perceptible to the eye. These little shells at once suggested the fact that there aro no currents at the bottom of the sea from which they are taken; that the spot where, they were found was their burial place, and that after having lived and died on the surface, they had sunk gradually to the bottom, where they had lain undisturbed by currents; for if the plateau were swept by currents they would, doubtless, have been abraded and mingled with the other microscpic remains which lie at the bottom of the ocean, such as sand, gravel and other matter; but not a particle of sand or gravel was found among them. In tho profile of the soundings taken along the plateau every apparent depth is exaggerated tenfold, in order to enable the eye to judge of the effect. The soundings, were made at intervals of thirty, forty, sixty and one hundred miles, all attended with complete success, but frequently involving many hours, both night and day, of great suspense and hard work, losing sometimes two or three thousand fathoms of line, sounding apparatus and all, Thore were no currents near the bottom to affect the sound- ings, and frequently the slack line would be coiled or kinked upon it, showing plainly that it reached the bottom without the assistance of the lead, determining the important fact that a cable or wire of the lightest kind would reach the bed of the ocean. WHAT TELEGRAPHING TO EUROPE IS GOING TO COST. ‘As is now well known, the cost of telegraphing by the ‘Atlantic cable to England or the continent of Europe will be very heavy. We append an official statement, showing tho established rates ot the company, with other information of interest to those who are going to use the wire if successfully laid :— 12 Sr. Henex’s Prace, Bisnorscare Sraest Wins, E. C., Tonpox, July 1, 1805. In the looked for event of success to the renew'd eifort to connect Europe with America by telegraph, it is ex- pected that the cable will be open for public business before the end of the present month. The extent to which the telegraph between Europe and ‘America will be used by the public is at present purely conjectural. It may, however, be assumed as in any case likely to be considerablo, and, as the capacity of a single telegraphic cable is very Limited, the directors feel that in arranving the charge for messages it will be necessary to proceed ‘experimentally, their desiro being to discover the lowest charge at which,the cable can be kept fully and usefally employed until 1t may be posst- ble, by means of additional cables and improved appli- ances, so to increase the rate of transmission as thereby to gradually render it possible to popularize the tarif!, which can only be done “by extending the working powers of the company. The annexed regulations as to tariff have, therefore, been determined on in the first instance. The directors have thonght it would add much (o public conventence to make a universal charge for each of the great tele- graphing sections of the world; thus relieving those who use the cable from all calculation as to local charges, the payment of all which is included in the charges made by the Atlantic Telegraph Company, for which they under- take to defray the-whole cost of transmission from the telegraph station ut which the message originates to that of its destination. In thus offering a great public facility, it must be dis- tinetly understood that the Atlantic Telosraph Company will not incur or accept any lability whataoover, either for the due transmission of the mes-ag» to the cable or for its safe delivery at its destination; nor will they ae- cept any liability. arising from di or stoppage by reason of any accident to the cable or the instra- ments. Nor will they consent to be liable for any sum whatever, under any circumstances whatever, as damages or otherwise, for loss accruing from errors, mis takes, delays or other’ causes in respect to any message entrusted to them, beyond the return of that jon of the charge accruing to the compny out 0” the amount received, in case the agents of the Atlantic Telegraph Company itself shall fail in transm:ssion of the message through the cable. It 18 therefore recommend’d that the companies or governments receiving messages for transmission through the « hovld adopt for signature by senders of tele- grams to and ‘rom Ateriva a mossage form similar in its conditions to that annexed, which is the form that will bo used by the Atiantic Telegraph Company, so that all Pp raons employing this mode of communication may arly understand the terms upon which their business is accepted. By order. GEORGE SAWARD, Feoretary and General Superintendent, VALENCIA STATION. FORWAR Message originally forward: Message re.eived from — ond. Received at counter Commenced at Finished at. oe <——— (Siciature of forwarding clerk.) REQUEST. (Date.) ie Teiacrarn Comras’ 4" ext t ou forward the underwrit ten mesxage upon the following conditions, viz:— Messages are only received conditionally that no re- sponsibiity attaches to the Adante Tsiegraph Company for delay. or tailure in the transmission or delivery, oF for mistakes, from Whatever cause they may arise, ' In order 10 provide avainst errors in the transmasion of im- portant messages by the Atlantic Telegraph Company, in vea-es of consequenc® can be repeated by being sent back from the station at which they have been received ns OV THK to the station from which they were origmally sent, Dou- bie the usual price for tranemission will be charged fur such repetition. (Signature. ) (Address. ) Witnessed by me ——, Clerk. Vray write distinctly. Figures must be written at full length in words, Prefix, ——. Code time, ——, No. of letters, ——. No, of words chargeable, —— Receiver's name, ——. Sender's name, — PROVISIONAL CHARGES FOR THK TrANSMISS!ON OF MRSBAGES. From any telegraph station in Great Britain or Ireland to any telegraph station in America; twenty words or lees, including address, date and signature, not exceeding in all one hundred letters, twenty pounds. For every additional word, not exceeding five letters, twenty shillings per word. fter the first twenty will be Te. ‘The letters in all words counted and divided by five; each five or frac mainder will be charged as a word. All messages in code or cipher will be charged double the foregoing rates. All figures intended for transmission must be written at full length, and will be charged as words, Messages destined for places beyond the range of the teiegraphic system will be sent forward by mail. From any telegraph station in Europe to any telegraph station in America, twenty words or leas, incl ad- dress, date and signature, not exeeeding in all one hun- dred letters, twenty-one pounds. For every additional word, not exceeding five letters, twenty-one shillings per word. The letters in all words after the first twenty will be each five or fractional re- All messages in c the foregoing rates. All figures intended for transmission must be written ved = length, ae Sapuent banen ie ee desti for places bey: the range telographie system will be sent forward by mail. From any telegraph station in Africa, Asia and India in America, to any telegraph twenty or lese, including. date and Nodes in all one hundred letters, twenty-five pounds. For every additional word, not exceeding five letters, twenty-five shillings per word. The letters in all words after the first twenty will be counted and divided by five; each fiye or tractional re- mainder will be asa . All messages in code or cipher will be charged double the foregoing rates. All figares intended for transmission must be written in full engi, and will be charged as words. ee jestined for places beyond the range of the telegraphic system will be sont forward by mail. By order, GEORGE SAWARD, and General Superintendent. 12 St, Heven’s Prac, July 1, 1866, THE OVERLAND ROUTE. While the projectors of the submerged cable have been thus laboring and have thus far succeeded, an overiand route has been not only projected but prosecuted, and the enterprise of conneoting this country with Russia and England, via San Francisco and Behring Strait, has been undertaken by persons competent and powerful enough, with the secured aid of the various governments {Ailateated, to render fF final acéomprantiént almond certain. ‘THE COLLINS OVERLAND TELEGRAPH. ‘The honor of conceiving sad originating the ides of connecting the great commercial marts of the Europes continent with the great metropolis of the American hem- isphere, by the Overland route, belongs to Major Perry’ M’Donough Collins, formerly United States Commeretad Agent at the Amoor River. Major Collins urged the fem sibility of the enterprise, and the great benefits to accrue from its accomplishment, upon his imperial Majesty, the Czar of all the Russias, with such cogency and sus tained his arguments with such a formidable array of facts, that the Czar, always imbued with the friendly feelings so often manifested towards this country by his government, granted to Major Collins the exclusive right to build a telegraph lino through the Russian territory, both on the eastern and western continents. This grant (an unusual thing for an emperor ra any of the great European Powers to confer upom one other than one of his own subjects) having been ob- tained, Major Collins immediately took the necessary steps in this country to secure the building and success ful completion of the line, Capital was necessary, em gineering skill of the highest order, combined with equally high telegraphic experience and scientific attain- ments, to be obtained, and all the multifarious duties pertaining to the organizing of an oxpedition te build the line were to be accomplished, THE CAPITAL AND HOW IT WAS OBTAINED. ‘The first step was the obtaining of sufficient capital im the interest of the proposed plan to insure against all possibilities of failure through a lack of necessary pecu- niary resources, Major. Collins found no difficulty upom laying his great project before the leading minds of the Western Union Telegraph Company, in convincing that enterprising corporation of the perfet feasibility and practicability of the project, vast as it appeared. Hon. Hiram Sibley, President; J. H. Wade, Vice Pres. dent; Colonel Anson Stager, General Superintendent; 4 0. H. Palmer, Treasurcr; Samuel gWilder, Eoq., George B. Hicks, and other eminent telegraphers connected with the Western Union line, formed @ company under the provisions of the existing char ter of the Western Union Telegraph Company, with the title of ‘Collins’ Overland Telograph— Western Union Extension.” Tho usual prelimina- ries attendant upon forming a company, recciving subscriptions to stock, &c., were soon concluded, and Major Collins had the satisfaction of seeing his grand pro» ject under such favorable auspices as to leave no ques- tion of ultimate success, The total amount of stock issued was thirteen millions of dollars, and such was the confidence felt in the undertaking by our capitalists, after the announcement of the selection of the able engineer to whom has been entrusted the building of the “extension,” that it was all subscribed within one month from the day the books were opened. INTEREST OF THE EUROPEAN POWERS IN TRE PROJECT. In company with Mr. Sibley, President of the Exten- sion, Major Collins left for St. Petersburg some monthe since, on a visit to the Emperor of Russia and for the purpose of conferring with the Russian officials relative to certain details necessarily connected with the comple- tion of tho line in the Pussian possessions in Asia. Let- ters received from these gentlemen mention the greab interest manifested in the projected line by not only the Czar and his whole family, as well as the wealthy and im- telligent nobles of his realm, but also state that the live- licst interest is evinced by the Kaiser of Prussia, the Rm- ¢ peror of France and the other crowned heads of Europe, all of whom appear fully convinced of the immense benefits which must necessarily folow tbe telegraphie connection of the two continents. THE ROUTE. Various statements as to the route to be traversed by the projected line have been printed, evidently written by uninformed parties, their statements tending to mi lead the public in this important matter. We give here- with the route which, after careful study of existing) maps,and long consultations with experienced wavel- lers of those regiotis, has been d°cided upon by Engineer Bulkley as the most feasible and practicable, The wires of the Pacitle Telegraph line already extend through California, Oregon and Washington Torritory to New ,, Westminster, in British Columbia. This leaves the com- nection to be made in British Columbia near the mouth of Frazer river, the course of which it will follow north. ward (east of the Cascade range of mountains) to ie headwaters skirting Lake Alexander and Stuart's Lake, ‘This will properly be considered the first section of the line. A considerable portion of this section has bees surveyed by Assistant Engineer Conway, whouq explorations during the winter have been per formed upon the ice and through or over the deep snows characterizing that region. His ex- plorations will be of incalculable advantage, ad the party have made such landmarks under his supervision as will enable depots of telegraphie supplies to be established at various convoniems points easily accessible to the working parties, aa@ have placed him in possession of much valuable tm- , formation relative to the topography of the country an@ the character and disposition of its inhabitants, whieh will enable him at once to report to the chief onginess the quantity and character of supplies essential for the provision of the building parties, and likewise the amount of wire and other telegraphic material necessary to tra verse the district. Leaving the headwaters of Frazer river, the line wil run northward through the valley between Cascade and Rocky Mountains to Sampson river, Following the course of this stream, it will pass through a gap of the Cascade Mountains and touch the Pacific coast at various points near Admiralty, Prince of Wales and Queen Char- lotte islands, ‘Thence the line will run along the coast to the mouth of Copper river, the eastern boundary ef the Russian possessions in America. Following the course of this stream it will be extended northward te Fort Yonkon, at the junction of Porcupine and Pelly rivers, and the extreme western outpost of the Britis® American possessions. Following the course of the river Yonkon, formed by the Pelly and Porcupine (a stream 2,000 miles long, and navigable for steamers fot 1,500 miles and for barges the whole length), the tine will reach the Pacific coast again at the town of Michael. owski, on Norton sound, about three hundred miler below Behring Strait. HOW THE PACIFIC IS TO BE CROSSED. Instead of crossing the Pacific at Bebring Strait, at originally intended, Colonel Bulkley has determined te make the passage by submerged cables from Michaelom aki to St, Lawrence Island, and thence to the other shor . at Cape Thadeus, These two cables will be respectively one bundred and thirty-five and two hundred and afty five miles in length. The following map illustrates THE PROPOSED PLAN OF CROSSING THE PACIP OoBAN. THE ROUTE IN ASIATIC RUSSIA. Through the northeastern provinces of Asiatio the line will be erected in an almost entirely uni ited region, and numerous stations will have to be built The distance to the Amoor river from Cape Thadous § about one thousand seven hundred miles, and this wil be by far the most difficult part of the line to consteug and maintain. From the Amoor river the line will be extende through North China and the southern provinces ¢ Asiatic Russia to Moscow and St, Petersburg. Fro St. Petersburg the main or direct line runs along th north coast of the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Bothnia, ¢ ‘and across the English Channel, to London and th jumping off place of the Atlantic cable on the const ¢ Ireland. Thence the Atlantic cable will complete “4a girdle round the earth,” and Puck's proposterous fang, grow tame and common place beside the great reality. rj WHAT HAS BEEN ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED, ‘The direct land tine as thus contemplated would |