The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-19
Submarine Telegraph Across the Atlantic.
LETTER FROM LIEUT.. hAuRY TO THE SECRETARY OF
THE NAVY.


Submarine Telegraph Across the Atlantic.
LETTER FROM LIEUT.. AAURY TO THE SECRETARY OF
THE NAVY.
NATIONAL OBSERVATORY,
WASHINGTON, Feb. %, 1854. !
SR-The United States brig Dolphin, Lieutenant Com.
mand;ng O. H. Berryman was employed last summer
special service connected with the researches that
are carried at this Office concerning the winds and
currents Of the sea.
Her observation confined principally to that part
of the which the merchantmen, they pass to
and the business of trade between Europe and
the United States, as their great thoroughfare.
Lieutenant Bergman awaited himself of this opportu
nifty to along also line Of deep soundngs from
the shores of Newfoundland to those Of Ireland
The result is highly interesting, In far the bottom
Of the sea is concerned upon the Of
telegraph the Atlantic and therefore beg leave
to make it the subject Of special report
This line of deep soundings to be decisive OF
the question to the praccabilty of submarine tce
graph between the two continents in far the bot
tom of the deep sea is concerned.
From Newfoundland to Ireland the distance between
the nearest points Is about 600 mes and the bottom
OF the between the two places is plateau which
10 have been placed there especially for the pur
pose of holding the wires of submarine Telegraph and
OF keeping them out of harms way. 1t is neither too
deep too shallow yet it is deep that the wires
but landed will remain forever beyond the reach of
vessels anchors, cebergs and drifts of any kind and
shallow that the wires may be readily lodged upon the
bottom.
The depth of this plateau quite regular gradually
increasing from the shores of Newfoundland to the depth
of from 1900 to athoms you approach the other
side.
The distance between Ireland and Cape ST. Charles,
Cape St. Lewis in Labrador is somewhat less than the
distance from any point of Ireland to the nearest point
Of Newfoundland.
But whether it would be better TO lead the wires from
Newfoundland or Labrador not the question do
pretend to consider the question to the possibility Of
finding time calm enough, the sea smooth enough,
wire long enough ship big enough to lay coil of wire
sixteen hundred miles in length though have fear
but that the enterprise and ingenuity Of the age when
called on with these problems will be ready with
satisfactory and practical solution of them.
simply address myself at this time TO the question in
so far the bottom of the is concerned and far
as that the greatest practical difficulties WILL appre
hend be found after reaching soundngs at either end of
the line, and not in the deep
submit herewith chart showing the depth of the
Atlantic according to tie deep soundngs made from
time 20 time board Of vessels of the navy by authori
~ Of the department and according to instructions is
sred by the Chief OF the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydro
graphy This chart plate XIV of the sixth edition of
Maury's Sailing directions
by an examination Of it, it will be perceived that we
have acquired by these simple means pretty good idea
to the depression below the scaevel OF that portion of
the solid crust Of planet which underes the Atlantic
and constitutes the basin that holds its waters
wire lad across from either of the above named
places on this side will pass to the north of the Grand
Banks and rest that beautiful plateau to which have
alluded and where the waters of the appear to be
quiet and as completely at rest as 1t is at the bottom OF
mill pond.
inference that there perceptibe currents and
abradng agents at work at the bottom of the upon
this Geographic plateau
derive this inference from study of physical fact
which little deemed, when sought 1t, had any such
bearings.
is to speak on this occasion of the germs
which physical facts, even apparently the most ring,
often found to contain.
Lieut.. Bergman brought up with Brooks deep
sounding apparatus specimens of the bottom from this
plateau
sent them to Prof Bailey, of West Point for exami
nation under his microscope. This he kindly gave,
and that eminent microscopic quite much
prsed to find, was to learn that all these specimens
Of deepsea soundngs filled with microscopic shells;
TO his own words not particle of sand gravel
exists in them"
These little shells, therefore, suggest the fact that
there are no currents at the bottom of the sea whence
they came-that Brooks lead found them where they
deposited in their burial place after having lived
and died the surface and by gradually sinking
Had there been currents at the bottom these would
have swept and abraded and mingled up with these mi
such oaze sand gravel and other matter; but not
particle Of sand gravel was found among them Hence
the inference that these depths of the not dis
turbed either by currents.
Consequently Geographic wire once laid there, there
it would remain, completely beyond the reach of acct
dent would be if buried in air tight cases. There
fore SO far as the bottom of the deep sea between New
foundand the North Cape at the mouth OF the st.
Lawrence and Ireland is concerned the practcabty of
o submarine telegraph across the Atlantic is proved.
The present state Of Europe invests the subject of
line of telegraphc wires the Atlantic with high
United States A general European war seems now al
most inevitably the attitude which this government will
assume with regard to all the belgerent powers that
may be involved in that is that of strict impartial
neutrality.
The better to enable this govrRmcnt to maintain that
position and the people OF the United States to avail
themselves of all the advantages of such a position a
line Of daily telegraphic communication with Europe
would be of incalculable service.
In this view Of the subject and for the purpose Of
tenng the completion Of such line take the liberty
suggesting for your consideration the propety Of of
fer from the proper source of prize to the company
through whose telegraphic wire the first message shall
be passed across the Atlantic.
NJ f. MAURY, Lieut. d. s. Navy
Hon. j. C. DoBns, Secretary of the Navy, Washington
.From Cape Freels Newfoundland to Erris Head Ire.
land the e ns ss caps chs5s; Cape
New Patents Issued.
List of patents issued from the United States Patent
Office, for the week ending March Z 1854 dated March
WIN. Burnett, of Boston-For improved arrangement
Of fusible plugs or disks for steam boilers.
Isaac Hussey, Of Harveysburg, Ohio-For improvement
Caleb Cook Nashville N. H-For improved arrange
ment Of valve motion for locomotive engines.
Warren Gale, Of Louisrille-For Improvement in the
gauge of straw cutters.
VIM. G. Phillips, Of Newport, Delaware-For improved
method of opening and closing gates.
Joel p Heacock Of Marlborough, Ohio-For apparatus
for rounding and beveing barrel heads.
George W. Cooper, of Palmyra, Ga-For Improvement
Henry P. Kimble, Of Rochcster-For improvement in
sash fasteners.
ment in sewing machines.
George G. Human, of New Haven-For improvement in
sash stainers.
George Levan, Of West Earl Township, Pennsylvania
For improvement in ling machines.
Samuel Loveand, of Astoria, New York-For improve
mcnt in sectional dry docks; ante-dated September
1853.
Levi 3. Tying of Lowell-For improvement in tail
stocks for turning latles.
X. J. r. Stone, of Berlin, Ohio-For improvement in
machines for boring and morticing carriage hubs.
Joseph solenberger, Of Higginsport, Ohio-For i'm
provement in carriage brakes.
James W. Stoakcs of Milan, Ohio-For improvement in
apparatus FOR paying the seams OF vessels
Cbauncey ID. Woodruff, of Tolcdo-For improvement in
suspcndng caves troughs.
Luther B. Fisher, of Cold Water, Michigan-For i'm
provement in seed planters.
jeremiah G. Castor, of Reading, Oho-For improve
ment in seed planters.
Charles Miller, of st. Louis-For improvement in
ing machines.
Clark Policy, Of Nays Landing New Jersey-For i'm
proved method Of operating hydraulic rams
Iayd b. Marks, OF New York-For Improvement in
artificial legs
Seaman G. Ripley, Of New York-For Improvement in
brick machines.
JOSEPH Sawyer, Of South Royaston, Mass.-For i'm
proyemcnt in mi chimes for splitting raftans.