Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-08-14
From the N. Y. Tribune.
Deep Sea Soundings and the Ocean Tele
graph.

Deep soundings are obtained by sending down
very neavy waits and allowing them to disconnect
on striking the bottom, that the line may be haul
ed up without resistance We believe the very deep
est soundlngs ever obtained were about 200 miles
north east of Tristan de Acuna in the South Allan
TIC, IN 1856 A very heavy lead was tied fast to a
me put very strong Irvine, and let go from small
boat In dead calm. The Irvine continued to run
oirecuy downward, but more and more slowly, for
about nine hours, and then stopped suddenly 1t
was carefully pulled up about fifty feet and let 90
again several times, always stopping at the same
pont but on trying to haul it quite up the Irvine
parted after only few hundred feet were hauled in
The depth indicated by this trial. made with all the
care possible with such apparatus was little oUer
aaRe males.
The better plan is to leave the lead at tho bottom
ana thus to save the line, and also bring up some
contrivance attached for retaining specimen of the
bottom, Several plausible inventions FOR this latter
purpose have been brought out and tested but with
only moderate success. 1t seems impossible to feel
with any certainty at immense depths, as the line
may be bent in different directions by currents
The U. 5. propeller Arctic the little vessel which
has been lmmortalized by the search for Sir John
Franklin, has lately sailed from this port 10 sound
across from Newfoundland to Ireland, preliminary
to laying an electric telegraph cable and as some
previous soundngs have indicated q comparatively
moderate DEPTH oil parts of the proposed route,
1t is anticipated that the precise depth will be ind-
Gated with considerable accuracy, and sample Of
the bed on which the cable is to lie will be broug
up at each attempt Soundings will be made every
| thirty miles, and each time cannon ball weighing
% los, or a long pointed eaden plummet, weighing
from 10 to $50 lbs, will be left on the bottom.
On late visit to the Navy Yard, We were shown
! the apparatus for this purpose Permanently at
tached to the line is plain straight piece of gas pipe
OF about sths of an inch in inside diameter aud Il
small nest OF gear wheels with large, thin screw
ike boys windmill, which latter twisting around
as the lead deacends enables the gear wheels TO re
gister the depth When ready to sound, the tube i:
thrust loosely through hole in the heavy sinker
that It's extremity will project some inches below
ana the slnkerls then attached to the line by catch
| es, IN such way that slight push upward on the
lower end of the tube will release the weight forey-
En- The interior of the tube srough and is CREASED
little, to insure the bringing portion of the bot
tom INTO which 1t plunges. Ii the bottom is sot
mu0, II Is tolerable indication that violent cur
rent exists to disturb the repose of the heavy cable
which Will sink into its substance. H. however, the
| delicately loaded affair should chance to strike
roughly on the back OF any seay monster in IFS rap
ID descent the load would be detached, aud the
depth recorded some two miles less, perhaps, thar
| that TO which the mysterious conveyor OF marke
reports, loveInessages and declarations of war vii
subsequently sink. From the well-established fact
| that HE IN no form exists beyond certain compar
| atvely moderate depth in the sea- there may be ap
pretended little danger Of any serious mistake from
! this cause
The project for teegraphing directly across the
Atlantic, III one single circuit, is ma gnifcent one
and one the success ofwhich cannot be too earnestly
desired. The present expedition. will probably re
| move some of the obscurities with which the sub
ject is surrounded, and is one Of the noble en-
terprses in which naval vessels are most legit
mately employed in time of peace. The distance is
about 1900 miles allowing for the probable Unequal
ities of the bottom and when we reflect the diff
culties experienced in communicating through long
circuits above the surface, and the immense amount
of property which win be rendered valueess in the
depths of the ocean by complete fracture at any
single point, the greatness of the Undertaking be
comes plainly apparent We are assured, however
that the company having the enterprise in hand will
weigh well ak considerations affecting tho peculiar
circumstances OF the case, ana with the rapid prog
making in all the arts among which snAmar uc
telegraphinE is by means sowest, it is not at
all impossible that very few years may fud us in
familiar chat with cousins in Great Britain
through the medium Of a cluster Of wires buried
thousands Of feet below the deepest dive OF the fnny
trl be, or tic lowest home of any living shehsh