The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-12
THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.
From the Journal OF tho Franklin InsiituteI
PuBLIsHED by REQUEST


The subjoined memorial was presented to Congress as
stated in its heading upon the 10th of January, ls49
1t contains the first developed plan promulgated for
telegraphc communication across the Atlantic ocean
Horatio Hubbe citizen of Philadelphia, its origi-
nal protector and author of the memorial he joined
by Col John H. Sherburne in bringing il before Congress
and the public.
The memorial speaks for itself the existence OF Ia
bic land plateau is there distinctly announced 10
is there first designated the spot for laying down the
teegaphc connexion it has since been carried out
&c. The sonndngs and surveys OF Lieut. bergman, in
the summer of 1883, than four years after the
mortal had been published, fully corrobortes its posi-
tions report upon the soundings of Bergman and
Others made by Lieutenant Maury under date of 22d
of February, 1854. But no personal survey made
by the latter.
The following memorial presented to the Senate Of
the United States by the Vice President Hon George NJ
Dallas, at the session of s49 XXXth Congress- and to
the House OF Representatives by the Hon. Joseph H. In
gerso In the Senate it referred To the Committee
on Commerce in the House, to the Committee Naval
Affairs ee Senate Journals for the second session of the
Thrteth Congress- page 49, Monday, January 90 l849
Aso the Journal of the House of Representatives. second
session of the Ihirtieth Congress, page 1879
Certified copy of the memorial presented to the SEN
ate
J tho Honorable The Seane and House Of Representatives Of the
United States IN Congress assembled:
The memorial of Horatio Hubbell and John Henry
Sherbume respectfully sets forth:
That they are dcsirous of establishing telegraphc
communication between this continent and Europe Be
evifg this tobe practicable, from many substantial
sons, they ask your honorable bodies appropriate
means by which this great project may be successfully
carried through Your memoriaiss proceed to say that
from many observations which have been made there is
incontesabc evidence of the existence of submarine t
bic land, extending from the banks of Newfoundland
across the Atlantic ocean, to the mouth of the British
channel This is proved by the altered color of the
water which has different appearance in unathomable
places from what it has in shallow spots This, COM
bined with the volcanic construction of Iceland and the
Azores, and the situation of that portion of the
that lies between both these volcanic groups has led to
the conclusion that there has been lifting up of the bot
tom of the through the agency of Plutonic power
and that the bottom thus elevated appears be cut through
in many places by deep water channels The appearance
Medusa, POlyp and other marine creatures upon
the edge of the dscoored water strengthens this opn
ion Your memoriaiss propose that these suggestions
should be further investigated and that for this purpose
they be furnished with vessel by resolution of your
honorable bodies in order to make the necessary sur
veys and soundngs They also ask, if such shall be
found to exist the Atlantic ocean, that they be
furnished by the United States government with the
cessary buoys and the chains and anchors in order to
station the said buoys at the necessary distances
the ocean, in order to establish line of communication
The distance from Cape Race, in Newfoundland TO the
headands of Dngle Bay, in Ireland being about 900
statute miles, it would take only three hundred and
eighty buoys to have buoy anchored every five miles
the whole distance while it is probable that buoy
every ten miles distance would be sufiicientn which
case one hundred and ninety buoys would be enough
To these buoys coated telerapbc wire would be at
tached and sunk at such distance under water would
protect it from oil molesation while in the intervals be-
tween the buoys the wire, ii necessary would be sup
ported by cork floats attached to it.
Your memoralists think II unnecessary to enter into
further details at the present time to show for instance
what precautions would adopted to prevent the chatting
of the wires against the anchorage chains the
of diminishing the size of the buoys by sustaining their
anchong chains by lesser buoys floats throughout the
whole length of the chain &C.; the chief object of your
memoasts at present being to direct the attention of
Congress to this important subjectas your memorial
lists are of opinion that, though soundngs may be
found indicated above yet that buoys may be anchor
ed by means OF buckets properly conved and let down
to sufficient depth, to be clear of all currents
moving ON the upper surface and supporting column
of water, while they reacted the water to
terbalance the drifting movement of the buoys
And this experiment they pray, may be fully tested
which, should it not succeed contrary to the firm per-
suason of your memorialists will yet to cucdate
several important phenomena Your memoralists adj
vert to the fact tha the British government
about adopting the bold project of carrying the tee-
graph wire the Irish channel and 1t remains for
government, by their promptness and energy, not to al
low themselves to BIO anticipated IN the glorious enter
prise of extending teegraphc communication across
the itself
All of which is respectfully submitted by your
riasts,
HORATI0 HUBBELL
JOHN HENRY SHERBURNE.
True copy: Y. p. PACE,
Clerk in Office Sec'y Senate U. s,