Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-06-08
The Wonder of the Age.

In a late number of the New York Tribune we find
long and highly interesting account Of the progress
rade by the American and European company who
have undertaken the stupendous and magnificent
project of placing London and New York in tele-
graphic communication, with fattering prospects of
early and complete success. The Tribune says:
The line from Ireland to Newfoundland is to be
constructed by European company of which Mr..
Brett, who has laid down most of the submarine tel
egraphS of Europe, is prominent member. The
capital of this company is two millions sterling and
the enthusiastically perfeced--for the completion
of the work require that it shall be ready for opera
ton by January o. 1s58less than three years hence
The cable of this part of the line is to contain six
telegraphic wires-like the great Mediterranean
bic now being laid down-and is to weigh eight
tons to the mile. In laying it down of course
eral steamers will be required, single vessel
could contain the enormous weight of the entire
mass but the ingenious manufacturers, Messrs. w.
Kaper & Co, of London, have conrived means of so
splicing it as to render the Joints quite as strong
and quite serviceable any other part of the
line Thus, when one steamer has paid out her POT
ton OF the cable, the end will be spced on the coil
on hoard of the next steamer, and on till all is
down. Should storm arise during the process, the
exceeding strength of the cable formed as it is of
mass of heavy iron wires wound spraIly around the
thick tarred envelop and gutta percha cords which
contain the electric conductors, will be sufficient to
hold the steamer If she were at anchor until the
gale is over. Of course the work will be done in
the summer months, when there is little danger of in
terruplon from tempesls. The cable, when once
sunk upon the bottom, will remain there forever, be-
low the range of marine animals, and safe from all
disturbance. 1t would be difficult to fix a limit to
It's duration after it is successfully bedded.
! The Tribune thus speaks of the work vet to be &C.
complished on this side of the Atlantic:
! "Of the company which has undertaken the els
Atlantic portion of the work we have often had &C.
casion to speak. 1t is composed of some eight or
more wealthy gentlemen, who propose 10 build the
entire line from St John, Newfoundland to New
York with their resources Peter Cooper is the
president and Moses Taylor the treasurer of this
conn any ; and Cyrus Field, of its members, has
mate the arrangement with the European company.
The American part of the line will he 200 miles in
length, II miles of which will be under the Gulf of
st. Lawrence, and the of the whole is estimated
at a million and half of dollars. The wires across
Newfoundland will make 400 miles of the line, run
ming through a country hitherto unoccupied and un-
known. In he cutting of the path and other pre-
paratory labors the company have had 400 men en-
ployed during the past year in that island alone
They have been literally aided with grants of land
from that colony, and have obtained advantageo
charters AMI grants elsewhere From our last En-
glish journals we learn that the cable go under
7 the Gulf of St Lawrence was about to be shipped
and we may accordingly expect TO be able to
ceve dispatches from St. John easily and regularly
as we now do from New Orleans. This cable con
tains three electr wires only it being contemplated
to lay down another of the same size when the Eu
ropean wires have been brought across and the nusi
, ness between New York and London REQUIRES it,