ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 38, 3 February 1864, Page 6 (Supplement)

ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.

"We have been so much accustomed, 1 to receive news by telegraph, 1 that we j no longer regard the language, of the electric wires as any kind of novelty. In some respects, telegrams help us to a great deal that is useless, .and pnly i serve to whet . bur desire for reliable information. "Nevertheless, curiosity j is aroused, and nothing less fresh than "By, Electric .Telegraph;" meets the inquisitiveness of thecomrhiinity: Tlte laggard mail does not keep pace with the public mind in its cager 1 pursuit <of knowledge: ;The telegraph . makes . known daily occurrences in every portion of the " electric circle."; a Seeing, that mankind are everywhere widening the sphere of human enterprise, and that families are breaking up and dis- ? persing into all lands, it is an inestimable boon to have the telegraph to send I out messages of business and frienclship. At this moment the junction: of; England and India is almost accomplished. The whole of the " uniting cable has been shipped and is now at sea. "We have, besides, the important news that the design of laying a telegraph along the bed of the Atlantic is again entertained, and that, too, with every probability that it will turn out successful. "Whether or not this will, be the ease, we imagine, is not so much dependent upon tlie quality and nature of the cables, as upon the physical conditions to which they must be, in the marine bed, necessarily exposed. Some intelligent persons think that Atlantic telegraphy -never can be carried out with the guarantee of permanence, as there are two difficulties to be overcome — icebergs and rocky bottoms. However, the capital for a fresh attempt to cable the Atlantic has been subscribed, and the manufacturers are sanguine of being able, in the structure of their material, to overcome all impediments. The several projects at this time under consideration show that scientific speculators have no light task in hand, and that the obstacles in their path too frequently are such as to almost defy the resources of skill and judgment. Eor instance, it is proposed to lay down a cable from Ireland or Scotland to Iceland, thence to Greenland, and on to Labrador. It happens that the coasts of Greenland are surrounded by impenetrable ice for eight months out of the twelve — that is, from January until September — so that no successful attempt could be made to lay down a cable under such difficulties, more particularly as stormy weather prevails until the autumn is far advanced. This part of Greenland was so much hemmed in by drift ice in August, 1860, that M'Clintock, in the Bulldog, could not approach within fortjr-five miles of the land. The coast of Labrador is quite as impracticable, and, besides, it is ascertained that the North American sea-board, north of Cape Bace, in Newfoundland, is equally dangerous, in consequence of the icebergs which are constantly being drifted out of Baffiin's Bay. Indeed, on the Coast of Newfoundland ice is seen, stranded or floating about, all the year round. Another proposition is to land the cable at New Terlican, in Trinity Bay, where a muddy bottom has been discovered. In this case, the cable would be over soundings which are said not to exceed a depth of 200 fathoms — so it would be exceedingly likely to get destroyed by icebergs. Sir John Eoss observed several icebergs agrqund in Baffin's Bay in 250 fathoms water. Nevertheless, M. Orlebar, captain in charge of the Newfoundland Survey, made out Avhat is recognised as a favorable line of soundings in TrinityBay. Jt is also suggested that a feasible cable l£ne exists on the coast between Wide Bay and £oiiception Bay. This part of Newfoundland cm- ■ brace several gorges, valleys and deep fiords, which run seaward. It is presumed that these fiords continue as deep water channels into the Atlantic, in which, consequently, a telegraphic c^tble would have a chance of lying in security. iGeheug^, as a matter of course, resting on the boundary sj.4 es of the deep sea valleys, co^ildnot touch ■ the bottom of the ravine. With these dangers a-head, the project pf laying an Atlantic cable is charily recew.ei lt> would seem, liqw- , evei'j from later investigations, thst the difficulties are not all insurmountable. Between Ireland and Newfoundland, a recent writer on the Phenomena of the Atlantic states—" 9? Ke»e is & xmb submarine plajiii Jfe teen huudyed sajitiesl miles m width, averaging two milea b depth. , below the level of theaefy and bounded i on bath sides "by % comijatively shallow j plateau, seldom more than $00 fathoms j deep, v Although in many parts ottM\ southern portion of the Is orth Atlantic;; numewtta" j,*ittflftcleß xm suddenly out j rtfjts steep bed, yet the.. -spiMs between.* &?etel ft»d'^ew!fotittdlaad iiutudeiv stood t© ba &hisjla# ftea&jm mm* dftng#jfoußp»flg«utifliißi Along £a© M lWfa milesedeeg'plain, " it appeal ■#oswBle ; to. carry a cable from Ireland to £?ew« $ttttsattti which would be totevMy safe to*. $$& ■ ■ msmmfy Mm ijtseains, euivento) rents, op tempests, , ,tt U thes?6jb. ( c likely that $w Atlantic; telcgrftph will U )M& uiSfctkMoribr \ ' and we trust «st to kaMowew tmtimeJy. flisaetefc T& late* iese^«j j give seise t».Ves l y-gM&)i aMeMwcifci mm\itm\\w of she (&t)b inket Will hi 'deep w&kis " rtoav | va* nm& $bas my-Pm of luaimsl 1%; Wiiwa&is ta WOO^MiW M 'WW,:\ more.? ujtfoitai*tel.y: frfaefo&ij j, aad dlstmt ■afttajwy PlatM fssieif ; epiouretm teadsaeies. % w )PI: m& time, m deep-wates caMe to .b'w*

tures are Jaent upon indulging, their propensities 'under the discourage-^ ment of the low temperature peculiar to " abyssal " waters. We still hope soon to see a' telegraph wire along the bed of the Atlantic — and that permanent achievement. In the meanwhile, the Indian telegraph is on its way — distributed among five ships, the Apage, the Tweed, the Marion Moor ? the Kirkham, and the Cos : patrick. The Charente,asmallsteamer, is also in the/ service, for 'making repairs. The utmost care has* been taken to guard against damage. In each ship three ■ iron tanks af e built, and in each tanks a coil of the cable is wound; the tank is filled with salt water, and the two ends of the coil is left free, and connected with 'electrical apparatus. By this arrangement the condition of the cable can tie constantly tested during the voyage, and anything indicating a flaw at once detected. It is said that such delicacy has now been obtained by testing instruments, 1 that a leakage of a thousand-millionth .part of the current can be discovered. Cables are now made proof against the corrosive action of the sea water.. This is done by protecting the outer wires by a waterproof coating. The Alexandra cable has stood the experience of two years very saiisfaetorily. The Percian Gkilf cable is reported to haye-teen made •wrfch. .even 'm.or.e_'_eare. than the Mediterranean line. The " Cable Elect " is expected to arrive at its destination during this month, and as the process of laying and fixing theends is not likely to occupy more than a month, it is probable, if all goes on regularly as anticipated, that communication between England aud India may be established some time in the next -month. The "leading officials" connected with the undertaking, before they return to England, will probably take steps to bring about the'proposed extension from Rangoon to Singapore. It is rumored that /they will also visit Australia.,.; < /..■■; We cannot be otherwise than- deeply, interested in the success of the expedition, for at "any rate the Indian tele-; graphy is intimately acquainted with these colonies. Amongst the objects -contemplated is the immediate restoration of coinmuiiicationbetween Batavia and Singapore, and it is expected that the Dutch government will construct or subsidise a line to Coepangj in the Island of Timor. From this point we may look forward to telegraphic extension to-, this continent at no distant day. Already the South Australians are pushing forward to colonise Arnheiin's Land, and from 'Queensland a route is opening up for stock along the G-ulf of Carpentaria. The telegraph lines will be carried shortly along the same tracks. If the Indian telegraph progresses, the connecting wires will soon be laid on to the coast of Carpentaria. It will remain with ourselvesin a great degree to take early advantage of such on event ; at any rate we may be sure that an overland line will soon bring these southern communities into the great Indian submarine route.