American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-08-21
From the London Observer, July ~.
Tho Atlantic Tciegraph-PrObable
Success Of the Enterprise.

FROM the LoHIob CJSrpcT, JWy
Tho Atlantic Tolegraph-Probable
Success Of The Enterprise.
There arc some few persons to be
found who venture to predict that the
communication by means of the subma-
rinc telegraph between England and
America, is not SO near its accomplish
mcnt as tho promoters and friends Of
the undertaking would wish, and a
number Of objections have been urged,
some of which completely answer each
other, against the make of the cable,
and the mode to be adopted in its sub
mcrgoncc. There are somc who say
that the cable is too large, and others
that it is too small Some say that
the inner core Of the rope will become
SO sttenuatcd in the process of paying
it down, that it will either not convey
the electrical current, or that it will
break altogether. Then, again, the
machinery for paying it out is too
strong, and that it will break, retard,
or strain the cable in the process.
There never yet was great under
taking which had not raised against it
the voices of many croakers and pens
of many critics, and, of all predictions,
these who prophecy failure are the sa-
fest and easiest to make, for if n mis-
hap should occur the prophets may take
credi. fer their prescience, and if sue
cess should crown the undertaking,
then the prediction was merely caution
and prudence in disguise. Now, the
persons to whom is entrusted the car
rying out of this great enterprise would
be guilty of the most culpable neglect
ii they did not avail themselves ofeve-
ny Tact which experience mi ght teach,
or if they neglected to test the value of
any theory or opinion which would be
submitted to them.
Who are the parties, under tho cir
cumstances, whom it might be desira-
bic to associate in this undertaking.
Clearly those who have had experience
in the working and conducting of tele-
graphs? There is not a name of emf
hence, or person of ability in the
science of telegraphy, who has not, in
point Of fact, been consulted or cnga-
gcd by the Atlantic Telegraph Compa-
ny. There are, in the first instance,
Messrs. Newall u Glass, who have
manufactured every submarine cable
which has hitherto been laid down.
Professor Morse has for years past
devoted the whole of his ability and
energy to the carrying out of the sys-
TEN in the United States. Mr.. Bright
is gentleman whose cxortlons con-
nected with agnctism are we'll
known and deservedly appreciated by
all who have paid the slightest atten-
ton to this interesting science. Mr..
Brett, not less favorably known, laid
the first cable between England and
France in 1851; Mr.. Canning who has
laid tho lines across the Gulf of st.
Lawrence and the Mediterranean; Mr..
Woodhouse, who laid the line from
Varna to Upatoria; Mr.. Webb, the en-
gincer of the submarine line from Or
fordness to the Hague; and Professor
Whtehouse, with several others, are
actively engaged in connection with this
Atlantic telegraph. 1t is by no means
impossible that some unforeseen contin-
gency may not be provided for, but
knowing in whose hands the conduct of
the undertaking is placed, we think it
improbable that they should not sue
coed. Every one connected with the
enterprise appears confident Of success,
and the promptcrs are not to be daunt-
cd by imaginary difficulties. You
doubt whether we shall succeed, do your
said Commander Noddall to q savan
who was predicting failure to US, and
shaking his head ominously at some of
the mechanical arrangements; "then,
sir, on board of the Agamemnon is no
place for you" We confess that we
have great confidence in the abilities
Of such practical men, and we question
whether, if the hearty commander Of
the Agamemnon or his gallant colleague
Of the Niagara, Capt. Hudson, were
ordered to pay the cable out over the
Allegheny Mountains, they would not
undertake and succeed in the task.
As VIC intimated last week would pro-
baby be the case, it has been decided
that the laying Of the cable shall com.
mcnce from Valontia, on the west coast
Of Ireland, and not from point in the
mid-ocean, whence the vessels might
part and proceed in opposite directions.
Telegraphic communications kept up
at short intervals between the ships
and the shore will show the progress Of
the work, while on board a log, recor-
ding complete observations, will be
kept up, showing the rate Of the ship,
the rate Of paying out the cable, tho
state Of the weather, the temperature,
and many other facts Of interest. If
successfully laid it is probable that the
l:.n ,.;Il H.. ,nxo ,,I,tnI a., time ,o cn.,J