Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-11
OFFICIAL.
NATIONAL OBSERVATORY,

] NATIONAL OBSERVATORY
/ WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY o. 1854.
SIN: The Un1ed States brig Dolphin, Lieut.. Com
manding o. e. BEHRYMAS, was employed last summer
are carried on ct this office concerning the winds and
rents Of the Her operations confined princi-
paly that part of the which merchantmen, as
they pass to and fro upon the business Of trade between
Europe and the United States their great thorough
! fare.
Lieut. Bergman avaed himself Of this opportunity to
carry along also line Of deep soundings from the
shores of Newfoundland to those of ireland.
The result is highly interesting, and it bears direct
y upon the question Of submarine telegraph the
Atlantic beg leave to make it the subject of special
report.
This line Of deep soundings to be decisive Of
the question to the praccabity of submarine tele
graph between the two continents in SO far at least as the
bottom Of the sea is concerned.
From Newfoundland to Ireland the distance between
the nearest points, is thousand six hundred miles,
and the bottom of the between the places is pa
teau which to have been placed there especially
for the purpose Of holding the wires of submarine tee-
graph, and of keeping them out of harms way II is
neither too deep nor too shallow yet it is deep that
the wires being landed will remain forever beyond
the reach of vessels anchors cebergs and drifts OF any
kind and shallow that the wires may be readily lodg
ed upon the bottom. gE
The depth Of theasdu is quite regular gradually in
creasng from the shores Of Newfoundland from the depth
Of from fifteen hundred to two thousand fathoms as you
approach the other SIDE The distance between Ireland
and Cape Charles Cape St Lewis in Labrador Straits
of Belle se is somewhat less than the distance from any
part uf Ireland to the nearest point of Newfoundland
But whether it will be better to lead the wire from
Newfoundland Labrador is not the question nor
de pretend to consider the question the possibility
Of finding time calm enough, the smooth enough
and ship big enough to carry and lay coil Of wire
teen hundred miles in length though have no fears
but that the enterprise and ingenuity Of the age when
called on with these problems will be ready with salts
factory and practicable solution Of them.
simply address myself at this time the question In
far the bottom Of the is concerned and for that
the greatest practical difficulty will apprehend be found
after reaching soundings either side Of the ocean, and
not in the deep sea. .a
submit herewith chart showing the depth Of the At
antic according to the deep soundings made from
time to time board Of vessels of the navy by author
of the Department and according instructions issued
by the chief Of the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography
This charts plate xiv sixth edition Of Maurs Sail
ing Directions. By examination ofitt will be perceived
that We have acquired through simple means pretty
good idea to the depression below the level Of that
portion Of the solid crust Of planet which underes
the Atlantic and constitutes the basin that holds its
waters. Ei
A wire laid across from either of the above-named
places this side would pass the north of the Grand
Banks and rest the beautiful plateau to which have
alluded and where the waters OF the appear quiet
and as completely OF rest they at the bottom of
mill pond. Et' ,..s
1t proper that the reasons should be stated for the
inference that there perceptble currents and
abradng agents at work at the bottom of the upon
this eegraphc plateau derive this inference from the
study of physical fact Of which little dreamed when
sought it had any such bearings.
1t unnecessary to speak this occasion Of the
ceeding rich which physical facts apparently
the most trifing, are often found to contain.
Lieut. Bergman brought up with Brooks's deep sea
sounding apparatus specimens of the bottom from this
plateau sent them to Prof BALY of West Point for
animation under the microscope This he kindly them
and that eminent microscopic quite much surpris
ed to find as was to learn, that all these specimens Of
deep soundngs filed with microscopic shell in
the words of Prof Baily, "not particle of sand
gravel exists in them" s,.ts
These little Shells therefore suggest the fact that there
currents at the bottom of the whence they
that Brookss lead found them where they de-
posted in their burial place. after having lived and died
the surface, and, by gradually sinking had lodged
the bottom
Had there been currents OF the bottom these would
have swept abraded and mingled up with the mcrosco-
pic remains the debris Of the bottom Of the sea- such
aoz sand gravel and other matters but not particle Of
sand or gravel was found among them. Hence the infer
that these depths of the then not disturbed
either by winds or currents.
Consequently, q Geographic wire once lodged there,
there it would remain completely beyond the reach Of
the accidents Of drift it would if buried in airtight
Therefore, far the bottom of the deep
between Newfoundland the Cape the north side Of
the Straits Of Belle Isle and Ireland is concerned the prac
cabity of submarine telegraph the Atlantic is
proved.
The present state Of Europe invests the subject Of
line Of telegraph wires across the Atlantic with high
degree of interest at this moment to the
people Of the United States.
A general European seems now almost inevitable;
the attitude which this country will assume with regard
to oil the begerent Powers that may be involved in that
war is strict and impartial neutrality. ia
The better to enable the Government to maintain that
position and the people Of the United States properly
avail themselves Of all the advantages Of such position
line of telegraphic communication with Europe
would be of incalculable service af#
In this view Of the subject and for the purpose of hast
enng the completion of such line, take the liberty Of
suggesting for your consideration the proprey of Of
fer from the proper of national prize to the
pany through whose telegraphic wire the first message
shall be passed across the Atlantic
have the honor to be, respectfully, SC.
M. F. MAURY, Lieut. U. s. N.
The Hon. ]. G. DoBBIN,
Secretary Of the Navy, Washington.
sNoTE-From Cape Frees Newfoundland, to Erris Head
Ireland the distance thousand six hundred and eleven
miles from Cape Charles ST. Lewis Labrado) to ditto
the distance is thousand six hundred and miles