The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-30
che Atlantic Cable.
70 rHu RDITOR OF THE HERALD.

70 rHu HDiTOK or THE HERALD.
Pei NIT 70 suggest . plan for laying The Atlantic
cable by which oil danger OF breskngucy The strain Of
own weight the motion of tho ship Ia heavy weather
AIRY sudden attenp check lie descent may be avoided
Let noat be CONSTRUCTED or sheet gutsa psroha
perfectly alright and capable OF sustaining the whole
weight Of The cable from the ship the bod OF the
This float being supped with ehesv or rollers al 10 low
rsr his tho cable could freely must he
atached by strong limo to tho ship and allowed 70 dos
astcrp say eit mile any distance which may
ne Geemcc necessary the weight r that portion OF tue
cable between the float aud the ocean bed In Two miles
below the surface and Of the In 1uence Of waves
winds, and comparatively free nom the Inequalities OF
melton whch the veeee Ia suh cted In stormy weather
evident that any strain which may he the lover
portion Of the cable would have to he borne by the noa
which, fr m IL na:ure-eslng a. It were nne resisting
would oney gentle and Almost Uniform resistance
The only strain directly Tho ship would no from
the rag OF that portion OF the cable between TIE Stern
end the float, which could be regalaed by ncreasrg
decreasng the drtanoe between the vessel and The
noat By this plan you viii see that in the rst place. the
immense the cable descending t~o miles, will be
divided between the cai and the hegr portion
being by the aost, ~hch cannot any dauge'
Jerk, In regulating the velocity or ~ descent In the
next place, sudden tion Of the sui her rs
Ing ON The though Of The ses (Which II Ia said caused
the late acciden would .nccf the cable except that small
portion Of IT, about eighth OF inch, which there
would be very itlo pressure
I am not ,cientido man, but useful ideas sometimes
suggest themselves 70 humble and cennnc minds,
which OF skW may practically carry out; and II
tina. this plan would be far better than either Of
tacse suggested In tho HERALD Of this morning. In which
the uze OF small hoatl or buoys we're recommended.
send diagram Of my plan W your ofne. IN order that
those Interested may have an oppoT,nnI;y q ,eelng
WALTER ). ALLEN.
TO THE EDITOR OF TaE HERALD.
From my experience q; the laying OF three submarine
elegrsphs, viz, Dover, HolS head Osiend, we'll
in laying lorg epgths Of wire for ~ experiments,
has always appeared TO be the safest AID esics
cut the cable somewhat Fast and make good headSsy
with the boat thereby leaving the wire tn settle 70 The na
qualities OF the ground ut the bottom by "a gravity au
thereby obvstrg some Of he greatest dsnsers In lay
eiegruphs the VIZ, he great strain tue cable
during the upheavipg Of the ship In heavy sweB
end the ny draui, force Of the ard resistance
Of tbe vesse and machinery when nj the slack T the
paying out Shall have b. come exhausted. THIS course
viii bo apparent 10 any plating m, jd Rod rl1Ii
you consider this hint worthy place In your paper, viii
be gratifying 70 yooIs, &C., D. COPJOlE
TO THE EDIros OF THE HERALD.
INV YORK, August 2s 1851
have entertained he idea frlm The beginning, tn In
layrg the cable there shoald be protection In the
of Re vessel payip ut This think would
the purpose Let two boats or aoss be made o. scen,
capac and aoad at pro distance TO be
by eype- menO from She hbip with friction puleys, 81
constructed Thai It's passage snod lot be retarded while
paying outiht floats will always be kent IN the to toe
eIer OF their fss.eninS 70 the shp by the con or the
cab ran ing out suppose the first float be half 10
from the ship and the ether shree quarters OF mile, the
last boat float maze fact to the first and the first the
pere of laying down. by Immediately cutting the fast
ening at has In TOW the floats, that portion of the cable
between the ship and the floats would Immediately silk
into the vaer and by its own gravity and friction be
tanned upon one float or the other giving opportunity
10 splice and proceed before. the floats cannot DO
eriay affected by sny cormoion OF the from their
relative poeion TO the php and cable. II may require
more cable should there be strong side winds or currents