The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-14
:
ANOTHER TELEGRAPH PROJECT
IRON ,ho N y. journal Of Commerce

From the N. Y. Journal OF Commerce
The success Of the Atlantic cable will encourage the
establishment of other lines with or less submarine
wires, to other portions Of the globe Among these is
the proposed route from Key West, Florida to Havana
thence to Yucatn, to Teuanepec, and down to
Panama and ultimately to San Francisco
In 1856 Horace B. Tebbets, esq of this city well
known from his pioneer efforts in the building of the
Newfoundland telegraph visited Florida to obtain from
the Legislature of that State the charter OF company to
establish telegapc connection between Key West and
Havana He did not succeed in getting through special
act for that purpose but achieved the passage of gem
cra law, broad and liberal enough to encourage him in
his efforts Mr.. Tebbets then went to Havana, and
listed the corporation of Messrs Torresas and Sama and
another gentleman all large and enterpsng capitalists
through whom application made to the governor
general of Cuba for the necessary grant, covering
period of twenty-five years. The governor general APP
proved the project in April 1857 and the papers
then sent to Madrid to receive the royal ratification
This would undoubtedly have been given long ago.
but for tho fact that the Spanish government prefer
red to wait for the successful completion Of the Allan
tic telegraph line which then matter of serious
doubt The main advantage to be derived by Spain from
the Cuban telegraph considered TO depend the tr
umph of the great ocean enterprise, US Madrid will then
be brought in complete telegraphic communication with
Havana 1t is supposed that the royal assent will be
given Immediately after the Atlantic line has been put
into practical operation, and that Mr. Torresas who has
been at Madrid for time past to forward the inter
ests of the "Cuban Telegraph Company, will return to
Havana with the ratified documents some time in Sep
to work.
The distance from Key West to Havana is only seventy
miles, aud the cost of laying the cable II is said will
about $500 a mile. The cable will be of the three
threaded pattern that is, with three insulated
ductors The Magnetic Telegraph Company have agreed
to build branch from Savannah Ga, to Key West SO
That at distant day New York be put in telegraph
ic connection with Havana. The advantages of such
line to shippers and traders in New York and elsewhere
arc too obvious 10 need pointing ont.
The company proposes to run wires from Havana
to Cape Antonio the extreme westerly point Of Cuba
thence across the channel 20 Yucatan distance of about
forty miles, where it will connect with line already
built to the city of Mexico They also propose 10
tend the wilcs from Yucatan to Tchuanepcc the
ofc about four hundred miles and south from Tchuan
tepoc to Panama. about eleven hundred miles, passing
through Nicaragua thus aifording telcgiaphic commu-
nication with the United States and Cuba for the steam
boat and railroad companies at Panama. the steamboat
company of Nicaragua and to all ships that may choose
to send messages from those points.
LASTLY this company propose to construct line from
Tchuanepec to Santiago where there is already line
San Francisco three hundred miles north The distance
from Tehuantepec TO Santiago is not far from two thou
sand miles The line win pass through country pretty
we'll settled
We viii not undertake to say how soon, II ever, all
this win be accomplished, but it is all within the pr
view Of the company.