The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-26

The susmarine Teleg, aph-Its Origin and
Prcgress.
In September, 1851, the first submarine cable was
laid across the English Channel, from Dover to Ca
lais distance of twentyfour miles, and since then
about thousand miles have been laid between DIFF
ferent points ON the continent Of Europe As early,
however, AZ 1843, the idea Of the submarine teie-
graph was suggested by Professor Morse, in COM
muncation, dated August the 10th Of that year. adj
dressed to the Secretary of the Treasury In this he
usesthe following words speaking OF an experiment
which he had previously made TO test the practica.
biiv of transmitting the electric current through
wire submerged in water "a telegraphic COM
mup.cation on my plan may with certainty be estab-
lished across the Atlantic. Startling as this may
nov SEEM the time will come when this project
shal be realized"
ne first experiment on record Of Geographic
communication beneath the water, was made
by Professor Morse in 1912, in this city. The
wire was laid from Castle Garden to Governors
Islad, and was about mile in length. The
experiment was announced in the daily papers
and great deal Of interest was manifested in it by
the rople Of New York, and the Battery was crowd
ed VIII spectators on the appointed morning. The
nigh before, the Professor went in a small boat
witltwo assistants and paid out the wire which was
insuted and protected from the water by means
of stton saturated with shellac and afterwards
steeed In bkumen. They completed their work In
fe hours, and awaited eagerly the time appointed
forle public exhibition. They had tested it them
sells and were satisfied of its success but still there
we dread apprehensions that some accident might
ocG to interfere with its operations on the follow
ineday. Unfortunately their worst fears were
re&ed; the morning after the wire was
lai they had the modification Of seeing
SEN vessels lying at anchor Immediately
Ow it. When the Professor observed this
heemarked to his companions that they would have
nexperiment that day, as he felt certain some Of
tle vessels would take up the wire on their an
c,rs. He proceeded, however, to attach the bat
Nes and instruments and found that it still worked
INST successfully. Soon after, one of the vessels
vs perceived getting under weigh, and it was
hnd that in raising her anchor she had pulled up
te wire, about hundred feet of which was hauled
G deck by the sailors, who were in woful ignorance
cts use. The accident caused, as might naturally
l supposed, much public disappointment but it
lDved, however, the practicability Of transmitting
ectrcity through submerged wire when insulated
ad kept entirely free from the action of the water
here was one great difficulty which it was found
npossible to overcome: the protection afforded by
ne covering of cotton saturated with shellac
nd bitumen, was only temporary as the material
ould not long resist the continued action Of the
vater In this emergency the virtues Of India rub
yer were tested, and wire covered with it laid
lcross the North river, between Fort Lee and Fort
Washington, in 1916 or 1S47, by Mr.. Cornell, but
with the same discouraging result. Several other
materials were tested, and having failed the project
of submarine telegraph was about being abandon.
ed when the invaluable properties of gutta percha
were discovered. 1t was found that it not only re.
sisted the action OF water but that as a non-con.
duct0r 1t was even superior TO glass; Shortly after
its discovery the manufacture of the submarine
cable was commenced, and, as we have already
stated, Dover aud Calais were brought into instant
with each other. Harwich and Os-
tend, and London and the Hague were also con.
nected; and, as We have SEEM cable has been laid
across the Black Sea since the commencement OF
the war, while another Is at present in course of
completion across the Mediterranean.
In May, 1861 Mr.. II. d. Tebbetts, OF this city, asso
ciated with him several influential gentlemen for
the purpose OF organizing company to build steam
ers Of large size and run them between New York
and Galway, Ireland. These vessels were to be
specially adapted to perform mail service between
the two continents, and to accommodate the large
emigrant travel from Ireland to the United States.
in originating this enterprise Mr.. Tebbetts con-
ceiyed the idea Of the Newfoundland telegraph now
70 prominently before the public. He Immediately
entered into correspondence with different mem
bers Of the Newfoundland government concerning
the feasibility Of constructing line Of telegraph
across its territory, with the view of making st.
Johns port of call for the steamers to and from
Galway. He was assured that the plan was
perfectly practicable, and that the government
would make liberal grants and concessions to secure
ia acc ichmauf Shortly after fha nj
ordered survey to be made, and employed Mr. f.
N. Gisbourne, an engineer, who, on the completion
Of the survey was sent with letter Of introduction
to Mr.. Tebbetts, in December 1861, from Mr.. s. g.
Archibald. The result OF the interview between
Mr.. Tebbetts and the engineer was the offer Of
900 by the former to the latter the condition
that he would return to Newfoundland and procure
such charter as Mr.. Tebbetts desired.
The object Of paying 30 large an amount was TO
secure secrecy, which, at the time, was absolutely
necessary to the success Of the mission ON which
Mr.. Gisb0urne was sent. The charter was obtained,
. company formed, and one hundred thousand dol
lars expended in prosecuting the work. A land tee-
graph was constructed across Prince Edward
Island, q distance of seventyfour miles, and sub
marine cable ten miles long, across from that island
10 New Brunswick. Unfortunately, however, the
in consequence Of pecuniary embarrassments.
Through the exertions of the originator Of
The enterprise, however, the gentlemen now
engaged in the enterprise. Mr.. Cooper, Cyrus
w. f1elu, M. ". hODerts, Cnandlcr Wnltc ana moses
Taylor, were induced to take hold OF it; new char
Ter was obtained, the property of the old company
purchased and its debts paid by them. Avail
ing themselves Of the experience Of the old company,
these gentlemen pushed forward the work with ener.
gy, until they had every reason TO believe 1t wonld
be fully completed this fall. The accident in laying
down the submarine cable across the Gulf Of 81.
Lawrence has, however, disappointed them, and the
public will have to wait till next summer for tee
graphic communication to be established between
New York and st. Johns. After making these ar
for the Newfoundland enterprise,
Mr.. Tebbetts turned his attention to the idea
Of o transatlantic telegraph. The distance be-
tween st. Johns and Galway being 50 great,
il was thought by him highly impractical
bic, IL not utterly impossible, to make those
the connecting points for submarine cable. Ac-
cordngly, Mr. I. p. Shafiner was despatched TO Eu-
rope as his agent 70 obtain from the Danish gov
eminent such concessions as would enable the line
10 be established by way OF Greenland, Iceland and
the Farce Islands. Mr.. Sbafiher was eminently
successful and obtained the necessary grants, with
exclusive privileges for one hundred years. At his
with the King Of Denmark Mr. Shaiiner