Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-08-28
From the National Intelligencer.
RRIEF HISTORY OF THE ATLANTIC TELE


Amid the general exutations with which the COM
pletion of telegraphic- communication between
Europe and America is hailed, the gratitude of all is
naturally turned towards those who have been pre-
eminent in initiating the measures which have con-
Quoted to this grand result The history of the
corporation under whose auspices and by whose in
domiable energy the magnificent enterprise has been
brought to q contamination justly fills large space
in the eyes of those called to contemplate the agen-
cies to which primarily indebted for the
Trans Atlantic Telegraph Especially is great praise
awarded, and justly awarded, to that now renowned
citizen of New York, Cyrus w. Field, ESQ.,, to whom,
more than to any other, is ascribed the honor of
planning and concerning organized effort to test
the practicability of this stupenGous undertaking.
Submarine cables, it is true had been already laid
between many points of the earth's surface, from
the time when in the year 1860, the first teegrapbc
connexion was instituted between Dover and Calais,
q distance of twenty four miles. But the wide in
terval which parted the two continents of Europe
and America, the unknown character of the dark
unfathomed caves" at the bottom of the Atlantic,
combined with the difficulty at first encountered in
the Transmission of the electric force through sub
marine or underground coils of great length, were
snpposed fer . time to present almost insurmodnt-
sUie uxffers 70 tne spseuy Ut .a''
titanic task. Meanwhile, as before, science was as
siduously at work in her cloisters, and the latter
difficulty, if not wholly overcome was at least be-
leved to be sufficiently obvated to justify attempt
to translate theory into fact by proving the feasib
ty of Transatlantic telegraph.
It was at this stage of the preparations preliminary
to trial of the grand experiment that the Il" New
York Newfoundland, and London Telegraph Com.
pany was formed mainly through the tact, business
capacity and Intelligence Of its Vice President,
Mr. Field The first step taken was to secure char
ter for the corporation. This obtained in April,
1854, from the Colonial Government of Newfound-
land and the purposes of the company were further
seconded by the Provinces of Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick, and finally, by the promised aid and CO.
operation Of Great Britain and the United States in
laying the cable and contributing to support of the
work il ever brought into actual operation.
Great Britain granted an annual subsidy Of E14,-
600 sterling until the nett profits of the company
reach six per cent. per annum the whole capital
of R85O.060 sterling, the grant then to be reduced
to 100000 sterling per annum for period of twen-
ty.fve years. The United States grant an annual
subsidy Of $40 coo until the nett profits yield six
Der cent per annuus then 10 be reduced to $50 600
per aapum EytPeried Of twenty five years, subject
to fermiDsdinn 81 Contract by Congress after ten
years, on giving one years notice. Both nations
also agreedao furnish vessels to lay the cable.
Professor Malse was appointed electrician of the
company, which proceeded to connect St. Johns,
Newfoundland, with the lines already in operation
in the British North American Provinces and in the
Upi4sd States, by immersing thirteen miles of cable
across the Straits of Northumberland and eghty.ve
miles in the waters Of the st. Lawrence.
The "New York, Newfoundland, and London
Telegraph Company having next procured decisive
house and Charles Bright, both able electricians, O
the possibility Of their enterprise deputed their Vict
President, Mr.. Cyrus w. Field to visit England ir
the summer Of 1856 for the purpose Of effectinl
such arrangements as might seem expedient to pro
mote the success of the undertaking Mainly through
his agency the existing Atlantic Telegraph Company
was called into being, not only chartered, but
also . ns0neyed corporation. comprising the hold
ers Of three hundred and fifty shares OF one chou
sand pounds each. The charter of the origins
- A. Z.
land telegraph cables on the shores of Newfound
land and other parts of North America, and 70,
twenty FIVE years to do the same thing on the shores
of Nova Scota, was then made over to the new as
sociaton, together with all concessions bearing upor
the undertaking which might be hereafter obtained
Bright which in any way concerned the working o
nstrnments in marine circuits of great length.
In regard to the route by which the proposed tee
graph should run, it will be obvious to the reader
that besides the advantages in point of diminished
distance. furnished By that lying between Irelant
and Newfoundland this selection was also determin
ed by other Indispensable considerations the result
Of explorations made BY Lieut. Bergman, of tn
United States Navy, who, armed with the ingeniou
apparatus invented BY Lieut. John N. Brooke TO
the taking Of deep.sea soundings, demonstrated tn
existence Of vast submarine plain, (already com
monty known as the Geographic Plateau which q
its greatest depth Is scarcely twelve thousand fee
oeov ne level q the sea. and extends in continu
CaPeO Clear, in Ireland This plain is generally level
and deep enough tobe below disturbing causes. II
bed d composed Of particles of shells 80 minutel,
trturted astc render their character andiscoverab
save WITH ne 40 q = microscope. In this bed !
was believes that the cable could repose in perfec
security. ~, "a ~ ~ .13sts,7'se5
Ihs reuts being ads,sIly decided, the mechanic.
eonAtfucion d The rxble was next to be consdered
contrary eondifi6es of the problem, afforded 5,
no means an solution of the question raise;
uH0es TIL I'D Z n svsa aysrsrerf th.t .-IS