The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-09-22
MISCELLANEOUS.
valentia Bay, Ireland.

valentia Bay, Ireland.
The great attention paid TO all subjects con-
,,ected with the Atlantic Telegraph will give
interest to the following description:
The eastern end is in valentia Bay. which is
perhaps the most available point on the whole
southern coast of Ireland, both on account OF
its being the nearest to Newfoundland, and on
account Of its particular adaptability for telc-
graph station. The county Of Kerry, which is
indentcd by Valentia Bay. and in which the
shore end Of the cable was landed on the even
Ing Of the 9Th of August last year, is very sim
liar in its natural features to that part of New.
foundland which we have just described. Huge
mountains rise up on almost every side. and
great masses Of rock, in thousand fantastic
shapes, stand out in solitary isolation miles from
the land. Two Of these--of such gigantic d.
mansions that they almost approach the dignity
Of acknowledgement the entrance of Dingle Of
Bay, like weather beaten sentinels ; while fur
Their in from the ocean is a long mountain range,
the face Of which is worn with deep assures,
while its base is followed out at irregular in
tervals by caves, some of which extend, ac-
cording to the statements Of the peasantry.
several hundred feet into the very heart of the
mountains. The bay has depth in some la
ces ofover a hundred fathoms, but it is so open
to the sea. and the anchorage is so bad that it
is one Of the worst places which vessel could
select in q storm. But Valentia Bay is more
protected, and although not safe in a storm, az
f0rtis much better anchorage. The land, for
miles into the interior, is very rocky and bar
rem, and affords poor pasturage for the dimin-
utivc but hardy race of cattle for which the
county Kerry is famous. The huts of the
pcasantry which dot the hill sides show too
plainly the poverty Of the lower classes of the
IL. L. III. IL
yarded. The ruins of churches, which were
built by pious Christians as long ago as the
:ourth or fifth century, are strikingly in accor-
lance with the impoverished appearance of the
land, and Of the people. The Island Of VAL
ntia suffered foarfuly during the famine in
Ireland, and hundreds died of starvation on the
road side or in their miserable dwellings, some
of which still remain, and in which their bodies
were found many weeks after their death,
nnburied and In a horrible state Of emaciation.
Within the last few years it il said the condi-
ton OF the people has considerably improved
but IT what the writer saw on his visit there
last year is called improvement, they must
have been in a terrible state before the present
amelioration commenced. Some of them live
at present by fishing, some by cultivating the
ungrateful soil, and some by qurrying slate
from the hill side for shilling sterling, or
twenty-five cents day.
About three miles from the head of Valentia
Gay is the post town Of Cahirciveen, and at
the same distance, but in another direction,
lies kingst0wn, small village of some five
hundred inhabitants. This village is called
AFTER the Knight of Kerry, gentleman who
has been one Of the strongest advocates Of the
ttlantic Telegraph. The small land cove in
which the bay terminates was decided upon last
ear q the place for the landing of the cable,
and has nut been changed since. It is, in fact,
tho very best spot that could have been select
cd. About four hundred yards from the beach.
Telegraph building. somewhat similar to that
at Trinity Bay. Newfoundland, has been erect.
I'd and supplied with everything necessary for
the business and accommodation Of the opera
tors. The junction with the cable will be form
s'i by land line running to Cork, from Cork
to Dublin. thence acrcss the channel to England,
nd by other connections with the great net
work Of telegraph which extends over the
whole continent Of Europe. and which has
already embraced within it portion of Asia
ind Africa.