Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-17
SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH.

London paper of the 7th instant contains partcu
lar description Of the successful laying down Of the tee
graph wire coated with guta percha and enclosed in
coil of galvanized iron wre the Howth and Holyhead
line OF electric telegraph by which the line of teegraphc
communication is completed from London Dublin This
line OF submarine wire is eighty miles in length, and
strange as it may seem, it laid down in single day.
The whole work executed with expedition that is
remarkable Mr. Statham conductor of the guta percha
works was asked if he could supply eighty miles Of
telegraph WIRE douby covered with guta percha within
fortnight" He replied "Tn try" and accordingly
made the attempt which he completed in twelve days.
proceeding with the latter part at the rate Of twelve miles
day. The coated wire then to Gateehead-on-
Tyne to be surrounded with twelve galvanized iron wires
twisted spiraly around it, 1t then to Hoyhesd
where the Admiralty employed Capt Beechy of the navy
and the Government steamer Prospero, under the
mand of Lieut.. Adrich, to aid in laying it down.
The enormous cable, eighty miles in length in con-
tnuous piece, and weighing ton mile wound up
into immense coils placed trucks after the other
and drawn by steam from Newcastle to White
Haven, where il had been intended put them board
the Britannia steamer but it being found that the
trance to the dock too for that vessel they
were again placed on trucks and conveyed to Marypor
where they were embarked for Holyhead Some difficult
ties were encountered before the preparations in
train for laying down the we but these being overcome
by the resources of Mr. Statham who had accomplished
the Dover and Calais junction. early the morning Of
the lst instant the Britannia, towed by the Prospero
began paying the cable which sank by its own weight
to the bottom of the from Hoyhead to Howth Occa
sonal difficulties occurred, which by the
care OF tne operators ana progress made Of from
four to six miles hour, and the whole completed
in sixteen hours the britannia anchorng the harbor Of
Howth before o'clock the evening. Some difficult
ties encountered in connecting the line on shore
with the Dublin ne but the fact of the arrival at Howt
was communicated to Howth the evening. By 2
o'clock on the morning of the Sd all difficulties were
overcome and the communication between Hoyhead and
Dublin was tested by repeated trials The following an
nouncement of the arrival at Howth published in the
London Times Of the 3D.: ,tt
submarine telegraph between the coasts of England
and Ireland is now accomplished fact, prsg
nant with interest regards the future welfare Of this country
Yesterday morning att o'clock the Britannia started
from Hoyhead with the teegaphc cable board preceded
by her Maesy steamer Prospero vessel furnished by the
Admiralty pilot 10 the expedition. The pro-
ceeded at low rate Of speed varying from four six miles
an hour paying out the wire with the greatest pre-
cision they receded from the English coast and at LENGTH
after passage Of little than sixteen hours and without
the occurrence Of conrete arrived Howth harbor
amid the cheers Of those who had assembled
approach The moment the Britannia had arrived her
tnaton and communicated the fact Hoyhead that the
Irish shore reached the final grand test applied the
teegphc cable by connecting the wire with Of the ships
loaded guns and passing the word fire TO Holyhead The
the immediate discharge Of the gun board
Britannia The hour then just half o'clock The
work had been performed little than eighteen hours
Messages rapidly ntechanged and a salute
Bntannias guns fired from Holyhead"
Papers Of later date the successful con-.
nexion of the line with Dublin.