The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-21
From the Ne,o York Tribune


FROM tfe IYet0 IOTf xftouHe
Magnetic Telegraph to the Pacific.
A proposition is before Congress to build line
of magnetic telegraph to California, and have it
completed within eighteen months. 1t emanates
from James Eddy, the manager, and considera-
BILE proprietor of the Maine Telegraph Company.
He and his associates make the offer in question:
and their known character is sufficient guaran.
tee that what they undertake they will accomplish
Mr. Eddy is gentleman who ranks as high as a
faithful, energetic, and intelligent telegraph
ager as any in the country. He has paid great at
tention to the subject of teIegraphs everywhere,
and his present proposition is based upon wide
and full investigation of the whole subject HE
pan is novel, inasmuch as it proposes an I'M
uerg1ound line, encased in gutta percha, and
THIS substance encased in a metal tube. for adj.
olNohai protection to the wires The sinking
oi 'ne hne some three feet below the surface
Is considered the only feasible method of nre
serving constant and unbrokeu conmnnica.
tion. Inc usual mode of construction hy nosts
anu wires Wouio De perpetual temptation 10 tbe
saVages OF the vast plains would traverse TO rnae
depredatons, as well to the exhausted er,,;r-s4
seeking fuel for his pot The exnosure IS al ~
posts and wires to the storms of the mountain
ranges the line must cross, far away from station
and settlements, would be such as to subject II 10
constant, and Oftentimes continued interruntio,,
In fact, considering the character of the courtry
subterranean line seems 10 be the only one that
can be established with any good prospect of an
swerlng the purpose. We are thus satisfied that
this feature of the plan is wise and necessary, 70
insure success to the undertaking. Mr. Eddy has
made minute Investigations in regard TO its nrac
ticabiliy, and tested it his entire satisfaction
The plan has been adopted on the continent of
Europe to considerable extent, Ilv in pr,s
ria, where there s now in operation sometbino,
like fifteen hundred miles of subterrapean teIe
graph.
MIR. Eddy proposes to establish stations on the
line at intervals of one hundred miles with well
sheltered and provided force of five men al each
who, when not engaged on the line will devote
themselves to agricultural pursuits, and thus gra
dually gather supplies for the emigrant and form
q nucleus at the different points for trading and
the different supply stations. The ADVANTAGES Of
such TO the overland emigrant can hardly be over.
stated. They will enable him to learn from dav
to day the precise state of his way and the sun.
plies he must bring, or can find alone at the va
rlous points on his route. 1t will at once cheaper
his expenses, and render far less lonely and haz
ardous his march over the plains In this one
utility.
Mr. Eddy's plan embraces another great i'm.
provement, which enables him to Transmit mes
sages the whole length of the line without re
writing. This Is done by the aid of the batteries
at the way stations, which are to be as an anvil
larry force used to supply the electricity in its lone
route, and thus act so as to accomplish this puF.
pose.
Inc immense advantages of a telegraph line to
California too apparent to need recanitnIat inr
The more they reflected upon the more impor
tant they seem. Not only for private uses but for
those OF the Government, their value can hardly
be computed in dollars and cents line of teIe-
graph would often save the expense of special
messenger to California, not unfreuuentlv sent at
the expense OF thousands of dollars; and in cases
OF great emergency the value of Government or.
ders to our military or naval forces on the Pacific
transmitted In single day, might be greater than
the cost of the entire line, while the aouregate
value of the prodigious current of private mes
sagcs also sent diurnally over the wires would
often rival IN pecuniary importance the magpi
tude OF the greatest interests of the Government
La point OF esse ntal value to citizens on the
Pacific aide, as well az to those on our own who
have relations with California and Oregon II i
impossible to over-estimate the advantages of a
telegraph line.
The brief time within which Mr. Eddy proposes
its construction lie another feature of COMMANDING
Importance Eighteen months is all that he re-
cures TO put the line in working order
In view OF these leading facts before Conorrpss IL
would appear that the only questions TO be asked
further before deciding promptly TO have the line
forthwith constructed, are: first, are Mr. Eddy
and his associates proper and competent persons to
be entrusted with the construction OF the line. and
secondly, are the advantages and compenssfion
they ask, reasonable! The first question we have
no doubt should be answered afhrmatively The
second, as TO compensation, is one which Inust he
solved by an examination of the cost risks and
prospects OF the undertaking. Upon il we of
course have no opinion to offer But il is matter
which 1t cannot be difficult to determine by persons
seriously addressing themselves to the task Onr
desire is to see the line put under way, and from
what we know of Mr.. Eddy and the gentlemen aa
soclated with him, we feel great confidence that
the work could not be entrusted to better hands
we trust the present session of Congress will not
close without the necessary vitality being infused
into his project by that body secure its accom-
plishment.