OCEAN TELEGRAPHY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 3456, 26 March 1872, Page 3

OCEAN TELEGRAPHY.

» Ocean telegraphy is likely to be very largely increased within the course of a year year or two. We notice that the Americans are preparing to stretch their cables right and left. At Washington a bill has been introduced which incorporates a company for two lines — one from the Western Coast of the United States to China and Japan, and the other from the Atlantic Coast to Europe by way of the Bahamas and Azores, or any other route that may be approved by the President of the United States.' For the construction of the Pacific line a bill has been introduced into the Californian Legislature, granting the right of laying a cable direct to China and Japan, or by the way of the Sandwich Islands. The line to China and Japan, if it touches at the Sandwich Islands, will be one stage towards Australia having telegraph communication with Snn Francisco, and from there on to the chief cities of the United States and all the world the other side of the Atlantic. With this line and our own AngloAustralian telegraph the world would be for us girdled, and Japan, China, and India be placed in telegraphic union with us. A competition between these lines would bo highly beneficial. As indicative of a reduction in the cost of sending ocean messages, the following is of good omen: — An English paper, dated 3rd January, 1872, received by the Northumberland, states that it is rumored that a new company has been formed for laying down a cable to the United States for press messuges only, to enable news to be transmitted at one fourth the cost now charged. Another plan proposes that the Governments of the United States and Great Britain be asked to purchase the existing- cables and Newfoundland land lines. This scheme would permit of all ordinary messages being transmitted at one-fourth of the present cost, and every facility would be afforded for press intelligence. The cable and land lines might be bought for less than £5,000,000, and if two additional cables were laid between Ireland and Newfoundland, the total cost would be about £0,400,000. This sum, might, it is felt, be obtained by granting annuties of five per cent for thirty years. A.t the end of that period the reduced tariffs and the consequent increase of business would, it is calculated, enable the two Governments to render the cables free of all charge, except maintenance. If the tariff were reduced to sixpence or sevenpence a word, the Government might find it necessary to double the number of their cables." One thing is certain : ocean telegraph extension is a necessity, and a induction of the charges is inevitable. —Age.