Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-04-08

crafty proving lhc cicCliNa h'hcNS va
the cable to the fullest extent The
result Of these experiments. we are in
formed, has been in the highest degree
satisfactory.
Most of those acquainted with the
first efforts which were made to send
messages through the entire length of
the cable know that the retarding in
fuence, or whatever other name cleo
tricians may now choose to call it,
which exists in long conductor, ex-
ercised most serious influence upon
the rapidity with which it was found
possible to transmit words through
the full extent of the wire. Constant
experiments, joined with practical skill
in working the wire daily, have ena-
bled Mr.. Whitehouse to overcome so
much of this resistance that five words
per minute can now be sent through
the 100 miles of the cable: ::at present
at Keyham, and it is fully expected
that before the time comes for its Sec
ond submergment eight words will be
transmitted with case and certainty
To many of our readers unacquaintcd
with the practical working of subma
rine lines only eight words per minute
may appear to be but poor result,
after all, though we can assure them
that, if ever attained, it is such an i'm
provement in the rate of transmission
as not many ventured to anticipate
who saw the cable worked for the first
time last summer. At the same time
such result seems to show with most
convincing clcarnes that, though 4S0
words per hour through this line. if
successfully laid down, might doubt
less amply rcmunerate the company.
it would still be almost as far as ever
from accommodating the business mes
sages between Europe and the New
World. If, therefore, this line is sub
merged this summer it will follow as
a matter Of course that three or four
others must be laid as well, and there
seems no reason why if one can be
laid down there should not be as many
telcgraphs under the Atlantic as there
are now under the Channel.
When the Adonis, with 400 recent
ly completed miles, arrives at Ply
mouth on Monday next :hc additional
length will be Immediately landed and
joined on to the coil already at Key
ham. This will raise the ehtire length
Of cable already manufactured to nearly
1850 miles, or some 80 miles or
thereabouts more than the entire length
with which the expedition started last
autumn. There is no doubt, however.
but that the first attempt was made
with too small an allowance for casu-
slities, and that consequently when the
cable parted, and about $50 miles were
lost in the depths Of the Atlantic, it so
reduced the length of wire remaining
at the disposal of the engineers that
further perseverance in the attempt be-
came almost impossible. To guard
against a recurrence of this mishap it
has now been determined to man
ufacture an additional 800 miles of ca
bic beyond the $3.50 miles which we
have stated as already completed
This additional quantity will be com
menced at Glasse & Elliot's work on
Friday next, and will be completed in
a month or so, and forwarded to Key
ham to be joined to the main coil,
which will then measure nearly 5000
miles in length. The Niagara and
Agamemnon are again to be the YES
sells employed in the attempt of this
year. The former was to leave New
York. we believe, on the first of this
month. and is expected at Plymouth
about the 18th or 18th. On her arri.
val at that port she will instantly
commence taking on board her shar,
of the immense wire, which this tim,
, will amount in length to 1900 miles
instead Of 1000 as on the last occas
r ion. On board the Agamemnon the
cable will not be coilcd away in one
: prodigious mass amidships, but be
distributed equally on the fore, mid
ship and after part of the vessel, il
| three coils of about 500 miles each
By this arrangement, Of course. th'
: weight Of the wire equally distributed
| and the ship well trimmed. The yer,
: reverse Of this was the case last au
tumn, when the weight of the who'll
. mass was concentrated amidships, and
I thus balanced on the principle of I
Chinese toy. the poor Agamnmnol
G rolled on the least swell till her yard
almost touched the water.
The attempt to lay down the cabl
G will be made this year at much ear
$ lier period than on the last occasion
I AS soon as the coils, with all the nee
: cssary apparatus and appointment
g are slowed away on board the Aga
memnon and Niagara-which will b
about the beginning of May-both YES
sells will leave for a short trip in dec
water. when a number of experiment
will be made with the paving out ma
: chinery. and TO ascertain practically
o any difficulties exist in the propose
j plan for submcrglng the wire from tn
i center of the Atlantic. These experi
4 ,nents will be brought TO an end in
v few days, and any alterations whic
: their results may suggest in the ma
5 chincry or manner of paving out tn
# wire having been adopted as soon a
g possible. the expedition Will hnail
5 start about the beginning of June
V All the best autho,it tiles and most ex
J. pcrienccd seamen have been consulte
Il on behalf of the company as to th
e state Of the weather in the Atlantic j
d the month of June, and we believe th
: result of an immense mass of tcstimC
n nv goes to prove that there arc som
&c FIVE or six consecutive DAYS in tina
e month during which gale in the Al
!. lantic was seldom or never known [