Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-08-26 00:00:00

MARINE COMMITTEE

The proceedings of this committee contained a recom-
mendation to retain the working of the Holyhead tele-
graph in the hands of the board.
The memorial referred to the committee by the board,
in reference to the inconvenience of boarding-house
keepers going on board vessels and inducing the sailors
by drink to patronise their respective houses, was read
by the committee, and forwarded to the Watch Com-
mittee.

Mr. E. B. Bright, engineer of the Magnetic. Tele-
gra* Company, and Mr. Latimer Clarke, engineer to
the Electric Telegraph Company, both waited on the
committee, upon invitation, on the subject of the condi-
tions of letting the dock line of telegraph. Having
heard the views of the committee, the gentleme:t under-
took to put their sentiments in writing.
The following report on the subject of the lines of
telegraph was read from Mr. Hartley and Mr. M. T.
Parkes : •

TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MARINE COMMITTI

Sir,—ln compliance with the resolution of your committee
of the 16th instant—" That the engineer and marine surveyor
be requested to report to this committee on the connection of
the dock line of telegraph with Birkenhead; a connection
with a line of electric telegraph going inland ; and also on the
question which has arisen as to letting the line of electric tele-
graph to Holyhead in connection with the telegraph on the
dock quays ;as well as on the other suggestions which have
been made ;"—we beg to report to you, first, with regard to the
connection of the dock line of telegraph with Birkenhead, we
see no difficulty in effecting this by means of a light cable from
either of the landing stages to such point at the Birkenhead
docks as may be deemed most advisable ; but we see great
difficulty in fixing upon such a site in the present state of the
works. We are of opinion that such communication should be
entirely independent of that proposed to be laid in connection
with Holyhead, as the two wires provided in the cable for the
latter purpose ought to be reserved especially for that line. A
line of cable for public purposes could be laid at a cost of about
£lOO.

With regard to the suggestion of connecting the dock line of
telegraph with a line going inland, we cannot anticipate any
difficulty or objection to that being done, should any of the
general telegraph companies rent the dock line ; but otherwise,
however advantageous such connection might be, the Mersey
Board have no power is either permit others or to construct
such a communication themselves.

With respect to the suggestion which has arisen as to letting
the line of electric telegraph to Holyhead in connection with
the telegraph on the dock quays, we see some objections and
difficulties, inasmuch as the services to be performed at the
stations along the coast will not be confined to the mere
receiving and repeating messages, but will involve the com-
munications from such stations with vessels at sea, the light-
ships, and lifeboat establishments, and other duties of a simi-
lar character, which we imagine could not with advantage be
transferred to those parties who would in ordinary coarse
undertake the working of an electric telegraph; nor could it
readily, so far as we can conceive, be made such a source of
profit as would. induce parties to offer any remunerative rent
for the use of the line, as, with the exception of Holyhead,
Llandudno, and Abergele, with which telegraphic communica-
tion already exists, none of the stations proposed are in
situations where any demand for such facilities would arise.—
We are, sir, yoiirs respectfully, ,

(Signed) Joni.; B. HARTLEY,
I
MURRAY T. PARKS

Mr. MONDEL moved the confirmation of the pro-

ceedings.
Mr. BOLD said he had hoped that the chairman
of the Marine Committee would have explained some-
thing in reference to the working of the tele-
graph at Holyhead, as to the expense the
estate would be put to ; and if any appli-
cation was made to the two gentlemen who waited on
the committee with regard to the dock telegraph, whe-
ther they would be prepared to work the telegraph be-
tween Liverpool and Holyhead. Thore was no ques-
tion but it was very different from the generality of the
telegraphs. But from the experience and knowledge
he had of the way in which the telegraph was worked
at present by the Dock Board, he thought some great
improvement might be made by a public company
taking it in hand. Instead of paying that board, he
thought, any company to take it up, would be
prepared to ask them to pay something for
working it. But he did think, by some arrangement
of that character, they would be much better able to
carry it on than they were at present. He knew, and
he was prepared to prove, that before the telegrams
came into the room they were sent elsewhere, to other
parties. He mentioned this to show that the hands of
the Dock Committee were not the parties to work the
telegraph efficiently, He did not, intend to move any
amendment, but he did think they ought to have known
what expense they were likely to be put to. They had
already been put to an expense of, £lO,OOO, and he
should like to know what additional expense they would
have. He took a great interest in this question, and he
did not think they had sufficient information before them
to come to any decision.
The CHAIRMAN said there was a great deal of truth in
what Mr. Bold stated ; but, at the same time, there were
many serious objections to the board parting with the
management of the telegraph to Holyhead. Supposing
it was so lct, and there was any mistake or fault to arise