Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-08-12
Observations on the Weather
The Wonder Of the Age.

No event recorded in the history OF tAe
world, has ever given rise to so great and ex-
tended rejoicing, as that of the Atlantic Tel
sgraph Expedition. States and boundaries
confne neither the knowledge or the triumph
of the achievement. 1t is the only notorious
proceeding that has happened in a century,
with which every one is satisfied. At this
the pulpit, the bar, the laboratory, the com
mereial board, the studio, can find no fault.
Even the dirty, INSCRIPTIONS, out-door-politi-
clans, of all colors, sects and grades, are ire
sistably compelled to admit that, in this, there
is no place for them. And we'll indeed may
all, thus, with one accord, acknowledge the
immense and universal utility of the mighty
Fire String-while they stand in awe in con-
temptation of the gigantic proportions of the
undertaking. Commerce, science, politics, So
cial enjoyment, religion-all must feel the i'm
mediate and powerful effects of it. 1t will
give new impulses for the PRONUNCIATION of all
that is good and honorable; and stand a check
to those who live by evil and wicked cunning.
The more intimate our connection with the
people and countries of the world, the more
/. will they feel the necessity to maintain AMIGA
bic relations with us; to recognize our rights;
!, to generally advance our interests; and to
. work with us, hand in hand, and in sincerity,
in:all good works. Especially do the Chris
tian brethren exult in this aid to their calling.
Daily, hourly, do their heartfelt thanksgiv-
ings ascend to the throne of Him who ruleth
the waters; and as often do they pray that it
may rebound to His glory, a thousand fold
1t may be apparently m~onopolized by the COM
mercial world; but the advancement of the
Kingdom follows quickly in the footsteps of
traffic, and wherever this mighty truth may
spread its commercial branches, missionary en-
ergy will climb. Are we not approaching
the millenniel days?
flour readers will r~ecollect that the project
of laying a Telegraphic Cable in the Atlantic,
from the Southwest coast Of Ireland, to st.
Johns, Newfoundland, was first undertaken
in August, 1851. At that time the vessel
laying the line started from Valentia bay, in
Ireland, intending to run to mid-ocean, and
then to be relieved by another, which would
continue to Newfoundland. The enterprise
was then, a complete failure, accompanied with
much loss, much scientific doubt.
The now immortal Field, however, having
satisfied himself in 1854 that it was practical
Die, determined not to be bafled by one I'M
success but on the contrary, resolved to carry
it through, and that, too, at bis own expense.
Experiments during the Fall and Winter of
1851, and Spring of 1858, suggested many
improvements, both in the manufacture of the
cable, and the paying out machinery. The
latter has been reduced to a high state of per-
lection. as has been proved. The former has
yet to be tested by time. Our nautical en-
gineers and scientific chemists, however, by
their profound attainments, so nearly ascer-
tain the truth, and leave so little room for
conjecture or doubt, that we have no reason
to fear for its endurance.
Two or three unsuccessful attempts were
made this Summer, before the last and sue
cessfll one. This was commenced on the 29th
of July. Upon consultation, it was deter
mined by the engineers of the work, that it
would be more practicable to start from mid
ocean, aud lay the cable both ways. The
point at which the vessels carrying the coils
met, was about half way between ireland and
Newfoundland. At II o'clock, P. NJ, of the
18th, the splice was completed, and sank in
], $50 fathons water; and the Niagara and
Agamemnon, started respectively for America
aud Ireland-each bearing one end of the wire.
That those on board each ship might know
the work was progressing, and that no
accident happened, &C., an electrical commu
nieation was kept up between them. This
continuity ceased sometimes, for some reason
other, but was again restored, upon appli-
cation Of the proper tests. The progress of
the ships after their separation i4 mid-oeean,
would seem to have been regulated by some
other agency than that of human intelligence.
They sailed nearly the same distance, and
payed out nearly the same length of cable,
day by day; and on the Sd of August, we
End each vessel reporting the same depth of
sater-two hundred fathoms. The c~alcula-
tions With regard to the length of cable re-
quired, are found to have been wonderfully
exact, as the following will show:
Length of cable on each ship, I,lOO miIesa
Paved out by the Niagara 1,0I6 F"
Paved out by the Agamemnon, l,010 /"
Distance run by the Niagara, 8S2
Distance run by the Agamemnon, 8l3
The end Of the Atlantic Cable first laying)
was landed on the Irish shore from the Mag
ara. on the 18th of August, 1851; and the 9th
ar end from the same vessel, at Newfoundland