The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-04-24
The Atlantic telegraph.

The Atlantic Telegraph.
The London Times of the 18th ult, gives
some additional information in relation to the
Atlantic Telegraph. The four hundred miles
of wire required to replace what was lost last
year is being rapidly manufactured, and ex-
periments are being prosecuted to test the
rapidity with which communications can be
transmitted through the entire line. The
Times says:
In the dockyard at Keyham (Plymoath)
the main bulk of the cable, to tho length of
200 miles, has been slowed w ay in gigantic
coil during the winter, and full staff of
electricians, under the directions of Mr.
Whitehouse, have been engaged in working
messages throughout its entire length, and
generally proving the electrical fitness of the
cable to the fullest extent. The result of
these experiment we are informed, has been
in the highest degree satisfactory. Most of
those acquainted with the first efforts which
were made to send messages through the en-
tire length of the cable know that tho retar
ding influence, or whatever other name elec-
tricians many choose to call it, which exists
in long conductor, exercised most serious
influence upon the rapidity with which it was
found possible to transmit words through
the full extent of the wire. Constant expert
ments, joined with practical skill in working
the wire daily, have enabled Mr.. Whitehouse
to overcome so much of his resistance that
words per minute can now be sent through
the 1900 miles of cable at present at Key
ham, and it is fully expected that before the
time comes for a second enlargement
words will be transmitted with ease and GER
tainty.
To many of our readers unacquainted with
the practical working af submarine lines, on
ly eight words per minute may appear to be
but poor result after all, though we can as.
sure them that, if ever attained, it is such an
improvement in the rate of transmission as
not many ventured to anticipate who saw the
cable worked for the first time last summer
At the same time such result seems to show
with most convincing clearness that, though
489 words per hour through this line, if il is
successfully laid down, might doubtless am.
ply remunerate the company, it would still be
almost as far as ever from accommodating the
business messages between Europe and the
New World.
If, therefore, this line is submerged this
81 miner, 1t will follow as o matter of course
that three or four Others must be laid as we'll,
and there seems no reason why if one can be
laid down there should not be as many tcle-
graphs under the Atlantic as there are now
under the Channel.
With regard to the time and mode of lay
ing the cable, the Times remarks
The attempt to lay down the cable will be
made this year at much earlier period than
on the last occasion. AS soon as the coils
with all the necessary apparatus and appoint.
ments, are slowed away on board the
Agamemnon and Niagara-which will be
about the beginning Of May-both vessels
will leave for a short trip into deep water,
when number of experiments will be made
with the paying out machinery, and to ascer-
tain practically if any difficulties exist in the
proposed plan for submerging the wire from
the centre of the Atlantic. These expert
ments will be brought to an end in few days
and any alterations which their results may
suggest in the machinery or manner of pay
irg out the wire having been adopted as soon
as possible, the expedition will finally start
about the beginning Of June. All the best
authorities and most experienced seamen
have been consulted on behalf of the COM
pany as to the state of the weather in the
Atlantic in the month of June, and We be-
lieve that the result of an immense amount
OF testimony goes to prove that there is five
or six consecutive days in that month during
which a gale in the Atlantic was seldom or
never known to occur. The expedition will,
Ieave these shores so as to arrive in the CEN
tire of tho Atlantic at about the commence.
ment Of these halycon days, and the object
will be, of course, to get over the deep sea
part of the undertaking. before the weather
changes. The line will be joined and laid
from the centre of the ocean, the Niagara
bringing her end to England and tho Again
emnon conveying hers to America. Com
munication by electric signal will, of course,
if the wire holds, be kept up between the two
vessels the whole way.
All these new arrangements and precau-
tons are the result of the experience Of last
years attempt, and, of course, all improve
ments conduce towards the chances of ulti-
mate success. But it is no exaggeration to
say that there is one portion of the apparatus
upon the fitness and proper management OF
which the success or non-success of the whole
plan must ultimately depend, and this is up.
on the paying out machinery. That this ma
chnery was bad last year, and that it was
made still worse by the most absurd mis-
management, no one denies but we trust
and believe that there is no chance for re-
petition this year of such blunders. How
the new machinery is constructed we cannot
at present say, further than that new self
acting break has been devised, which is said
to be perfect; that all the alterations have
been made under the superintendent Of Mr.
Everett, the Chief Engineer Of the Niagara,
and Mr. Appold, and that Mr.. Penn, Mr..
Lloyd and MIR. Field have, we believe, been
from time 10 time consulted about it.