Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-08-25
Submarine Telegraph at Paducah.


The great submarine Telegraph Cable, on
the St. Louis and New Orleans Telegraph
Line was laid across the Ohio river at this
place, on Monday last, the 26th inst. We
examined this strange piece of mechanism,
a few days previous to the time it was de-
posted in Its watery abode, and was not a
little astonished at its wonderful strength.
It's composed OF large iron wire, COW
cred with three coatings of Gidia Perchd,
making cord of about five-eights of an inch
in diameter.
To protect this from wear, for security
Of insulation, there are three coverings Of
strong OSaGbTg, saturated with an elastic
composition Of non-electricS; and around this.
are eighteen large iron wires, drawn tight as
the wire will bear, and the whole is then
spirally dashed together with another large
wire, passing around at every of an inch.
The whole forms a cable of near two inches
in diameter, and it is much the largest and
most substantial cable of the sort, in The
bnoWn uorld.
We are told that the great cable across
the Channel from England to France, is in
ferior in size to this, and by no means as
well insulated for electrical application;
while, in point of strength, it will not COM
pare at all with the one at this place. The
British wire across the Channel is surround
ed by eight wires only, while ours has eigh-
teen. Ours is spirally dashed, while the
British is not. The electric wire in the
British cable has but one coating of Gutta
Percha, while ours has three, and is alto
gather superior, in every particular.
This stupendous wire, which now con-
ducts the lightning from shore to shore, be-
meath the bed of the majestic Ohio, is 1920
feet in length, and the longest one to be
found in the United States. 1t has been
constructed by that amiable end accomplish
ed gentlemen, T. P. Shaliner, Esq, late
President Of the company, and now Secre-
tary of the American Telegraph Confeder-
alton, assisted by ]. B. Sleeth, Mechanical
Engineer. These gentlemen have made
improvements in the construction of cables,
both scientific and mechanical which will
entitle them TO Letters Patent, and the
country may well be proud of them, as men
Of skill and ability, in what ever they may
undertake.
The wires on this line, we understand,
have been exceedingly troublesome and ex-
pensive to the COMPARTMENTS of $4,000
having been expended in unsuccessful ef-
forts 10 cross the rivers in such a manner
as TO secure them against accident; but this
great effort has accomplished the object, and
there can be no future loss sustained, on ac-
count of breakage Of mast, wires, sc.
We rejoice that the work has been sue
cessfuly accomplished and that it has
proved fully equal to the most sanguine cal
cuation our friend Shahner had made of its
utility. We had the pleasure of receiving
the first dispatch which ever passed under
the Ohio, on this mammoth cable, which
run as follows:
''ILLINoIs BORROW, July 16, 1853.
Coz. PIkE:-I send this through the
great cable, successfully laid to-day.
SHAFFNER."
Success to Shalfner! He may we'll be
styled the Lightning King" after this!
May he live a thousand years, and succeed
in everything whchhc undertakes, as he has
in this instanceI We regret to learn that
he will soon go from amongst us, to engage
in his new duties at Washington city; but
even from that far distant point, we shall
expect TO hear from him occasionally,
through the medium of electricity, which
seems to be his favorite element Paducah
Pennant,