The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-05-18
A TELEGRAPH acrosss the Atlantic.


inventions and gigantic projects. So many
things have been actually accomplished, which
but a few years ago would have been pro-
nounced visionary and impossible, that it
would be presumptious to dismiss any new
scheme without consideration, merely on the
score of its being marvellous or for its suppos-
ed impractieability at first sight. Theories
wilder and bolder than the dream of the poet
have been reduced to sober fact. A telegraph
literally tanning and Harvesting the swift light
ming into its service, and subduing the most
capricious and fearful of the elements to do
its work with all the docility of the humblest
drudge, has become reality. A railroad to
the Pacific and ship canal dividing a conti-
nent and connecting the two great oceans, are
in fair way to become realities.
But project more startling than either of
the two last is now presenting Its claims to
public notice. 1t is that of telegraph across
the ocean 1t has come at last in no visionary
shape, but from an experienced and scientific
quarter, and with distinctness of outline and
detail which certainly entitle it to ser; 1us at
tention. 1t should be borne in mind that there
is no theoretical difficulty in the way here, SO
far as the essential part of the problem is con-
cerned. The theory of instantaneous commu-
nication by means of the electric telegraph. be-
tween points however remote, has been thor
oughly tested and proved out by actual and
long continued experience All doubt and
cavil upon this point is at an end. An insula-
ted wire wound hundred times around the
globe would give its result as certainly and
quickly as the one now erected between New
York and Boston. The only question remain
ing to be solved is. whether great invention
to which mountains and rivers and deserts
have proved no obstacle, shall be interrupted
in its career around the globe by the presence
of the large bodies of water upon its surface
in other words by the oceans Is that contin-
uity of wire to which there is no end or limit
upon the land, necessarily to be forever inter-
rupted or destroyed by the Intervention of the
sea?
correspondent of the Journal of Com
merce, who is represented to be an able, ex-
perienced and scientific civil engineer, denies
that there is any insuperable or even consid-
cradle difficulty in the case, and comes out
over his own signature with very plausible
and well digested plan for telegraph across
the Atlantic ocean.
The main points of his plan are the follow
ing : the grand object to be attained is one un
broken length or continuity of wire. To Sc
cure this, it must be laid upon the bottom of
the sea. Once there, it will be safer from all
interruption whatever than any land telegraph.
And since the ocean is not more than three or
four miles deep in the deepest part, it is very
certain that the thing can be done. There is
no physical impossibility, nor any unusual diff
Guilty about it. He proves that money will do
it, and very moderate amount of money too,
when compared with the grandeur of the re-
suit. He proposes to lay down wire rope of
20 strands, number IA wire, isolated from
each other so that 20 distinct machines could
be operated, and 20 messages sent at the
same time 1t will take eight miles in length
of this rope to break by its own weight in the
water; therefore it could not break upon be-
ing let down into the deepest part of the
ocean. The wire rope is to be coated with
gutta percha, and to be reeIed off from steam
ers employed for the purpose. He says:
"Thus prepared and sunk upon the bottom
of the ocean, it is difficult to assign a limit to
its duration. The weight of one mile of rope
manufactured in the manner described, will be
one gross ton; its cost on board of the steamer
estimate at $3.50. This would make $685.
600 for $500 miles; the whole distance from
New York to England, via. Boston and New
foundland, with allowances. The cost of char
tefing. equipping for the service, and running
two steamers one trip, including the erection
of station houses at the landings, telegraphic
machines &c, &c, ready for operation, l esti-
mate at $425, 200, which will swell the total
cost of this most magnificent enterprise to l.
3OO,oOO."
He estimates the profit of the investment at
25 per cent, which is much within the mark,
if any such telegraph is ever constructed To
test it, he proposes that the wire rope should
be first laid to Newfoundland-on third of
the whole distance to England from New
York There is only one objection to the plan
which he has not fully met. Ifthe wire rope
should happea to be severed in mid ocean, ii
might be difficult to find the break or to fish
it up. To avoid this, we should think it better
to lay twenty single wires at different points
rather than one wire rope. On the whole,
the project is bold, but by no means avision-
airy one, and it will doubtless be carried into
execution at no very distant period.