The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-06-24

plans Of laying the cable, and says:
The greatest Efforts TO insure success are
being made and no precaution has been neg
lected, and no suggestion worthy of atten.
ton has been ignored, The experimental
trip TO start on the oath or 18th of May is
expected to occupy from six to ten days.
During this about one hundred miles Of
condemned cable will be used in ascertaining
the efficiency OF various buoys, laying down
and undermining the wire, &c, and when
all doubts and theories have been practically
solved the squadron returns to Queenstown,
makes it, brief final preparations, and starts
for the great attempt about the II 9th Of June,
thereby taking advantage of the most favor
able time in the whole year.
At the centre Of the space to be traversed
by the cable, which is about 81 deg. west Of
Greenwich, the splice between the two halves
will be made without loss OF time. TO o, err
come the difficulty caused by the two por-
tions OF the cable having their lay or twist
of the outside spiral wires turning in differ.
ent directions, and forming right and left
hand screws, the splice will he secured, TO
rods of iron loaded with weight in the
centre in fact, an apparatus Of the same
kind as that by which railway carriages are
coupled together. by this means the tcnden
cy of the different spirals to untwist each
other will be overcome. There are 800
fathoms water where this join must be made
and both vessels will remain stationary un.
til the splice has well settled on the bottom.
The depths to which the Niagara will
have to sink her portion very quickly and
irreguarly from | 800 to $500 iathoms, or
from 4 to about 3 miles and this is the
case also with the Agamemnons portion OF
the distance But on the American side the
water shoals easily and gradually towards
Newfoundland, whereas on the other side Of
the ocean the Agamemnon will have to sur
mount tremendous ridge, which may be
called the Andes OF those vast submarine
plains OF the Atlantic. 1t commences at
/ deg. west longitude and in the course OF
few miles the water suddenly shoals from
1850 iathoms to $50. Up this vast rocky
precipice--almost as steep IA the side OF
Mount Blanche cable must be laid with
extreme care. This difficulty once over
come. the way thence to Valentia becomes
comparatively Of no account.
A number Of experiments have recently
been made with view of increasing the
rapidity of working signals through the en-
tire length of the cable. These experiments
in which variety OF inventions and appli
cations have been employed, have been con
Quoted by Professor Thompson, Mr.
Hughes, the American electrician Whose
printing telegraph is likely to revolutionize
the present uncertain SYSTEM Mr.. Henly,
and Mr.. Whitehouse. The result, though
on the whole far more satisfactory than was
at first anticipated, shows individually that
more than one sub marine cable will be re-
qurcd to do all the business likely to be
transacted between this country and the
New World. Such result, however need
dishearten no one, since none but those un-
acquainted with the subject have for a mo-
mcnt imagined that one working cable
would b. sufficient or show the way which
Others will be soon ready and anxious TO fol-
low.
After etfecting a splice in the middle Of
the Atlantic and safely sinking the wire to
the bottom OF the sea IA depth of 1000
ta,homs) the Niagara will steer for New
fonndand. and the Agamemnon for ireland.
each vessel steaming "a fast TO her home
ward destination as IL consistent with safety
10 the great undertaking. In case OF dan
gerOus weather arising the first consldera
ton will be. OF course. the SAFETY Of the ia
bic and. no matter how advantageous any
course OF action may appear, nothing will
be done by which the success OF the under
taking will be jeopardei or even left TO
chance. Each vessel is provided with reels
at strong wire rope, which can be attached
20 buoys made in the manner Of ordinary
fishing floats. though capable OF sustaining
q weight OF several tons. Provided with
this apparatus the cable may bc cut withou,
reluctance, II the weather threatens, and The
end OF ii firmly secured TO the rope and
buoy allowed to r,st almost upon the bed
of the ocean, 10 be hauled up directly the
storm has passed Proper precautions have
also been taken 20 make the Heating ends
OF the buoys Conspicuous and easily found
in case OF the ships being driven from them.
IL is only tor the purpose ot ecunieract-
irg the disturbing influence OF these myste-
nous magnetic storms. III will bc necessa-
~ for the Atlantic Company to lay down
second win ~ soon as poSsihle-that il. Ia
have complete metallic circuit for the re-
turn OF the electricity along the outer wires
OF the second Cable. instead of being dis.
charged Ivy the earth Formerly the sgusls
were worked through the Atlantic COTS by
means Of Smees battery OF ~ large cells
with largc induction coils, constituting prob
ably the most powerful battery ever made,
How the Insulation OF the cable withstood
the severe test Is an enigma. IL has. how
ever. since been ssSrtainsd that an or'iina'
nv battery OF SIX cells transmitted the sig
rals with the same facility, and that, IN fact.
the uuantity III ele,stririfv ,-rusrnAI by ths