Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-05-08

THE SLAVE TRADE-Our readers will remember
the various accounts which, now, for a long time,
have been coming 10 US OF extensive 1mportaiions OF
slaves from A frica into Cuba.
They will recollect that the telegraph but few days
ago reported the capture of SLAYER bound for that
Island, and the discovery and pursuit OF another
These things will prepare the way for the following
from tn e Savannah Republican of Thursday last:
Notwithstanding the digent exertio3s of the prin-
cipal nations OF Chrisendom to put down this traffic.
there are indie tions that it has largely increased
during the past few years. and bids fair TO do 50 in
still greater ratio, for time 10 come. The great
centre of The trade is Cuba. where we are reliably
informeI there is large and thoroughly organized
company with heavy capital, devoted to the bust
ness. During the past few weeks the following yes
sells have bee, purchased at the prices named, by
houses in Havana, TO be added it is generally be-
ieved TO The African line OF Slavetraders which is
said to number al this lime one hundred and fifty
sail.
The schooner Tauah, of New Orleans, for $1,000.
A sebooner-name unknown of Wilmington, N
c., for $500.
Schooner Abbott Devereaux, of Savannah, Tor
$65O0
Brig R. B. Lawton, of Newport. r l.. 'radingsbe
tween Savannah ana the Cuban ports, fer $4,000.
Balque Minnetoka, 324 tons, of New York, tor
3d. 500.
Schooner Joseph II. Records, (weIl known from
her previous engagement in the trade) OF Newport
R. J., for $4,000
Clara B. Williams, recently purchased by CONNER
cial house in Havana
We have received this information from a source
which we consider entirely reliable, and 1t will as
tonish some people who have been accustomed tt
believe that the Importation Of cargo OF slaves from
the coast of Africa is a rare occurrence.
Interesting the subAtlantic TeIegra pin
The core or conductor of the great Atlantic cable
is composed of seven copper wires wound together
ho fUO nd hI,r1 roin
length, the surplus over the actual distance to be
raversed being considered necessary in of emer
gency, 10 make up for the inequalities in the led oil
the ocean and the variations that may be caused by
the winds and currents. The protecting wires are
made into strands each composed of seven Of the
best charcoal iron wires The aggregate length OF
the smaller wires required in the manufacture OF one
mile of The cable is one hundred and twenty-si2
miles, and the whole cable will require three hun.
dred and fifteen thousand miles of this wire.
The fexiblity of II is cable is so great that it car
be made manageable a small rope, and it is Ca
pable of being tied around the arm without in Jury
lis weigh, is but 1900 pounds to the mile, and its
strength such that it will bear in wafer over six miles
OF its own length if suspended vertically. Some
doubts being entertained to its sinking to The bot
tom, it is enough 10 know that it is heavier than
those shells which have been taken up from the bed
of the by Commander Berry man, while en-
gagged in sounding along the line of the telegraph
plateau.
1t has been asserted too, that the strands of slen
der iron wire By which it protected will suffer cor
rosion or decomposition in short time alter the
submerslon. but in doing the material of which
they consist will enter into chemical union with the
soft mud in which the cable is imbedded and vii
thus form concrete of calcareous or salicious
substance aording the very best possible protection
AS the time selected for the laying of the cable will
be al that period when the days longest, there
will be comparatively little night to cause nterrup
ton to the work The whole operation will moi take
more than eight days IN its completion. On ap.
preaching the land at each end much thicker cable
will be used and oil sufficient strength to render il
less liable to accident from the foung of anchors OF
the effects of the currents. AS proof of the dura
biity of such cable we may here state that we saw
a specimen of that which connects Dover and Calais
and which after submersion of six years was US
perfect as when first put down Accidents from the
grounding OF iceberss at the New foundland terminus
will be rendered impossible by the l0ing and land
ing of the cable in harbor perfectly and-lock in
to which no iceberg can enter, ard where the water
varies in depth from TWO hundred to two hundred and
fifty fathoms.