The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-08-19
VIII tAc Ocean Tclcs rHpEl Pay

While the cable that was discharged from
the Niagara and Agamemmon after the fail.
ure Of the first attempt, was lying at Key
ham, an expensive series Of experiments WINS
tried TO ascertain the velocity with which
words could be transmitted through it.
These experiments were conducted BY MIR.
Whtehouse, the electrician of the Company,
at an expense, we believe, OF some $780,
600. The result was not encouraging TO
the prospects of the company.
1t appeared that but seventeen words in
eighteen minutes-or say word q minute
could be effctuully transmitted. BY the Up
plication, however, of Hughes instrument
that rate OF transmission was quadrupled. -
subsequently, according to report then
published in the London Times, Mr. White
house succeeded in sending five words per
minute through 1900 miles of cable, and
expected that eight words could be trans.
mitted with case and certainty. Whether
the result 80 stated to have been attained
or that expected to be attained, was or will
be actually rcal zed, is somewhat doubtful.
We incline 10 the belief that there has been
considerable exageration INDUCED in some.
where in regard to these experiments. We
do not think that Mr.. Whitehouse ever sue.
ceeded in sending five words per minute
through The cable at Keyham; and it is
question whether the submersion Of the ca.
Bile at the bottom OF the Atlantic ocean will
expedite or retard the passage of the electric
current.
On this will depend the answer to the
question: Win the Atlantic telegraph psy :?
III the average rate OF transmission by the
English instruments should not exceed one
word per minute, then il could not at the
tariff proposed be very profitable concern.
Assuming that the line was kept constantly
operated for the whole twenty.f four hours OF
a day, and that the tariff of prices was dol.
lar per word, charging for address, date, &C.,
the gross receipts would only amount to $l,.
44O per day, or little over half million q
year. Blu, as 1t would not be likely to do
more than half that amount OF business, the
receipts would probably reach no higher
than quarter OF a million a year, which
would leave only some $4,000 above the
interest of the capital invested to go toward
salaries, expenses, wear and tear, &c. So
that at that rate of transmission and thai
tariff, the line would be very far from prov
ing remunerative to its stockholders.
If, however, by the use of the Hughes, OIL
some other instrument yet 10 be invented
the rate Of transmission should be as high o.
five words per minute, the gross annual re-
) ceipts, at full work, would be two millions
and half year, and at half work millior
and quarter; or. not charging for addres
or date, say million dollnrs a-year, 1t il
needless to say how immense the profits I,
the stockholders would be-, even at the low
er of these two computations, when it i
recollected that there will be no expens,
t arising out Of repairs. The maximum rat
OF transmission over the submarine line be
| tween Europe and Africa is only four word
5 per minute; and that rate can be obtaine
: by but one operator. With the rest tn
e rate is from two and.a-half to three word
:, per minute. i.
:, Should 1t turn out that from the immens
y pressure on the cable, or from the use of in
D efficient instruments, but one word per min
8 ute can be transmitted over the Atlanti
d telegraph, then the company might see il
self compelled to fix the tariff at four or fv
dollars word-n definite arrangement hay
!. ing been yetmade on that point. Let mes
' sages be transmitted, however, atthe rate {
five words per minute, and the receipts (
! one year will be equal to thirty. three pc
cent Of the capital Of the company. IN. ]
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