The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-04-19
The Atlantic Gable.

We observe by the English papers that at
the general meeting of the Atlantic telegraph
company, the directors reported that our gov.
eminent had offered, in a very handsome man
ner, to cooperate with the British in order to
secure the relaying of the cable between New.
foundland and Ireland, and for rendering it inui.
oldble in time of aoar. Taking into consideration
the fact that the cable, when laid down, and
that the company, with one or two exceptions,
is composed. exclusively of British subjects, it
is not difficult to estimate about how much the
above assurance would be worth in time of war.
Who imagines that England, the most unscrup.
ulous power in the civilized world, where her
own interest is at stake, would scruple, if at
war with the United States, in using this cable
for her own exclusive purpose? And does
any one suppose for moment, with the recol
lection Of the Trent affair still fresh in our
memories, that war with England is not likely
to occur at any moment, unless We are prepared
to submit to every indignity which British ar
rogance may offer? Even now they are work
ing up" a new cause for rupture, in the mat.
ter of the capture of the steamer LaSuan, which
was ENGAGED in evading the blockade on Rio
Grande. When the old cable was in operation
who does not recollect the mean, supercillious
manner in which our people were treated by
those having the cable in charge, from White
house and Thompson down to the foggy and
mysterious galvanic creation-De Sauty?-
When one of our government vessels visited the
Bay Of Bulls Arm, with certain gentlemen
engaged in the coast survey, to witness the
operation of this great International telegraph,
they were coolly informed that they could not
be allowed to 60 into the building, and so they
went away as wise as they came.
Under these circumstances we cannot see
TINT our yoyerpmenf 10 col1od npon a.; -,
this undertaking. Bnt there are other reasons
why we deem it impolitic to put money into
this scheme,-even supposing our government,
which is running at daily expense of two
millions of dollars, was in peculiarly flourish
ishing pecuniary condition, the chief of which
is the great uncertainty of success in laying
the cable, and the equal uncertainty attending
its operation if laid. Fortunately we are not
quite so much in the dark in regard to the
working of long submarine cables as We were
before the submerging Of the Atlantic cable in
1858. The fact that they can be worked across
the Atlantic has been demonstrated, but that
they can be made practical success is not so
clear. The transatlantic end of the cable was
landed August 9th, the els Atlantic end August
7th, and the first complete message was receiv-
ed through the cable on the 18th. The cable
worked from this time until the Ist of Septem-
Der, and yet the total number of messages sent
and received was only four hundred, or about
ten hours work for our land lines. 1t is true
that some time was wasted in experiments with
different kinds of apparatus and that SUBJ
terranean or submarine magnetic storm OF
twenty four hours duration. prevented any
messages from being sent during its continu-
ance still the fact is apparent that the opera
tions through the cable were so slow and un.
certain as practically to amount to failure
The cause OF this difficulty is retardation Of
the current, caused by static induction along
the inner surface of the gutta percha. This
| retardation is always observable on submarine
or subterrean lines, and the amount depends
on the extent of the cables. On lines of three
hundred miles in length the retardation does
not cause any very serious difficulty, but upon
lines of two thousand miles in extent it is so
great as to admit of several distinct waves ira.
versing the wire at the same time
If the Atlantic cable is to be reality, we are
of the opinion that the distance across the
Atlantic must be divided twice at least, by
means of relay stations situated upon some OF
intervening islands. The route via Iceland,
Greenland and Farce Islands is too far north,
and too much under the control of rowing and
fllibustering icebergs to answer the purpose,
| and we must therefore look further South
We cannot see why line run from Cape Cod
to Jacquet Island, thence to the Three Chin
neys, and thence to Valencia, would not bette,
| answer the purpose than any other which has
been suggested. Relay stations could be es.
tablished upon these islands, and the distance
would be reduced from one long stretch Of two
thousand miles to three comparatively short
sctions of from FIVE hundred to eight hundred
miles in length. Another great advantage OBJ.
tanned by this plan is that Of securing much
larger and stronger cable, and better able te
resist the action Of the currents in the sea, ard
abrasion upon rocks, which it is well known
was the cause Of the destruction of the old ca.
BILE. We hope our government will spend nc
money upon any Atlantic cable but if it should
decide TO do 80, thst it will make it condition
that the Cis-Atlsntic terminus shall rest upor
the soil Of the United States.
The directors Of the Baltimore and Ohis
railroad have passed resolutions that they vii
employ no disloyal men. They resufsdto hsv,
the oath Of allegiance administered to theil
nvIH L., L. L.