The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-30

THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.
Interesting Report ON the Condition OF the
Cable.
IT'S ELECTRICAL CONDUCTING POWER INJURED-IN-
TERRUPTI0N OF THE CURRENTS FROM EEwF0UND-
LAMA STRAIN OVER SUBMARINE MOUNTAIN
RANGE DREADED-MAGSETIcs sToRM ON THE CABLE s
TRACK-HOPEs OF THE COMPANY.
lVaenta fSept. l2) Correspondence OF London Times
The sound rejoicing for the completion or the tee
graphic communication between England and America bad
wonderfully nterscctod by tine wire and the ovaons
and festivities In honor OF those who were instrumental in
achieving the great work s at their height at this
side Of the channel, when gloom cast upon all by
the sudden and unexpected announcement that ntcgibe
signals had ceased through the cable The public,
and those interested in the Of the undertaking.
doubtless been much surprised that many days
should have been allowed to ealse since the announce
ment of the failure of the signals without their being
quained either through the company newspaper cor
respondence of the progress of affairs at this terminus
of the Atlantic wire. But the fact is, that be-
ceived, there has been nothing to communicate
until ti results of the investigation Of Professor Thom
son, Mr.. Edward Bright, Mr. Varlcy, and other scen
tno gentlemen who have been experimenting upon the
cable for the past few days. had anspred Those expe
rments have not yet been completed but sufficient has
been done towards pointing out the exact position OF and
probable of the fault to justify the public being
made acquainted with the facts.
In order 70 make the present condition Of the cable per
fecty understood will be necessary its history
from previous TO the landing OF the end at valenta down
70 the present time In a former communication contain
ting the particulars Of the last successful cruise Of the Aga
mcmnon, it will be remembered that reference made
to very serious electrical fault having occurred in the
cable Sunday August after about half Of the dis
ance from midocean TO the shores OF Ireland had been
uayersed. Though that fault (Which apparently a
break IN the continuity OF the conducor gradually recov
thirteen hours, yet the electrical condition Of
the cable had evidently received shock from
which il completely recovered. This was,
however, regarded as matter of very little con-
sequence, the currents which were both received
and transmitted sufficiently good for all the purposes
.F tefqp ha day
which occupied in submergng tho remainder Of the
wire, lis electrical condition very variable being al
times very good and occasionally indifferent. These
ratiols the time referred 10 the effects OF mag
netic storms and earth currents but time its
condition so detective az 10 any degree 70 impair the teie
graphic communication.
From the time Of landing the end on the 9th Of August,
to Monday, the 9th the cable continued in fair condition,
though slight defect Of consequence In working was
observed in the insulation Up TO that evening nothing
but alternate positive and negative currents had been
ceived from Newfoundland though words and adjustment
messages had from after the landing been continually
from vaena That evening, however, coil currents
came with the words send slower and repeat, from
Newfoundland, being by Mr. Whitehousc's instrr-
men's, and received upon hs beautifully con
sss % sSy was
though admirably adapted for receiving messages
through the cable had been adjusted and constructed
der tho very natural belief that the cable landed at
would suffered little It's electrical condition. and IL
found not TO work with certainty with the compare
continent, Professor Thomson's delcssc rejecting gal
vanomcter accordingly substituted for IT, through
Mr. whhouscs patent Il rs necessary TO mention these
apparently rinng circumstance In order 10 correct
suppression which has doubtless uninenionaily
been created by a letter recently published by Mr..
whitehousc. No deny tho incstimabe services
rendered 10 the of Atlantic tclegraphy by Mr..
Whitohouse ia bis capacity Of electrician, or the
energy and perseverance with which he pursued
bus electrical experiments through long period,
bc laid to render practical his discoveries and in
v,ntiors Whatever may be the merits Of the
dispute between Mr. whtehcuse and the Atlantic
H. II xh. th.x h. koG hug
been harshy treated, " a question between him
and the directors with which the pubic have
ton correct the impression which Mr. whsehouses let
ter no doubt enthusiastically conveyed, that his insru
menis alone used In the receipt and transmission OF
alt the which passed through the Atlantic cable
During the Whole II the week, from Monday tho 9th,
Saturday the A,h various adjustment messages
received AM sent through the line though in consequence
OF their constantly requiring messages from yaenta TO be
fefeaied several tines evident that In >cwtound
land the signals were not read With the came facility
hcrc In the contrary direction yalcntia. This crcum
stance tended 10 prove that the fault which obsrya
bic somewhere tho Irish coast for any defect
than three hundc ed miles from either coast would
alcc the Transmission ard reception o signals equally AT
both ends. Accordingly the cable underrun for the
distance IT about three niles from yalcnia Island by Mr.
Gaming cut and tested through by Mr. Bartholomew the
electrical superintendent, who found that whatever fault
exsted was fr out 70 sea Inc onds were accordingly
joined up again, without piece of cable being laid
between Dowias Head and the shore.
From this TO Saturday, the a1st of august the fault
very variable both IN It's nature and it, apparent dis
ance from tho Irish coast, rst appearing something
like 500 miles distant and gradually diminishing until
became stationary point calculated with great
racy be nearly 27o statute miles the vsenta end
Of the cable. All this period the electrical condition be-
came daily worse and worse, and was only with The
greatest difficulty and by constant rcpcttons that the
rons Official and congratuatory between the
English and American authorities were transmitted 20
Newfoundland the cssages back ~ Yalcnta being
almost every case clear and distinct
The condition Of the wire became daily faulty
al the alst OF August, when government message
despatched through tho cable tor the North American
coionis, aud on The morning Of the LIST OF september
acr i bad been duly selaowieieed me Insulation ii No
wire became suddenly nnd n was found impossible
10 make them undcrstaud at Newfoundland Words and
messages continually transmitted but II was
that thu American shore they could only lust
distinguish that signals being sent, for the only
answ er received yalcntia Repeat and /" non
understand aud these small phrases were only
dist tugushablc NJ Intervals aud since half.pa
O'Clock the morning Friday, the 4,h Of scptcmbcr
no intcIabic signal whatever has been received occa
sionay, however, very distinct rcversas (as regularly
Alternating positive and negative currents are tcrmcd)
had they been scuaiug words from Newfoundland they
might have been distinctly read tho rejecting gavano
meter of Professor Thomson When the line n not IN
Tor the purposes of testing words short messages
tinuay despatched through The wire fer an hour az
watched Cor The answers, which, excepting The rcycrsas
already alluded 70, never come
Prom the time Of tho arst cessation of tho signal
NJ 70 the present time Professor w. Thomson, Mr.
Varey, and Mr. Edward Bright have been engaged day
and night IN testing, and have 10 the conclusion
that the defect oss of insulation about 40 miles (aong
the eabe) valcnta Ths calculating the amount a
slack cable paid out during the later days the submcrg
ing operations, would place the fault about 220 statute
miles from shore or somewhere upon the mountain range
which diy des the depths Of tho Atlantic from the coma
ratvcy shallow water leading from the Irish coast Rcfc
70 logs and diaries ke by those on board the Aga
during tho subncrpng operations show that this
bank was crossed between tour and Ave O'Clock on the
afternoon Of the ID OF August than hour before
the expected time II had been Intended by sr Charles
Bright 10 allow great quantity OF slack cable run out
while crossing this point, IN order that might reach the
bottom Of al the inequalities which might exist there IN
discovered by the sounding limo. But, from unex
planned cause, the Agamemnon throughout the whole
cruee steamed ~ greater speed than registered by
the log line. Owing ~ this circumstance the was
reached ~ least hour hefefe the expv ced time the
first ntimaton received by those boara being sudden
decrease in the registered strain upon the dynamorcer
and an equally sudden fango IN the speed ~ he cable
the ship MAINTAINING the rate registered by The
log hne Sir Charles BFghts aiientrp called the
..s -, nn,ro. ,,,., =. 80 a. ssn.,i n ~. s'''"W