TELEGRAPH IN CHINA AND ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 905, 3 April 1869, Page 8

TELEGRAPH IN CHINA AND ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

(New Yorh Herald.)

The project for laying a telegraph cable along tiie coast of China is soon to be carried out. The East India Telegraph Company, of which Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, is President, is about to close its subscription book and to commence immediately the manufacture of the cables to connect the great commercial cities of the Chinese Empire by this wonderful agent of modern civilization. It is confidently asserted that the entire line from Canton to Macao, Hongkong, Swatow, Amoy,Foochow, Wan-Chu, Ningpo, Hangtchean and Shanghae will be completed and in operation in littlfe more than a year from this time — say by January, 1870. The company, which is entirely an American one, and which has its headquarters in New York, has the privilege from the Government of China to make this telegraph connection. The cities which we have named, and at which the cable or cables will touch, extend along the coast a distance of near 900 miles, and are the outlet and inlet of all the vast foreign trade of the empire. They contain a population of six millions. When it is considered that the trade of China coming and going through these ports, amounts to about sixteen hundred millions of dollars a year, and that the Chinese and foreign merchants there are among the most enterprising in the world, it can be seen what an immense business there must be for a telegraph. But vast as the present trade is, ifc will receive an extraordinary development under the operation of telegraphic communication. This, however, is only the beginning. As soon as the Chinese see the value

of this mighty power in stimulating trade and diffusing intelligence, and their prejudices as a consequence shall be removed, they will want telegraphs all over their vast empire. Who can imagine the results of such progress among a population of four hundred millions of industrious people ? Who can realise the advantages of all nations trading with China, and the civilised influence of such a movement? That great Empire, containing more than a third of the human race, which has been closed against the rest of the world, through all ages, haß been brought for the first time into the family of nations, through the Burlinghame mission. But that great event is only the pioneer of more surprising progress. The telegraph, railroads, and steam-power, are going to open a wonderful future, and in this the enterprise of the East India Telegraph Company is the commencement.

There is, however, another project now before Congress, and introduced by Mr Collins, of Russian telegraph fame, which is destined to turn the current of trade from Asia to and through the United States. We mean the project of the Pacific telegraph, starting from San Francisco, thence along the shores of America to Alaska, and from there across the North Pacific Ocean by way of the Aleutian Islands to Kamschatka, Japan, and China. This, together with the lines from Russia and from Europe by way of India, will complete the girdle of the earth. Shakespeare's prophetic dream will be accomplished. Telegraphic communication with China and all the East by this route is much easier of attainment than has been generally supposed. Comparatively short cables will be required, perhaps the longest will not be more than six hundred miles. That beautiful chain of islands which stretches across the North Pacific from Alaska to Kamschatka, and which recently came into our possession by the Russian purchase, seems to have been placed there by Providence for the purpose of connecting Asia and America in the bonds of commerce and civilisation. With the completion of the Pacific railroad over the continent, with the establishment of steamshiplinesacross the Pacific ocean, and with the telegraphic communication we speak of, the United States must soon asquire a monopoly of the Asiatic trade and become the centre of the globe. But we must not neglect the opportunities that lie before us. The British are vigorously pushing their telegraph lines by the way of Mediterranean and Central Asia to India and China. They are making desperate efforts to draw and hold a monopoly of the Chinese trade by this means. All the natural advantages, however, are on our side. Shall we not avail ourselves of them ? We hope Congress will not delay in passing the necessary laws, and in giving all the encouragement possible for the Pacific telegraph. It should act at once. Then we should see within two years not only the telegraph established in China, but one across the Pacific as well, placing us in instant communication with all the important points of that great empire and the Asiatic continent.