The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-11

The Ailantac Telegraph Squadron.
just one month from yesterday the squadron
lett Plymouth with the Atlantic Telegraph
cable. According to previous calculations the
Niagara should have arrived in Trinity Bay
several days ago, and her nOH-appearance up to
this time has naturally created much surprise
and not little anxiety for the success Of this
grand enterprise. II is somewhat remarkable
that no vessel arriving at any Of our ports has
fallen in with the squadron, SO as to be enabled
to give us any idea of their operations. One
steamship, indeed, had been seen, bat not
spoken, on the Esd of June, thirteen Gays after
the squadron sailed, which may have been the
Niagara or the Agamemnon; but that is the
most definite intelligence we have of them since
their departure thirty days ago. 1t was under
stood that they were to proceed under sail as
far as latitude so deg. min. North, longitude
33 deg. Is min. West-sbout fifty miles nearer
the Irish coast than the American-where the
junction Of the cable was to be effected and the
paying out commenced. They would doubtless
wait favorable opportunity, calm weather and
still waters, before undertaking this delicate
part of the work and a. the weather on the
Atlantic has been more severe than it usually is
in June, they may have met considerable OBJ
stacles at the very outset Then again, we find
by various reports of incoming vessels, that
fogs and icebergs were unusually frequent for
the last two or three weeks either Of which,
if the Niagara fell in with them, would render
great caution necessary and considerably re-
tard her progress.
From the nature of the instructions furnished
for the guidance of the mechanical and cleo
trical departments of the expedition, it is EVIL
dent that very speedy consummation m ade no
part of the calculations of the project ,rs; but,
on the contrary, that speed was in all cases TO
be sacrificed to safety. The orders were as fol-
lows -
Firsi-In the cable should break after definite
chip the ends be reunited after recovering
possible, aud the paying out 70 be renewed unless
10 ns
proportion OF slack having been expended than WAS
reckoLed upon.
the pa, ing out ships, the engineers will continue paying
out for 1t least hours and much longer as the
electricians and engineers may deem necessary and
desirable.
Third-In case electrical signals fail o. the ships
approach the land without other evidence Of breskage,
soundpgs the time being not deeper than hundred
ahoms the shps are to on paying out and land the
ends.
hundred and fifty miles have been paid from each
ship and before has been possible TO reach soundngs
OF two hundred fathoms, the ships to return to
Fiib-The cables TO be united In lat 50 deg. min
North lon. SO deg. Is min West.
sixth-Aner the cable has been successfully laid Mr.
in "A that
may remain, st rate Of not less than Els $3.50 per
statute mile Of l76o yards.
the United States fgste Niagara 10 be taken
70 New York and transhpped from the Mig on board
q vessel bound for the United Kingdom.
If the cable should unfortunately have broken
again this time, or any other accident should
have befallen the machinery and compelled the
enterprise to be abandoned, it is probable that
no other attempt will be made to lay the cable
until some new discoveries in insulation shall be
arrived at, whereby stronger cable can he used
for the purpose. The two efforts already made
to lay the cable will cost some three millions
of dollars, and capitalists cannot be expected to
advance money for mere scientific experiments
There ia, however, no cause to pronounce the
present attempt failure, for we have no data
whatever except a little overrunning Of time
upon which to base any calculation either as to
success or defeat. The weather in the neghbor-
hood of Trinity Bay seems to have been very
clear and calm, and the wind favorable for a
few days past; so that the Niagara may make
her appearance at any moment, bringing the
good tidings with her of the triumph Of the
greatest scientific enterprise of the age.