The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-04-22
Laying Submarine Telegraph Gables.

The Magnetic Telegraph Company be-
tween New York and Washington, having
connections reaching to New Orleans, has
Just laid two English triple wire cables across
the Susquehanna, opposite Havre de Grace,
for the purpose of securing permanent and
uninterrupted connection Of the wires al that
point. The cables were laid 10 about an
hour and half, and eight thousand feet Of
cable were used for The purpose. The meth
od Of lay ing submarine cables across rivers
is nearly the same as laying them across
seas, though, in the latter case, the risk and
difficulties are much greater. Mr.. Butt, who
laid the telegraph cable across the British
channel aud between Sardinia and Africa,
recently read paper beforc the British Roy.
al Institute, giving his experience in such
undertakings. In laying The cable from Pied.
mont TO the Island of Corsica, a large sleam-
er was nseI with the cable in the hold. Sud.
denly the cable commenced running out
with an impelu osity that endangered the lives
of the workmen. Two miles of wire were
run out before this was checked. When at
length checked, il was found that the insula-
ton of the line had been impaired, and the
injured portion had TO be recovered from the
sea and cut out--a difficult and laborious op-
Grafton. The cause of the accident was the
great weight of tho length Of cable in sus-
pension whe n passing over deep hole in
the bottom of the sea. In another attempt
10 lay cable from Sardinia 10 Africa the
vessel became unmanageabIe, lost her course,
and there was not sufficient cable TO reach
the land. The cable was severed when
about tweuly.six miles had been paid out,
and the remainder saved for another trial.
On tho second trial, when about sixty miles
had beer paid out, another sudden and a'arm-
ing run Of tho cable occurred. The insuIa-
lion of The cable was again impaired and as
the injured part could not be recovered from
tho sea, it was decided TO sever the cable
aud return TO Sardinia, TO recover il from the
other end. Two more attempts were made
to..complets the laying of the cable, but in
one case the vessel was driven out Of her
course, aud in the other the cable was sever.
ed by violent plunge OF the vessel in
storm. The enterprise yet remains unac-
complished. 1t is said that depths Of nearly
two miles were encountered.
But even after the cable is laid, there is
risk of accident impairing its usefulness.-
The London Artisan, of February, describes
an accident which occurred 10 the Dover
submarine cable, by which communication
with the Continent was temporarily Gu, off.
A ship of 700 tons, driven by gale of wind
dragged her anchor, and came npon the Os-
tend Telegraph cable, which, after holding
The ship some time, gave way. The ship
was driven forward with violence, but sud.
denly was brought up head TO wind by the
Calais cable, which held her for about an
hour, when the second cable gave way, and
both lines were afterwards found unworka.
BILE. The experiment of laying cable
across the Atlantic, which is now about 10
be tried, is The greatest undertaking of the
kind ever attempted, and will be attended
with corresponding difficulties and danger
The first experiments may not succeed, but
eventually there is but little doubt tha, the
genius and perseverance OF man will ac-
complish the task.--Ledger.