Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-03-10

The Atlantic Telegraph.

again take part in the International effort to Ia
the Atlantic telegraph, and will shortly leav
our shores in order to reach England in time 70
the new attempt, which it is now proposed II
make in the early part of the summer. Tb
failure of last year has produced no slackeninl
of interest IN the enterprise, and every step o
the operations now about to be commenced un
dermore favorable auspices of improved arrange
ments and added experience, will be watched
with an intense attention in which the whole civ
ized world will participate. Reports have re-
Gently been made to the Company by its execu.
tive officers from which 1t appears that notwi:h.
standing the adverse experience OF the past, the
fullest confidence is entertained that final sue
cess will crown their endeavors. The directors
say that mo element of failure has been devel-
oped which is not completely within the grasp
of science no natural obstacle has arisen to for
bid the most complete and satisfactory terlni
nation to the work; on the contrary, every an
ticipated difficulty has been practically sur
mounted" And again, "the Directors, so far
from despondng on account of what they re.
gard as a mere temporary and accidental i'm
pediment, have every reason to hope and be.
ieve that this enterprise is now on surer ba-
sis than ever, and that right use of the knowl
edge gained in August last will lead to complete
success in the summer Of 1855" In noticing
the failure of the effort made last year to lay
the ocean cable, the report consurs in the opin
ion then expressed that no alteration in the con
struction of the wire is expedent, but that con-
siderable modification will be required in por
tions of the paying out machinery Ito defects in
which the original failure is attributed) and
that in future it will be desirable to begin pay
ing out the cable in mid ocean. Agreeably to
these views, that portion of the apparatus de-
signed to retard the egress of the cable has been
submitted to the special supervision of scientific
men, including Mr.. Bright, and Mr.. W. E. Ever
ett chief engineer of the United States steam
trigate Niagara, who was solicited to return to
England and aid in the enterprise.
The length of the cable now at Devonport
(where il is slowed away in an old powder mag
azine,) including ffty-seven miles recovered
from the submerged portion, is 81 ]63 miles
Contracts are in course of execution tor the de-
livery of four hundred miles in addition, making
total of 1858 miles-a length which in the
first instance was thought to be fully adequate,
but further length of 800 miles is now consd-
cred necessary, u allow for slack" or any de-
fciency arising from other causes. The prem
ises where the cable is temporarily stored are
occupied by the Superintent and whole staff
of manipulators or Instrument clerks, who are
engaged in the transmission of commercial des
patches throughout the whole length of the ca
BILE, of the same character that would be daily
passing if the wire were open tor traffic. BY
this means they will becoIne familiar with the
routine of duties to be imposed when the line
is in actual operation, and get accustomed to
the peculiar mode OF Signalling adopted by the
company, differing very essentially from any
other system on account of the unprecedented
length of the Atlantic wire.
The report notices with gratitude the interest
which has been taken in this gigantic enterprise
by the government Of the United States, and
reference is made to the financial revulsion as af
fording evidence Of the importance to the COM
merce Of England and America of international
telegrapbic communication, Freghts of bullion
would not have been sent on protitess excur-
siuns across the ocean, and in other ways the
truth of the assertion has been exempli6ed, that
"the fortunes of MANY firms really broke with
that cable, when il snapped on board the Mag
ara. in August last" ..,j .,4e
The expenditure of the Company up to the
3lst of December last had been about 81 800,
900, leaving balance in hand to meet all fu
ture engagements of nearly $250000. The cost
to be incurred for the manufacture of the cable,
and by next seasons operations, would make it
necessary to raise an additional sum by the is
sue of shares Of EGO each, which was the chief
object of the meeting of shareholders called for
the 18th inst. The prospect of remuneration
to the Company is regarded as very fattering
The amount guaranteed by the government OF
England and the United States is $l40,000 an
nually, equally divided between the two govern
nts-Baltimore american. +.