Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-05-15
THE N EW6.


from Europe by the mails Of the Van
derbilt.
The work of coiing the cable on
board both the Niagara and Agamem-
non 10 going on most successfully, and
there is every prospect Of their both
being ready to leave Plymouth on their
trial trip about the Goth Of next month.
The number of miles placed on the two
vessels is between seventeen and cigh-
teen hundred, leaving from eleven to
twelve hundred yet to bc put on board,
OF this amount the latter has ten hun
dred and fifty, and the former some
seven hundred coiled in the cable cir
cles. Every attention and care has
beea given to the essential part Of the
work, and every foot Of the cable is
infinitely inspected as it passes into the
circle. When defective part is de-
tected the process Of coiling is supen-
dcd until the imperfect portion of the
wire is cut away, and the whole is re-
spIiced in manner that not only sccu-
res the perfect insulation Of the conduc-
tor, but actually adds to the strength
Of the cable. There is in fact no de-
partmcnt of the work in which there is
more skill and ingenuity displayed than
in that Of splicing and it is particular
ly deserving Of remark here that only
in one instance during the last cxpcdi-
ton was the cable known to part at a
splicing. This, however, requires an
explanation, from which it will be seen
that the case was an extraordinary one,
and snch as under the new arrange
mcnt will not be likely to occur again.
The splice had been made at the unc-
ton Of the shore end Of the cable with
the deed sea line, and was not as per-
feet rs could be desired, on account OF
the difference in size between the two
portions, SO that when subjected to a
strain it parted while in the act of pass
ing over the wheels or sheavcs of the
paying out machine. The second at
tempt to join the two parts was, how
ever, most successful, and by the aid
Of a hawser to relieve the spliccd por-
tions from any undue strain, it was
lowered safely into the water. The
continuity was found to have been I'M
impaired by the facturc, and the cable
worked as well as If II had never part
cd. With this exception it will be
seen that the process of splicing, so far
from weakening the great sea line, has
actually a tendency to strengthen it,
and has no injurious effect upon the
electrical condition of the conductor.
Every attention then being bestowed
upon this important process, no apprc-
hension need be felt in regard to the
strength of the cable, which is AS per-
feet as when it first came from the
mandatory.
1t is expected that both ships will
leave the kcyham basin on the l4th
of next month, or that they will be able
to leave before that time.
The presence Of 4 French war steam
er in the port of Cardiff has given rise
to some little excitement amongst the
Queens lieges there. The name of the
vessel is the Pelican, Commander
Hamelin, and she had on board a staff
Of French photographers. The vessel
had steamed very slowly up the Chan
mel, 50 that it is at one assumed that
she was making a survey of our coast
for the French War Marine Minister,
who is an uncle of the commander, and
that the naked and defenceless state of
the channel will be disclosed. 1t is
stated that she will 90 down the other
coast on her way back, and the alarm
ed Carditfians complain that there is
no fertilization from Milford Haven to
Thropness Point, and says that the
government owes it to the commerce
Of the country to see to this OF course
the only object of the Pelican was to
take in Welsh steam coal.
Admiral Garden, of the royal navy,
who commanded the English ship
Macedonia when she was fought and
taken by the American frigatc United
States, died in Ireland lately.
The English Channel fleet was be-
ing organized.
The Journal de Horve of April 9th,
says:
In our issue Of the oath inst, VIC
have given the translation of a New
York correspondence to the London
Times, in which it is said that Mr.
Buchanan proposes to make a polite
d question Of the acquisition of Cuba
and that he held ready to be sent te
Congress "a war message, recapitulat
ing all the causes Of complaint against
Spain" &c.
As soon as he heard Of this CORES
pondencc, the Duke of Rivas, Tho
Spanish ambassador in Paris, FASTENED
to send a telegraph, in which the fact.
were stated with the usual brevity o
the electric language. This despatch
was published in the Gazette, of Mad
rid, and created an intense excitement
in that city.
1t was afterwards communicated by
Mr.. Gutierrez de la Fcga to the Cortes
in the sitting of the Goth Of April
+. when the Secretary Of War gave som,
explanations and read second DIES
notch from the Duko do R;vas !,
which it was stated that that "messagt
Of war" emanated from private cor
respondence and not from an officia
source. Trsnquilized by those expan
= ations the Espoaa Of the oath utter
philippics against the United States
The future will tell US what there j.
:. tsue and serious At the bottom of al
that
W. have advices from Antigua t.
~ 10th Of April. Tho Solicitor Gen
60 ~x.skesA-P Ala La $500 ~sok.