The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-24 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

respectfully ask the favour of being al-
lowed to make a few remarks on behalf of the At-
lantic Telegraph Company in reference to some
statements which have recently appeared, wherein
it has been erroneously set forth in the interest of
hostile individuals that the Atlantic telegraph is an
entire failure owing to its great length; that the
cable submerged between Ireland and Newfound-
land is 3,000 miles in length, and that the researches
of scientific electt icians have recently tendcd to show
the impossibility of establishing a direct line from
Valentia to Trinity Bay, and of working so great a
length at a profit if established.
The Atlantic cable, it is true, is (for the present)
incapable Af being worked; but the scientific ques-
tions involved in its origin and submersion have
been fully solved, and the important uses to which
it ministered while in working order have rendered
the establishment of a transatlantic telegraph a
necessity. The whole difficulty even now arises
from the simplest of causes—a fault in the insula-
tion (unperceived before the submersion of the ori-
ginal cable) has gradually increased to a magnitude
which has arrested all communication ; but this is
an accident which might have happened to any
other cable, and if it can be raised and repaired
there is nothing special or peculiar in the nature
or length of it to prevent its restoration to perfect
working order.
There is nothing that should be designated
" failure" in this. The accomplishment of all works
of great magnitude is gradual, and it is accorded to
very few to achieve success.so early as the Atlantic
Telegraph. There is no intention to abandon the
undertaking; the time that has been afforded for
further experiment and examination has sufficed to
show that perfect facility exists for the safe and per-
manent and remunerative establishment of telegra-
phic communication between Ireland and America.
As the next cable across the Atlantic, no mat-
ter by what route it may be laid, must be much
more costly than the original one, if constructed
in accordance with the scientific principles now
universally admitted to be desirable, and as
the public will certainly not subscribe again to
such an object unless the risks are shared with
them by Government, it has been determined in
the first instance to attempt to restore communica-
tion through the original cable during the present
srmmer, and an expedition has already been sent
out for that purpose,
There is reason to hope that in the deepest
water through which the cable is laid the insula-
tion is quite perfect ; and, as to the chances of
being able to lift it, experience has now shown
that cables can be recovered in very considerable
depths with much greater ease and safety than
heretofore was thought possible. Nor has the ten-
dency of any scientific fact in relation to the first
Atlantic cable been such as to shake the confidence
of telegraphic electricians in the practicability of a
direct line between Ireland and America, or in its
permanent and efficient working. On the contrary,
the laying of the present cable and its success have
given an extraordinary stimulus to electric studies
and the laws of electrical conduction. Induction
and retardation are now becoming so well and
clearly developed that there would be no lack of
electricians of the highest scientific position who
would undertake to work the existing cable con-
tinuously at a very handsomely remunerative speed
if it can be once again restored to order.
It has been asserted that the Atlantic cable is
3,000 miles long. This is very inaccurate. Its
total length, including slack, does not exceed 2,050
miles ; and, as a want of exactness on this point,
which has been set forth in connection with the
supposed advantages in favour of the Danish route,
may deceive the public as well as injure the At-
lantic Company, I trust I may be allowed to annex
for comparison the distances and advantages by the
two routes, irrespective of geographical and nauti-
cal considerations :
Br THE ATLANTIC COMPANY'S ROUTE.

Miles.

Land line, all constructed and working, London
to Valentia, not exceeding
Sea line, including slack cable 2,050