The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-08-14
N. York aud Llverpool TeIegraph.


We beg pardon Of our readers for calling
their attention to subject in no way con.
neeted with Kansas. 1t is the feat Of the
age, the actual establishing OF a continuous
line of telegraph between New York and
Liverpool, SO that events transpiring in Liv-
erPoOl and London to duy, may be found in
the Enquirer of the next day. "1
Our readers, says the Boston Tines, are
already notified of the selling Of the United
States propeller Arctic, for the purpose of
finding suitable location for the cable Of
the magnetic telegraph which is intended to
connect this country with England. The
taking of soundings and exploring into the
nature of the soil at The bottom of the ocean
will be great labor, but most interesting
one. The preliminary operations and route
are somewhat ns follows: Starting from the
northern part of Newfoundland, place will
be selected where the water is so deep that
the anchor offishing vessels viii not be like.
ly to interfere with the deposit cable. s
The character OF the plateau is so well
known that soundings will be taken only at
intervals of thirty miles over the route. To
make the soundings, different weights are
employed sometimes leads OF one hundred
and fifty pounds each, sometimes shot of six.
ty eight pounds. These are never drawn
up again. The shot is slung in socket,
which is attached to the line by hooks in
such way that the moment the shot strikes
the bottom it is unsh;pped, and the line left
clear. To haul it up would be impossible.
But through the center Of the shot there pas
ses tube, in which are fixed several quills.
These gather up from the bottom specimens
of mud, sand, she'll, aud SO forth, and being
brought up with the line, unerringly indicate
the character ofthe sounding. Marks upon
the line and checks show at moment the
depth to which the weight has descended
Observations upon the currents, the winds,
&c, will not be omitted.
If the survey furnishes results as satisfac.
tory as they now anticipate, the work of
laying the cable will be commenced imme-
diately on its conclusion. To this two steam.
ers will be employed. Both will push to the
middle line between the two coasts; each
having half the cable on board, and from
that line sail either way for the shore, play.
ing out the cable as they run. Communi-
cations with each other will be kept up by
the cable and galvanic batteries, SO that at
a moments notice halt can be effected and
the course of either retracted. 1t is thought
that this division of labor and this hulving
of the tirneTequired in doing it, failure would
be out of the question. From ten to fifteen
days would, under favorable circumstances
suffice to lay the cable in this way.
Each vessel will carry eight hundred and
forty miles ofcable. The cable that they
will select out of one hundred and fifty that
have been offered to them, is not larger than
child's wrist say an inch and quarter in
diameter. 1t has one wire (made of five
strands of copper wire) which is insulated
by covering fgutta percha. Outside o
these four wires are placed, and around them
a gutta percha covering. Outside of that
strong steel wires are wound, and externa
to it hemp cord is twisted. A thick cover.
ing of asphaltum protects the whole.
What the rates are to be for sending mes
sages between New York and London, W.
are not advised; probably dollar word
AS all important dispatches will pass ovel
the cable, it is fair to presume that, if vel
managed, the American and European Tel
egraph will be the most productive enter
prise ever organized in this country.