The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-11-20

LAYING OF THE EWFOUNDLAND TELEGRAPHIC CABLE.
On the 9th of July, after having landed and secured
the end of the cable to the telegraphic station at Cape
Bay, the steamship PrOponttS weighed anchor about
2 O'Clock and steamed across the Gulf, passing out
the cable at the rate of five or six miles per hour,
reaching Aspy Bay, Cape North, (the other terninus)
soon after 5 O'Clock the next morning, occupying 15I
hours, without the slightest injury to the cable, or
kink or bend of any kind.
The cable was coiled in the hold with the greatest
care, in such manner that each successive layer was run
out from the center to the circumference. 1t was not
necessary to stop the engine for q moment. AS the
cable passed from the coil, it moved through a kind
of inverted cast iron tunnel, and over two cast iron
drums, each about nine feet in diameter, weighing a
ton and a half each, and over a pully at the stern Of
the ship. A register { tached to the drum showed
the exact length of cable paid out, being regulated
like a gasmeter-One dial showing the Elthoms, an
other the rifles. Brakes were constantly brought to
bear on tae drums, so that the cable entered the water
straight, and a sufficient strain was kept upon it to
lay it smoothly on the bottom.
While it was being laid in the deepest portions of
the Gulf, some $50 or 200 fathoms, the cable descended
at an angle of about % degrees, showing that its
great weight was more than sufficient to counter
balance the forward movement of the vessel. Com
munication was kept up constantly bewteen the ship
and the shore, while the cable was being laid. After
arriving at Cape North, and while the cables were
being secured on shore Il temporary telegraph station
was fitted up under a tent, and electric communion
ton fully established between the two shores of the
Gulf-a distance of eighty-fye miles. This gratifying
result was announced by the hr1ng OF guns from the
Propontis, and elected the hearty cheers of all in at
tendance. The electric fluid had found its way among
mermaids of the deep with the same facility as when
passing between poles in the open atmosphere. The
manufacturers of the wire were responsible for its
safety until laid in its bed, and for ten days subse-
quent.
On the 10th of June, another cable was laid by
the same company, across the Straits of N~orthumber-
land from Cape Tormentine, N. B., to Cape Traverse,
Prince Edwards Island, q distance of thirteen miles,
with the same success and communication is now
complete between Prince Edwards Island and the
United States. This last cable is only a matter CT
local convenience, the former constitutes an impor-
tant link in the great enterprise of connecting New
York with London. The company expects to have the
whole line complete to St. Johns, n. F., in September
next all that is now wanting being the completion
of q portion of the overland line in Cape Breton and
Newfoundland.
In case of a steamer calling at st. Johns, the news
could be received here two or three days sooner than
by those that stop at Halifax.
The cable laid by the Propontis is of the same de-
scription with that previously lost, except that the
portion designed for the deepest water was somewhat
lighter and had but one conductor, composed of seven
copper wires, whereas the former had three insulated
wires.-J0urnGI of Com.