The New York herald., 1863-10-21
THE GREAT WORKS OF SCIENCE.
The Atlantic Telegraph.

J.I
II is confidently expected that in July next areuewed
attempt will be made to lay telegraph cable the
Atlantic The directors Of tho Atlantic Telegraph Com
pany have succeeded, after great exeriOns in OBJ
tanning subscription list OF about $500 900 towards the
capital required 70 make and lay the cable Having
obtained this the directors referred 10 scientific
Committee consisting OF Captain Cation, Mr.. william
Fairbairn Mr. whltworth. Professor whestssone AMI
( The cable which had been sent by different .kcrs
The result OF the reference was that the committee
ers 10 accept the tender OF Messrs Glass Elliott
This accommodation, however applied only to the COPPER
Or the conducting wire aud covering Of gutta percha
the committee declining give any opinion to the
na coating until they had made number OF experiments
10 enable them 70 decide upon the best form to be
adopted There seven copper wires formed into one
strand form the conductor Every portion Of the wire
s 70 be care uy tested for conductivy and this
Iiott under ihe supernsendence Of electrician ap
pointed represent the company. Some surprise has
cnded Of guta percha instead Of the
pete insulating material India rubber. The committee
much Importance and In work Of suct nagniiude as
she Atlantic telegraph IL would not bc advisable to make
a ss 60 sU;iow he practice stScr.o sdoptcd with
oft expressing any opinion ss 10 the relative merits OF
ierai simply on the ground that /. has boen used and
tried on former occasions Tho experiments which were
made by the government co%m,,sse % s,mG ,na time sine,
much better insuator than It's rival aud n 10 mt
Ter OF regret that this substance has not yet been
extensively adopted At present tho supply OF guta
percha complete monopoly, and we are informed that
the small body Of capitalists who import purchase all
that comes into this country fading that the material Of
which they had large quantities in store would be
qured for the Atlantic cable had raised the price
consented TO modification Of their terms but II
s tho cost OF the OF the cable alone the copper wire
and It's thin covering ef eua perch will cost about f120
por mile. the electricians and engineers would for
leave the beaten path ana try the more servceabe
aud not moro expensive India rubber they wocd estab
lish c)mpetion which would be most wholesome and
valuable TO the cause Of electric telegraphy
The entire cost Of making the cable has been
estimated at f600 900, and OF that sum,ho subscribed
capital Of the company being only f30o .000thc con-
tractors take upon themselves Ia round numbers
half Their interest Is therefore identical with and equal
to that OF the general body Of shareholders The risk
which they undertake Is very serious ole and II Is
only by the complete OF the undertaking that
any profit be realized. On the aying OF the cable
and transmission OF tie first message the contractors
viii receive nsalment, and each month until
tho expiration OF the first Of the actual and
tinued working OF the telegraph; they will also re
ceve further instaments until the whole OF the contract
price has been paid 10 them. The experiments which
have been made lead TO the belief that the OF trans
eight words minute. The tariff will probably be ave
shlngs word so that very large return OF profit may
be looked for II only the line continues 70 work. Tho
government OF the United States gives q minimum sub.
sdy Of $75 900 year. and government f20 600
year TO the company 80 long the line continues TO
work, 10 go In payment OF the messages by the
spective governments. The two governments also give
while the line s Of work. As TO the laying Of the cable
nothing has OF course yet been decided b II the Great
should be delivered frou her present financial
troubles and be again made t for sea- might be very
useiuly employed for carrying and laying the Atlantic
telegraph.