Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-08-20


The Atlantic Tslsgrsph-Tts History and
its Results. T -
We have already given brief history Of TIL
operations attending the successful laying of tn
Atlantic Telegraph Cable from the C asst Of Ire
land 10 the coast Of New Founlland We find
however, ia a recent number n the .imerica,
Railroad Journal, q detailed account of the differ
cnt attempts that have been made--ihe last on'
only being crowned with SUGGESTS we'll As o.
the origin and organization of the Company. A.
this is. peculiarly, the subject which now occupies
the public mind to the exclusion Of all others. We
present the reader with the following history n
given by the Journal, containing the principal in.
cidents connected with the different experiments
that were u.ale:
The project of the Atlantic Telegraph wa, first
distinctly preached. and measures for its consun,-
nation organised, in March. 1891. In the latter
part of that month, the Legislature of Newfound-
land inc r-ora.ed the Anew York, Newfoundland
and London Telegraph Company" with most
liberal charter, guarantying the interest on Co.
600 of their Bonds and granting 'hen 30 square
miles Of land. The first organization Of the Com
pany was as follows: Directors in New York
Peter Cooper, Moses Taylor. Cyrus ". Field Mar
shall O. Roberts, and Chandler White Peter
Cooper, President; s. F. B. Mar-- va President;
Noses Taylor, Tress'r Chandler White, Secretary;
David Dudley Field, Connsel +. y. Osborne,
Engineer. Throughout the whole. in its inception,
organization, and execution. CyRrs W. FIELD has
been the leading and controlling spirit. To his
energy, foreihought and activity is due the con-
summation Of the scheme.
Under the auspices Of this Company. the line Of
telegraph between the United States and St.John's,
Newfouniand--a portion Of which is sabmarine-
was completed and has now been in operation
several years. In 1885, Mr.. Field visited Eng
land, and through his exertions company was
formed, under the name Of the Atlantic Telegraph
Company with = capital Of E35o,0on, nearly all
Of which was subscribed in England, only IS
shares Of CT 900 each being taken in 'ha country
A series Of experiments was NJ once entered upon,
and the manufacture of the cable commenced.
The centre Of the cable was for.aod y seven
fue copper wires twisted into cord ! h q an
inch thick This strand was coated with guua
percha, forming small roIc I Of nm inch thick ;
then coated with hempen twinc twice soaked in
pitch and tar; lastly, an external shca,inE Of Il
iron wires, each ~ire being strand Of seven inner
wires, making in all l26 wires.
1t Was $500 miles long, weighing nearly one
ton per mile. and capable of bearing dircc,
strain Of over five tons.
To aid in laying the cable, the United States
Government granted the use of the steam trgatc.
Niagara, Capt William L. Hudson. and the .&'s-
qnehdana. Capt Joshua X. Sands. while the Eng
Isb ,hoJ tlna In, { Ian,
ship Agamemnon. Capt. c. 7. A. Nodlal and the
steam friga,es Leopard, Capt. j. +. b. Wainwright.
and Cyciops. Lieut. Jos Dayman.
One-haf the cable was cooled in the hold Of the
Niagara. and the other half in the Acamemnon.
The original intention was tc commence having it
at Valentia, the Eastern terminus. and hayin,
paid out one half, to form splice in mid-cean
and complete the work. Accordingly. the sub.
mersion commenced on the 9Th Of August, 1857.
after daylight, from on board the Niagara
There we're present the five steamers Niagara.
Agamemnon, Leopard. Sus ,uehanna, and W ding
Mind. intended to assist in various parts of the
operation. The cable came up from the hold of
the ship. around central black 20 the open
space above decks; it was there wound round
grooved shes,hs. geared together by eoss. and
firmly planted on Orders. Thence i, passed over
ifth sheath, out tho stern into the sea
sinking by its own weight. A trhing accident
happened on the 9th; this was repaired aal on
the llth, $50 miles lstatutc) had been sutmerg-
ed.
The rest is well known. The engincc- conclu
ded that there was too much slack" in the cables
course and some modification in the machinery
Ia,.
been badly attended to. The cable snaapel. and
thus ended the attempt Of 1857
1t was found that 334 miles of cable hal been
paid out leaving on board the vessels ls4.
miles, or a surplus Of PAT miles oyer toe 4 s;anr.
between the terminus at Ireland and kewfound.
lane; but this was deemed al insufficient quantity
with which to proceed to second trial al once;
aud the fe"t returned tn Plymouth. where the ca
bic was unshipped and packed away in tar pitch,
linseed oil and bceswax.
AT this time, the company was of course much
di-heartened. but Mr., Field infused into it some
OF the sangune hope which he himself felt. and it
was resolved to order the manufacture of 900
miles more cable. with a view Of proceeding to
make q second trial in 1853. Mr.. FELL, during
the winter, was made manager and general agent
OF the company. lie procured, by consent of the
U. s. Government for his Chief Engineer. Mr.. W.
T. Everett OF the L. S. Corps of Engineers. who
proceeded to make most valuable Improvements
in the paying out machinery as did the electri-
. cians in their apparatus. The Niagara and Aga
memnon were again detailed for the seryirc. to-
gether with the British steamers yslorous, Cor
gOn and Porcupine.
On the 10Th Of June, 1858, without any public