The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-25

nication by the Atlantic telegraph cable be
tween the two worlds which is to come of on
the LIST of September, will probably be the
grspdest affair ever witnessed. fit is carried
out in proper spirit, BETTING the event it is
intended to commemorate, It will be a grand
international jubilee, embracing not only every
city, town and village on this continent, but
every leading city in England, Ireland, Scot
land, and the countries of the European CONT
nent also. One grand simultaneous ebullition
OF joy should 60 forth from all quarters of the
civilized globe for this triumph of science, this
conquest of The elements this final humiliation
of space and time. And in all probability the
world tbali beho this great spectacle.
In this country we have but one nationsl fes-
tivsl dsy-the Fourth of July-and 1t is always
welcomed with becoming honor. Henceforth,
why should not the anniversary Of the laying of
the Atlantic cable on the shores of America and
Ireland be kept as Q national holiday by both
countries!
The tizens of New York have been called upon
in previous years to participate in the celebration
of ,hree iDpor snt events bearing upon the ma
teriarprosperi.y OF our city and country, and on
each occasion popular enthusiasm reached its
height, al d every thing which the facilities of
the times sfforded was employed to demonstrate
the public rejoicing. These were, first, the open.
ing of tb. Erie Canal, by Governor Clinton, in
1926; the arrival of the Sirius and Great West
era from Europe in 1888; and the introduction
of Croton water into the city, in 1872.
The union of the waters of Lake Erie with
the ocean was an enterprise of such magnitude,
fraught with 80 much good to the interests Of
New Y0k, that the Inauguration of the canal
was considered the great event of that age, and
the whole State, from Buffalo to the Atlantic,
was fired up with enthusiasm. The entire
scene, from the lake To this city, was general
ovation.
On the morning of<he 26th Of October 1925,
the canal boat Seneca Chief left Buffalo with
Governor Clinton, Lieutenant Governor Tall
madge and large party of guests, including
committees from the corporations Of New York
and several interior towns, on board. Accord
ing to arrangement, cannon were posted at
convenient distances along the entire route, and
Us soon as the boat entered the waters of the
u
along from station to station, from Buff
falo to Sandy Hook and back again to the
lake Thus the commencement of the expedi-
ton was announced to the whole State within
sound of the guns. The cannon at Sandy Hook
proclaimed the event just an hour and twenty
minutes after the salute at Buffalo announced
the entry of the first boat into the canal From
L. A. "a &na da1 Al "a
town and village with the thunder of cannon
and the acclamations of thousands Rochester,
Syracuse and Utica contributed their quota of
enthusiasm; and, as the committee of the New
York Corporation were instructed to invite their
fellow citizens from other towns to join in the
celebration, and accept the hospitality of the
metropolis, the number of oelebrants grew
daily larger and larger as the canal squadron
advanced. On the I'd of November the feet
arrived at Albany, where the widest excitement
prevailed A procession was formed and
marched 70 the Capitol, when congratulatory
addresses were delivered by the Governor and
several others Another committee of the New
York Corporation here met the party, to con-
duct them into the waters of the Hudson. On
the morning of the Sd Of November, six steam
boats, gaily decorated with the flags of all
nations, were added To Ae squadron, under the
direction of the New York Corporation COM
mitteee These were filed with distinguished
guests, committees and delegations from several
Western cities and In the midst Of the utmost
enthusiasm the squadron started on its
way towards the Ocean. All down the river
the scene was as exciting as II had been on the
camel. AT night the villages were all illum.
mated, and threw up fireworks to welcome
the boats Passing West Point at mid
night, the officers came of in boats
with q band, and offered their conaratu-
lations to the Governor. As the feet
approached the city the wharves and
houses were thronged with people eagerly
awaiting its coming. At seven o'clock on
the morning of the 4th Of November they
anchored of the North Battery, amid thun.
derous welcome from the forts in the harbor
Here they were surrounded by steamers and
barges flled with people, while grand civic
procession, under command Of General File.
ming, which had formed In Greenwich street
ard paraded the city, marched to the Battery,
and passed in column along the circular walk
at its margin, uniting the aquatic party
and the city procession In one grand ova-
ton. AT this time oil the bells in the city
were pealing out, and the guns from the forts
were laundering their greeting To the visitors
Running up as far as the Navy Yard, where
they received national salute, the feet, now
largely increased, steamed gaily down 10 Sandy
Hook, where Governor Clinton poured some Of
the waters of Lake Erie into the Atlantic. and
DR.. Mitchill poured the waters Of the Gauges.
the Nile, Amazon, Oronoco, La Plata, Colum-
bia, Thames, Elbe, Seine, Nevs and Tagus
upon the boron of the ocean. The feet then
returned to the Battery, and grand illumina.