Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-05-31

Cape Breton. This will be seventy-four
miles long, and is 10 be ready on the last day
Of this month, when it viii be shipped direct
to Newfoundland.
The steamer Victoria sailed few days
since for St. Johns with Mr.. Ellis, the Chief
Engineer, and his assistants. The company
confidently expect to have telegraphic conf
munieation established between New York
and st. Johns in the course of this summer.
All the necessary harbor and wharf accom-
mOdatiOns have been secured at that port, Tor
the steamers which are expected to call there
on their trips between America and Europe.
ST. Johns is about two days nearer to Eng
land than Halifax. We have therefore every
reason to believe thatin three months, the OLD
world and the new will be within weeks
hail of each other-an6 that tgitsin three gears
the tlco heaispLeTes 0ilJe IA instantaneous com
Humeation.
We are aware that some will read this Wit h
a smile of incredulity. All the contracts IN
the world will not convince them, that such a
work will ever be achieved. Though the
bond be signed, sealed and delivered, yet
neither Englishmen nor Americans can do
what is beyond all human power To these
evil prophets, we may add word to show
that the enterprise is not so impossible as they
are wont to believe. The first thing to be
noted is the bed of the ocean along the track
of the proposed route. Says Lieut.. Maury,
7 There is at the bottom Of sea between Cape
Race in New Foundland, and Cape Clear IN
I Ireland, a remarkable stepp, which is already
known as the Telegraphic plateau. The
treat circle distance between these two shore
! lines is sixteen thousand miles, and the sea
along this route is probably nowhere more
than 10000 feet deep"
That is not too deep to be reached by the
cable sunk in the waters, and yet deep enough
10 be out of the way of anchors and icebergs
This seems to be a special provision OF nature
TO favor this great work. A chain OF upland
lie under the sea, as if on purpose to bear VI
the chain of intelligence across the deep. Oh
chat broad plateau is to be laid this might,
coil, this serpent, winding arourd the earth
and pressing it together in its folds. Th
y bottom Of the sea IS found 10 be not shar
rock, nor precipice, but soft, shelly sand, int
which the Geographic line may sink and he
come imbedded for ages.
Next as to the material employed. L
speak of lcire would convey false idea.-
For though there are several small cope
wires, these are cased in guttta percha. an
around them is wound coil of heavy wire
forming altogether huge iron cable, stron
enough to hold fast any ship of war in til
world. We have at our Office specimens {
that used under the British Channel, an
under the MediterraneaH. The cable pu
chased for the line from Cape Breton to New
foundland, weighs over five tons to the mil
and that to cross the Atlantic will be muC
stronger.
But the most triumphant proof tn
this thing is possible, is the fact that 1t h
. been done A telegraph has been in operate
u four wears from England TO France. Othe
: stretch to Belgium and Holland.
: The last steamboat brought news that
line of three hundred miles has Just be-
laid ;lnder the Black Sea, by which I'll
Crimea is brought into hourly communicate
I with London. Another is now being la
: from France to the island of Sardinia, an
!. thence across the Algeria. The man WI
= has achieved the greatest of these triumph
is Mr.. John W. Brett, of London. This ge
: tleman is now interested in the TRANSPLANT
! Telegraph Company, and undertakes to be
:. the ocean. With full knowledge of the in
y mense labor and cost, and at all hazards,
{ still dares 10 promise to bind the Atlantic,
: he has already bound the Mediterranean.
; Nor is the difficulty greatly increased I
{. the length of the line. Doubts have be-
u expressed whether an electric current cou
u be sent ssch distance. 1t was said it won
(! not 60 moro than five or six hundred mile
y and projects we devised for carrying a tel
graph around by way of Greenland and Ic
land. But these doubts are now set at re
: by recent experiments of Prof. Faraday.
:, declares the thing perfectly practicable. I
:, only drawback to his happiness in the disco
I cry, was that it would occupy an appreciat
:, time in the passage. He seemed at this !
: tie disappointed When asked, How 10
- it would take to pass from London to NJ
H. \. York;" he answered, POSSIBLY one second
!, This is not quite rs quick as we expectC
p but on the whole we think that will do