Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-10-08

TELEGRAPH SoUND1NGs FROM New Found
LAND TO IRELAND.-The London Illustrated
Ne'oS, publishes what appears to be an au-
thentic statement of the results of the late
surveying trip of the u S. steamer Arctic.
from st. Johns, Newfoundland, TO Valentia
Bay, Ireland, under the direction of Lieuts.
bergman and Strain, of the u S. Navy, from
which we obtain the following facts. The
expedition appears to have been eminently
successful, and the results obtained, are high
~ satisfactory.
The line which has been subjected to this
examination, corresponds with an arc of the
great circle, the distance being 1910 nautical
or 900 statute miles. The difference of Ion.
gitude is ~ deg. q min, and of latitude
deg. ~ mln.,-St. Johns being i'll AZ deg. SO
min., and Valentia 81 deg. So min. Sound
ings were taken at intervals of about 80 miles,
ard at each sounding samples of the ocean
bed were taken. This was done by means of
quilts, affixed to the bottom of the sounding
apparatus, the contents of which were pre-
served, and on the arrival of the party at
Cork, were subjected to a close microscopic
examination. 1t is proved by this exploga-
ton that more than 1900 miles of the dis.
lance, the bottom Of the ocean presented an
unbroken level, the depth of which. below
the surface, is not stated. The greatest depth
of the sounding was 207O fathoms, or two
and a third miles. The whole distance was
free from rocks CT any kind. The substance
OF which the bed is formed, is thus describ-
ed -
" Even the first cursory glance of the sam
pies obtained, disclose an abundance of the
most fragile forms Of shells, either of recent.
or OF fossil infusoria, so delicate, and vet so
perfect, as to afford guarantee of the entire
absence OF any current or movement of the
water at these great depths; thus confirming
In the most satisfactory manner the results Of
|. the previous soundings. Not siugle rock
has been met with, not q particle of gravel
or sand has been brought up, but it appears
as if nature had provided bed "soft as a snow
bank, to use Maurys own words, for the
express purpose OF receiving a telegraphic ca
BILE. Lieut.. Bergman says that he is salts
fed that the lead, with the sounding appara-
tus has buried itself ten OF fifteen feet deem
in this material, and he doubts not that the
cable will likewise sink and imbed itself in
similar manner"
The process by which the soundings were
made, is thus described -
"Ihe vessel being shove to-" and made
TO remain as stationary as possible, the lead
IS dropped into the water from the fore ward
arm, and carries with it the line, which in its
descent, it rapidly unwinds from a large reel.
The descent, at first very rapid gradually di-
minishes in speed, in consequence, not of the
enormously Increased density of the water, as
is usually supposed, but of the graduallv-in-
creasing friction due to the length Of line. TO
be drawn through the water The dimiun.
ton of speed at different depths has been ac-
curately noted by Lieut.. Bergman, and is
remarkably uniform. The descent in the
deeper soundings usually occupied about
hours, The arrangement Of the mechanism
is such, that the moment the rod, CARRYING
the quilts touches the bottom the wires which
were previously supported by hooks, become
detached, and allow the escape of the lead
while the quilts and the register, which are
attached to the rod. thus relieved of its load.
are more easily drawn up again. Still the
process of raising, though facilitated by dis
charging the leaden weight, of GO lbs to l20
lbs, would be tedious and laborous for hu-
man hands. There is,therefore, small steam
engine attached to the reel, having two oscil
latng cylinders, whose piston-rods work di.
rect upon Il crank on the axle of the reel by
this means the raising of the apparatus oe
cupies less time than the descent. Still. it is
slow process; and, occasionally, from the
occurrence Of Il knot or twist in the line. il
has been snapped at the pully, when nearly
raised, and the whole labor of the sounding
together with the apparatus and the spocI.
mems, have been lost"