Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-09-02
The Atlantic Telegraph.


been confirmed, and is now a fixed fact
The rejoicing all over the country is uni
versal---all feel that great work has been
accomplished, the importance and magni-
tude of which could hardly have been con
ceived 25 years ago, and ii will net be ap-
/ preciated now until it gets in successful
operation. AS anything in connection
with this great enterprise will be of inter
est now, we copy tie following condensed
account of the conception and progress
from the New York Herald. We are proud
to know that it was projected by Ameri
cans. in this country, although the major
ity of the means for carrying out the en-
terprise was furnished in England. The
following is the article referred to:
This gigantic enterprise was first con-
ceived in this country, AMI was commence
ed, about five years ago. by small com
pany of American capitalists residing in
our city. In the face Of all objections that
were urged against,,it they persevered with
q determination that was proof against all
discouragement. 1t was supposed by some
that the laying Of cable across the bed of
the Atlantic was an utter impoSsibil:iy y,and
that any attempt must end i'll discontinue
and disastrous pecunlarv loss to those who
should engage in the attempt But the = e.
/ Y, Newfoundland and London Telegraph
Company was composed Of men who were
not TO be betrayed by such fears; aud be-
ing once convinced of the practicahili;y Of
the undertaking, they entered upon it with
a will and earnesiness that no o5sa lie
could overcome. They con,ended that if
it were possible to ay submarine tele
graph between England and France, that.
with proper means and facilities, the same
could be done between America and Europe
and these means and facilities they assert
ed were at their disposal. The task which
they had undertaken was, IL must be con
fessed, stupendous one. The company
consists of the following gentlemen, I'll Of
whom have been connected with il since
is in Incorporation
OFFICERS OF THE TELEGRArH CoNrANY.
President. Peter Cooper; Vice l'r.si-
dent. Cyrus w Field; Treasurer. Moses
Taylor; Electrician, Samuel F Il Morse;
Directors. Peter Cooper Moses Taylor
Cyrus W Fiela. Wilson G. II INT. NJ .rohall
o. Roberts
These gentlemen. about four years ago.
obtained charter from the colonial gov
ernment Of Newfoundland. granting them
the exclusive privilege Of fifty years If run
ming a telegraph across the island and
through the adjacent waters. They also
Obtained an appropriation Of S25'COJ. ior
the construction of a bride path over the
Southern proilon Of the country, which
was considered Misrepresentation the regula-
ton and repair of the telegraph. In aldi-
ton to this they were secured the interest
on S25), 900 for twenty years, and pres
ent Of fifty square miles Of land, which the
company were allowed the liberty Of select
ing in any part OF the island. These, with
other substantial marks offsvor with which
the newfoundland government regarded
the enterprise, were willingly bestowed
upon the company. with The best wishes for
their success. \ charter ha,iag been pre-
viously granted IF Prince Elwari Island
and New Brunswick. the ee,rapLic con
nection-or rather the route Of the tele-
graphic OnnectloA--betwccn he t s. and
st. Johns, on the extreme western point of
! OF Newfoundland, was established. In the
later part Of 1855, complete communica
ton WAS established between those points,
by the successful LAYING ola submarine
cable across the GulfofSI Cawreace, from
Cape Ray TO Cape North. the land lines
having been completed two or three years
previously
Thus far the company have been sue
ccssful; but till the connection was com
pleted between Europe and America, the
work f,r which they hal organized could
not be sail to have been accomplished. -
Through the agency of Mr.. Cyrus w Field
the whole amount of capital f35J, 900,
which is equal to Si.75J. .oOo). was sub
scribed--the shares amounting to $1,000.
The proportions IN which these shares
were taken, were one hundred and one in
London eighty eight IN America, eighty
six in Liverpool. thirty in Glasgow,
twenty eight in Manchester and the re-
mainder in other parts IF England The
capital however had to be subs equently in
creased to 80, 800 600, TO meet the failures
that occurred in the various attempts to
submerge the cable.
During last Congress "A subsidy OF TO-
900 per annum for twenty-five years was
granted the Atlantic Telegraph Company,
and the Secretary of the Navy was also dl-
rected to supply two national vessels TO as
sist in laying the cable. The British Par
linen: showed itself equally liberal. In
Compliance with the instructions Of con
gress, the Niagara and Susluehana were
depu,ed to assist in the undertaking; but
after the first failure last year. the latter
vessel was Withdrawn, and the Niagara
! has been. therefore, the only one of orr
etional vessels that has shared in the glo-
koflaYing the cable that uniles the two