The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-22

or all The Darvels OF modern electricity, perhaps
earth viii serve as return wire for the telegraph.
When the electric telegraph was first introduced,
TWO isssd % %rcs between Tho Stations rom
20 which signals were to be received and despatched
Supposng, for instance wc wished 70 communicate be-
tween London and Edburg the electrical current could
only be from London 70 Ednburg SO as to record
itself upon the condition that there should be
by which should travel back again TO the place from
Tho electrical current could only be created in London
and detected 1t Ednburg BY the existence Of two electr
cal rOadsono carry the current and the other
turn so TO establish what rs called complete closed
circuit This required two wiresone TO carry the message
shock wave, current from london TO Ednburg, the
other TO return IT, II was soon discovered first, that
wherever there existed an anbrckcn body OF water l.
that the earth itself for all known distances OF electrical
stations, might be similarly used.
How il comes that earth water acts means of en-
closing completing the electrical circuit, s not yet well
understood II is one Of many marvels Of science well
determined, yet hard TO grasp intellectually. Electrical
transmitted from Ireland Newfoundland through 1000
miles Of copper rope not thicker than bodkn these
rents have found their back through the earh under
the depths Of the Atlantic ocean, accurately TO tho spot
from whence they started How have they found their
way back agan9 Has the subtle lightning forced path
through the shortest mathematical line from the spot
where the copper wire dipped into the earth Ncwound
land TO that where the other end OF the wire buried In
Ireandp Arc to conceive some marvellous fluid flow
matter transmitted, by the shortest route between the
two earth ends Of hs cable, or s IL dsed through the
surface OF the earth for sonc unknown distance each
side Of this pahf Arc we, instead OF these pro
ccsses hard to conceive 10 suppose the earth great
reservoir Of naturalization for molecular disturbance,
that the particles Of the wire being disturbed by electrical
vibrations the earth both ends OF the may neutral
ne THESE yorauons wnen potn the ends are an contact
to the rationale Of the fact that the earth return
wire for lengths Of electrical cable provided that cable
be kept throughout its whole length Of electrical com
muncation with the earth.
This scientific aggression necessary render concev
able the stated by Mr. whtchose that the trans
Newfoundland a rcl
ued uninterrupted while they could not be transmitted
from Ireland to Newfoundland II the copper rope had
been completely broken across and the ends separated
from contact, signals could have been either way
But if there existed leakage of electricity one of
the stations, dminuon in the conductbi.ity Of the
wire, by its attenuation other cause a signal
might be received at that station though could be
transmitted from il.
The intensity Of current of electricity sent through
any length Of electric wire cable is diminished some
ratio, depending upon the length Of the wire through
which IL passes. The current, which may be Of
great intensity as il leaves Newfoundland, be-
comes much weaker as il reaches Ireland As
il leaves Newfoundland, IL would perhaps parayze
you Ireland you might take II with mpunty
Now, If there be an interruption leakage, total
stoppage Of the electrical current Ireland the cur
rent sent from Newfoundland TO Ireland might suffer
great dmnuton Of intensity its destination and yet
be strong enough to make itself manifest tho recording
instrument in Ireland. On the other hand the current
sent from Ireland TO Newfoundland suffering great loss
Of intensity its starting point might not after is
dmnution OF intensity be able to record its presence
Newfoundland.
The deep and intense interest which all must feel in the
present interruption Of communication between the Old
and New World must be our apology for eudeavorng TO
populase abtruse point Of science The letter Of Mr.
Whitehouse is more satisfactory In rcspectt makes
hope that the OF the interruption NAV be from
some injury 70 the shore end Of the cable either ire
land or Newfoundland.
We into the dissensons between Mr. White
house and the directors OF the Atlantic Telegraph Com
pany so long only side Of the question presented
TO the public All personal dscord and difference becomes
insignificant when compared with the great question now
NJ stake. There numerous causes which may have
produced the interruption OF electrical communication.
single hole through the gutta percha insulating covering
single hair OF the head 10 anywhere between the wire
and the outer casing Of iron the water occurring
point OF the whole length Of two thousand miles Of cable
would produce the fatal result.
II must also be borne in mind that the mysterious inter
rufton for some minutes Of communication between tho
Agamemnon and the Niagara after faulty piece rope
appeared has been accounted for The raising IN
temperature Of any portion Of the guta percha sheath
from forytwo degrees to sixty seventy degrees might
be productive OF serious interruption OF tho electric
rent In addition to all this have tho extraordinary
pranks Of terrestrial magnetism Tho history OF the pre-
iast by tho directors OF the company contains tn
following Instructive passagc;-
II Is within the bounds OF possibility hat the perturbng
nnenee ofierrestrs magnetism especially during The occur
besome. u is 50, even shorter circuits The supern.
q the Royal obervsicry at Greenwich Nr Ssher MI Gn
frequently Ands indications O the concence such
ecStric ,cirerapn lie tells Of The editor 81 oro n nsss
paper who suspected he ocals of telegraph being
required when he tireeuwich ssfregisisne innGmenis
an es o sPi sI pessS eS os
valleys.
Whatever may be The Of the present interruption
whether temporary or permanent, We must remember
that the great problem-ogsnst the possibility OF which
SO many chances Of failure seemed arrayedof The poss
bty % electrical communication between the old World
ma lI No bash hpan uats.f ,ty rfx.aI