The weekly Butte record., 1861-02-09
The Atlantic TelegraDh

Of all the projects which have originated in
the United States, France or England, for the
connection Of the Old and New Worlds by a
submarine telegraph, that Of Col Shaffner is
just now the most promising. Under the aus
pices Of the British Government two steamers
sailed to take soundingS in the Northern Ocean
her Majcstys ship Bulldog leaving the north
of Scotland on the lst of July last under the
command Of Capt. NJ 'Clintock ard the Fox,
from Cowes Roads, on the 29th of the same
month. Having just returned to England, the
results of the expedition are fully reported in
London papers, occupying several columns
Colonel Shaffner, it will be remembered is an
American, and was one of the first to propose
an Atlantic telegraph but as a rival project
rose rapidly into favor, he was temporarily
displaced, although earnestly conteGding, from
the outset, that the retardation of the electric
in submarine wires determined the impractical
bility of working them through long distances
Upon the failure of the attempt 20 run a cable
direct between New Foundland and Ireland,
Colonel Shaffner announced his purpose to
survey northern route over Greenland, Ice
land, and the Farce Isles, and en- March 1st,
1859, petitioned Congress for the assistance of
Government ships. But meeting with no fa-
yorable response, application was made to
Lord Palmerston, who called a deputation Of
influential citizens in London, on the l4th day
of last May, to invoke the aid CT the Govern
ment Of Great Britain. The results thus far
are now known. A careful examination by
Captain NJ Clintock of the depth of the sea
between the various stations on the proposed
route, have proved, according to the report,
" altogether more favorable for the laying Of
the cable than those on which the former
American cable was successfully submerged
the water being four hundred fathoms less in
its deepest parts. Of that part of the route
between Iceland and Greenland, the remark
able fact was proved, that no ice exists where
according to the most eminent authority, the
sea was impenetrably covered with it. An
other interesting circumstance, in scientific
point of view, is the discovery that animal life
exists at great depths in the ocean, thus set
ting at rest long disputed question. Several
star fish were brought up from the depth of
|, 200 fathoms, which had become entangled
with the lower portion of the line.
The main object of the cruise seems to have
been fully accomplished. Says the report in
the London Times, in conclusion
/" The results of the cruise are universally
considered by those who accompanied the eX-
pedition to be most satisfactory. Col. Shaft
ner's statements as to the existence of long
deep fiords, in which the water was so deep as
10 preclude the remotest possibility of cable
being injured by ice or icebergs is fully con-
irmed. The existence of drift ice along the
south coast is in reality no difficulty it only
prevails at the beginning of the season, ex-
cept in an exceptional year, such as that re-
Gently experienced Even when thickest, its
movements with various winds are so perfectly
understood that, under the command of expe-
rienced captains, many frail ships, totally un-
adapted for ice navigation, visit and return
from all parts of the coast annually in safety.
With regard TO the American terminus of the
line, now that the Greenland difficulty has been
removed, when once the line has been carried
there in the 50th meridian of western lougi-
tude, the landing on the opposite shore can be
selected on any point within some hundreds of
miles without materially increasing the length
of the circuit-N. T. Journal of Commerce
Ma. Parson Brownlow, through the Knox