The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-03-21

loFFIcIAL.]
NATIONAL OBSERVATORY,
February Do. 1852

on at this Office, concerning the winds and cur
rents of the sea. Her operations were con-
fined principally to that part of the ocean
which merchantmen, as they pass to and fro
upon the business of trade between Europe and
the United States, use as their great thorough
fares.- s
Lieut. Berryman availed himself of this op-
portuhity to carry along also line CT deep sea-
soundings from the shores of New Foundand
to those OF Ireland. ssr
The result is highly interesting, and, as it
bears directly upon the question Of a subma
rine teleg raph across the Atlantic, beg leave
TO make it the subject of special report.
!. This line of deep sea-soundings seems to be
decisive of tho question as to the practacabil-
ty of a submarine telegraph between the two
continents, in SO far, at least, as the bottom OF
the sea is concerned. ~
From New Foundland to ireland, fhe dis.
tance between the nearest points is one thou
sand six hundred miles, and the bottom of the
sea between the two places is a plateau, which
seems to have been placed there especially for
the purpose of holding the wires of the subma-
rine telegraph, and of keeping them out of
harms way. 1t is neither too deep or too shall
low, yet,itis so deep that the wires, being once
landed will remain forever beyond the reach
of vessels, anchors, icebergs, and drifts of any
kind; and so shallow that the wires may be
readily lodged upon the bottom.
The debth of the plateau is quito regular,
gradually increasing from the shores of New
Foundland, from the debth of from fifteen
hundred to two thousand fathoms, as you ap-
p-oach the other side. The distance between
ireland and cape Charles. or Cape St. Lewis,
in Labrador, (Straits of Bello Isle.) is some
what less than tho distance from any part of
Ireland to the nearest point of New Found
land.
But whether it will be better 10 lead the
wire from New Foundland or Labrador is not
now the question, as to the possibility of find
ing r;mo calm enough the sea smooth e..
nough, and ship big enough to carry and lay
a coil of wire sixteen 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 Il asatisfacto-
ry and practicable solution of them.
simply address myself, at this time, to the
question in so far as tho bottom of tho sea is
concerned; and as for that. the greatest practi-
cal difficulty will, Iapprehend, be found after
reaching soundings on either side ofthe ocean,
and not in the deep sea. tr
| submit herewith chart showing the
depth of the Atlantic, according to the deep
sea souhdihgs made, from time to time, on
board Of vessels of the navy, by authority of
the department. and according to instructions
issued by the chief of the Bureau of Ordnance
and Hydrography. This chart is plate xiv. of
the sixth edition of Maury's Sailing Directions
By an examination of it, it will be perceived
shat we have acquired, through SIMPLE means,
"a pretty good idea as to tho depression below
tho sea level of that portion of the solid crust
of our planent, Which underlies tho Atlantic
ocean and constitutes the basin that holds its
waters. tuf
A wire laid across from either of the above
nsmed places on this side would pass to the
north of the Grand Banks, and rest on the
beautiful plateau to which have alluded, and
where the waters of the sea appear quiet
and as completely at rest as they arc at the
bottom of a mll-pond
II is proper that the reason shall be stated
for the inference, that there are no percepta-
bic currents and no abrading agents at work
at tho bottom of the sea upon this telegraphic
plateau derive this inference from the stady
of physical fact, which little dreamed when
4 sought it, had any such bearings
1t is unnecessary to speak, on this occa sion,
of the exceeding rich gems which pit ysicul
facts even apparently the most trihing, are of
ten found to contain. l,.if..r ,..ti.fI
Lieutenant Bergman brought up, with
Brooks deep sea sounding apparatus, specimens
of the bottom from the platua. sent them
TO Professor Bay. of west Point. for examna-
tion under the microscope. This he kindly
gave them, and that eminent microscopist was
much surprised to find as was 10 learn. that
all these specimens of deep sea soundngs were
filled with microscopic shell; in the words Of
Professor Baily, not particle of sand or grav-
el exists in them"
These little shells, therefore, suggest the
fact, that they came; that Brooks lead found
them where they were deposited in their buri-
al place, after having lived and died on the
surface and by gradually sinking, had lodged
on the bottom. w $500 pr.a. -le7
Had there been currents at the bottom, these
would have swept, abraded, and mingled up
2 with the microscopic remains the debris of the
bottom of the sea. such as aczi, said gravel and
other matter, but not particle of sand OF
gravel was found among them. Hence the i'm.
ference that these depths of the sea, thcn are
not disturbed either by winds OF currents.
Consequently, telegraph wire once lodged
there, there it would remain as completely be-
yond the reach of the drift as it would il bu.
fied in alright cases. Therefore, so far as the
deep sea between New Foundland or the Cape
on the north side of the Straits Of Belle Isle
and Ireland is concerned, the practicability o.
submarine telegraph across the Atlantic il
proved. .seflllsTg s@-saeN ~
The present state of Europe invested the
subject of a line of telegraph wires across the
htiailiC viii hige uegrce VI intercst AZ tnI
moment to the Government and people of thu
United States. .7r d
o. general European war seems now almost
inevitable; the attitude which this country will
assume with regard to all the belligerent pow
ers that may be involved in that war, is stric
and impartial neutrality. ~ ti.-g f~rr
=, The better to enable the government Il
maintain that position, and the people of the
United States properly to avail themselves O
all the advantages Of such position, a line o.
Acknowledgements communication with Eu
rope would be of incalculable service.
In this view of the subject and for the pur
pose of fastening the completion of sucl, lin,
take the liberty of suggesting for your con
siderstion the propriety of an offer, from tn,
\. proper source, of a national prize to the com
pany through whose telegraph wire the frs
~ message shall be passed across the Atlantic.
i have the honor to be respectfully otc.,
- E, M. r. MAURY, Lieut.. u. s. N.
The Hon J. G. DoBBIN, ~ ,ftrnHf t1
Secretary of the Navy, Washington. orr
INFANT KILLED By RATs--At Dublin
l.