Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-08-13

nominated Cyrus W. Field for President
of the United States. When he is chosen,
we shall claim the honor of the "frst nomn
alton. "-SprinQheM Republican.
The length of line from Boston to Trinity
Bay, is 1000 miles. In the course of it are
two submarine wires-onc of two and half
miles long, across the Gut of Canso, and an
ther of sevcnty-six miles, connecting Cape
Breton with New Foundland. Across New
Foundland the distance is not far from 400
miles, through a wild country, and for the
most part an unbrokcn forest, where the
trees had to be cut down to make room for
the telegraph posts. There are but five sta
tions in the 400 miles, and of course breaks,
which occur frequently, arc not easily found
and mended.
The following summary of facts connected
with the various submarine wires now in
use is taken from the Boston Traveller:
Ireland was connected with England in 1853, by
telegraph. The distance between the points of
conncction-IIoly Head and Howth-is 65 miles,
and the greatest depth 50i feet. There was only
one wire in this cable with the indispensable coat
ing of gutta percha, which protected and
strengthened by the iron wire covering the outside.
1t was laid at the rate of four miles per hour and
fell so evenly that only three miles more than the
| actual distance traversed were required.
Scotland and ireland connected by cable
of six wires in May, 1853 Tho distance is about
thirty miles, and was traversed by the steamer in
not moro than ten hours The following June a
cable was laid from Orfordness in England, to the
Hague, in Holland. This task wa. accom- plshed
in thrtyfour hours, and only four and half miles
If cable wero required in the paying on over the
actual length from point to point, making hardly
one hundred and twenty miles altogether. Anoth-
or cable connects Dover with 0stend, making the
third between England and the Continent.
In tho Summer of 1854, telographc union was
effected between Corsica and Sardinia, in Italy, the
Sandman Government having granted three vessels
of-war to assist in the undertaking. This work
| was attended with much difficulty, in consequence
OF the breaking of part Of the wire. The sub
| merging of cable between Corsica and tho island
OF Sardinia was successfully accomplished shortly
after but the attempt which was subsequently,
made to connect the Island Of Sardinia and Algeria
and thus established immediate communication
between the Continent of Europe and Africa, was
unsuccessful, and has not since been attempted.
Tho cost of the cable laid between ireland and
Newfoundland, is given a. follows
Price deep-sea wire per mile, 5000
Price spun yarn and iron wire per mile, $50
| Price outside tar per mile, 20
Total per milo, SlS7
Price $500 miles, sl,2l2,5OO
Price 10 miles deep sea cable, at $3.50
per mile, 1850
For rs miles shore end, at sli50 per
mile. 3l,25O
Total cost, Sl,257, ESQ
The U. S. Steam frigatc Niagara, which has
been employed in the work, is Of the largest,
probably the very largest ship of war in the world
She is 3i4 feet long, So feet breadth Of beam, 81
feet inches depth of hold, and measures $500
| tons.
The British steam frigate Agamemnon, ASSOCIATE
$50 feet between perpendiculars, Ssh feet breadth
| of beam, and 9 / feet depth of hold