The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-26
The Telegraph Lines Along the Ceast.

So AcAeXT0Qn Lines Along the C0Aots
WARRINGTON, Dec. 2, 1851.
siRn compliance with the request contained in Gens
raj Williams letter Of the eth instant answer TO mine
to you of the 4th and the verbal communication receiv
edfrom you through mutual friends, William H. Ia.
pnwall, Esq, and Captain Fox, submit the following
suggestions for the consideration Of the government
Assuming that there be question as 20 the great
advantages to he derived by the War and Navy Depart
mens' and, In fact, the whole government from tbs
adjustment Of direct teleeraphic communication be-
tween the seat OF government and the principal military
ana naval stations which the government may have
our southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts would most re-
spectfuly recommend
l. That the land line Of telegram bo ev,anaaa from, no
present terminus in Delaware, through Accomac and
Norlhampton counties, in Virginia, to point on the
coast near Cape Charles.
Q That submarine cable be laid from said point
g. That Newport News and Fortress Monroe be- lo
connected ny a submarine cable. .............. ok
Total to Fortress Monroe and Newport News. 81
Thus, by the completion Of this short land line,
ana me use or only ~ miles Of submarine cable,
direct communication would DO established be-
tween Washington and Fortress Monroe and New.
port News or, II there be any doubt about the
government being able 10 maintain the land
Inc through Accom3c and Northampton coun-
Tics, m Virginia, a cable can be laid from For
tress Monroe and Newport News TO Annapolis or
any other point desired on the west coast Of
the Chesapeake Bay, near Washington
A. That cable be laid from Fortress Monroe to Fort
eiark at Hatteras inlet. ...................1 1872
To,,, - ry,,,au.s,, -
M lo.li 20 Hstteras inlet. ......,.... 179
8. That Fort Clark al Hattcgas Inlet, be connected
WIN Fort Beauregard at Bay Point Fort Royal
en'ialcc...... 352
Total TO Port Royal. ............b 31
9. That Fort Beauregard and Fort Walker at Hilton
Head, be connected by cable. ............... az
T. That the southern point Of Hilton Head Island
be connected with Tybee Island the entrance
70 Savannah, Ga. (The opposite ends of Hilton
Head Island can DO connected by short land
lnc.) Observation-Disclosures.
Total to Tybee Island. SO %.
Or instead Of ctnnecng the opposite of Hilton
Head Island by land line cable can be laid direct
from the fort on Hilton Head to Tybce Island
g. That cable be laid from Tybee Island TO Fer
Total to Fernandna. ...................o ssal
y raliroad and q good land lne o. telegraph in
operation.
0. That cable be laid from Cedar Keys to Fort
Pickens. .......................... 271
Total to Fort pickens ........... eo7s.
10. That cable be laid from Fort Pickens to =
siiip lslaad. I02
Total to Ship Island. ooeaf
branch lines 10 connect with the line can be laid
IRON snip stand to Galveston Texas 4a2 miles
from v veaar Keys 70 Key west. 1929 "
or to any other points on the coast with which it may be
desirable to have Geographic communication.
careful examination Of the charts OF the above pro-
posed routes viii show that nature has nerposed no OBJ
stace to the successful prosecution Of this enterprise
Tho cable throughout the may and should be- laid
in deep water beyond the reach Of either accidental or
intentional injury.
IN relation TO the cost OF laying submarine cable as
above proposed would say that il will depend in great
measure upon the price Of guta percha at the
time the cable shall be ordered and also upon whether
the government shall desire this line established for
merely temporary purpose, permanent means Of
communication with its military and naval stations on
tho route Indicated
Submarine cable may possibly be obtained as low as
one hundred dollars per mile, and from that up to
perhaps one thousand dollars, depending upon the quail
ty quantity and price Of material used the perfection OF
tho workmanship and whether designed for permanent
or temporary purpose.
would strongly that for the proposed line
the government procure good and permanent cable,
such as ordered in England in 1855 for the New York,
successfully laid in july Of that year the Gulf
of ST. Lawrence between Newfoundland and Cape Breton,
and which for years has not for moment failed work
perfectly, without the expense Of single cent for
pairs
This cable about hundred pounds sterling per
The Of establishing the proposed line would be- be-
sides the price paid The manufacturer for the cable the
freight out from England and the expense of laying
The of expense per milo for laying would very
much less for long than for short line the expense
Of steamer crossing tho Atlantic with the cable and ma.
chinery ready for laying it would be nearly the same in
both cases.
The French government has recently had a cable laid
across the Mediterranean from Tcuon TO Algers dis
lance Of Ave hundred miles and the English govern
ment one from Malta to Alexandria, distance, by the
route pursued Of thirteen hundred miles and both
are working with entire success.
8
With these lines established and despatch vessel run
ming between Key West and Havana, the government
would be kept constantly advised not only Of the
ments Of its forces but also Of those Of the rebels
the coast and their vessels in the West Indies; and
should the Nashville the Sumter any other piratical
craft appear in those waters it would be at known
here But be necessary me to refer to ndi
yidua instances 10 illustrate the advantages TO the 60
vernent at all times Of such means Of communication,
and especially during the existence Of the for the
lance Is too obvious to require it,
A single message may be Of more value to the govern
ment than the entire cost Of the line proposed With
'A''' '@p'''' ''''A ~ '''N' CYRUS S W FIELD.
To Gen. GEO. b. MCCLELLAN, Commander Chief United
States Army, Washington, D. G.
As bearing upon the question as to the time required
10 make and lay cable such as have suggested,
would state that the Atlantic cable manufactured at
the rate Of about twenty miles per day and was laid
the Aantca distance Of about nineteen hundred
statute milcsn less than seven days from the time
commenced in mid ocean.
Possessing such ne the government would be saved
tho expense Of despatch boats to convey intelligence
when peace IL restored with short branches extending
from the main line to New Orleans Mobile Savannah,
Charleston, and other principal Southern ports, it would
be very valuable for commercial purposes, and could
undoubtedly, be disposed Of for large sum- should gov
hands.
Major General Mcclellan endorsed this letter as follows
most fully concur in the Importance Of the submarine
telegraph, proposed by Mr. Field and earnestly urge
that his plan may be adopted and be authorized TO have
the plan carried into execution.
|. Very respectfully, GEO b. MCCLELLAN,
Major General Commanding United States Army.
Hon. SIMON CAMERON Secretary Of War.
ROUTE ONE.
Miles.
Cape Charles to Fortress Monroe 20ls
Fortress Monroe to Newport News. 65s
Fortress Monroe to Fort Clark at Hatteras Inle 152
al Bay Point, Port Royal entrance ........... s52
Fort Bcauregard to Fort Walker, al Hilton Hcad.. 24
| Southern point Of Hilton Head Island to Tybee
Island, entrance to Savannah Ga. ..............
Tybee Island to Fernandina Fla. .............. 81
| From ,Fernandna Florida to Cedar Keys,
there is railroad and good land line OF telc-
graph in operation.
From Cedar Keys to Fort pckens. 2I1
From Fort Plckens to Ship Island. 102
Branches.
| Codar Kcve In Kev West 200