Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-10-28
PATRICK OF ROCK HILL
why the Gable does not Work

The following explanation of the probable eau
ses of the interruption in the working of the At
lantic telegraph is as reasonable solution Of the
matter as we have met with. 1t is communicated
to the New York Herald by Mr.. C. Barry, an eI-
telegraph superintendent, who speaks from expe-
rience rather than theory
THE present working condition of the cable can
only be attributed to two causes-imperfect lnsu-
lation of portion of the wire not constantly SUBJ
merged. or faulty connection at either terminus
between the cable itself and the ground wire. If
the impedment arises from the first cause, /
should say that the injured portion Of the cable
near Valentia, where the difficulty is supposed to
exist. is above low water wark. This state CT the
| tide removes the water contract and allows the
current to flow through the length OF the wire !;
the tide rises the injured is again submerged {;
water connection is at once formed, and conse-
oueptly the current reaches the point at which the
| wire connects with the water, and returns to the
whence it started, hence the occasional flow OF
signals If the cable was imperfect in any portion
of its constantly submerged length, there could be
no communication through whatever; all the bat
teries in the world would not force the current
beyond the point where the water touched the
wire. An increase of battery would only render
the return CuTTeuL srouSei ono inotS
well might We attempt send the electric current
through spool of cotton. Any practical man
who has had much experience in testing and work
ing lines knows this.
We hear great deal from theorists Of partial
ground connections. On land line such ON In
terruption might occur, but not in submerged
wire I will illustrate this: Take for instance,
the line between New York and Boston. Aportion
of the wire may fall from the posts to the ground
in dry weather, and cause but little injury to the
through working of the current. Let 1t ram for
half m hour sufficiently to moisten the earth, at
the point of contact, and the ground connection
is formed at once and the working the line ceases,
beyoud that point-the current returning whence
it came. The shower ceases, the sun dries up the
moisture, and the continuity is again restored.
Again, we will suppose the wire in perfect order.
Go to any intermediate point on the line throw
o wire (no matter how ine) over the main wire
and place the end In the moist earth you interrupt
the through working at once, the current return
ing to New York remove the wire from the ground
and the continuity is instantly restored. These
are my reasons for supposng that the cable is not
injured below low water mark.
On the other hand, if the present difficulty arl-
ses from faulty connection through the instru-
ments and battery, or anywhere in the circuit be.
tween the shore end Of the cable and the ground
wire, it should have been discovered and reme'
died long since. The test is very simple Attach
o wire to the cable outside oil local connections,
place it on the ground to ground, through instru.
ments batteries and connections, and the espse
of the difficulty is apparent at once.