Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-06-16

Il
territory to be trayersed. The sta ting point must be
chosen in either Nebraska, Kansas Colorado. Utah. Mon
tana Idaho Oregon or Washington Thence the distance
to the line Of British Columbia would be about one thou
sand mes the distance be sod through Brtsh
America the lns of Russian America about SIX hun
dred miles, the distance through Russian America TO Cape
Prince of Wales about nineteen huudrsd miles, the length
of submarine cable Behring's strait would be forty
miles and the distance from East Cape by AN inland
the Okhotk aud through the
Ayan and Shantars bay, which are well known
stations of the whale fishery TO the mouth Of the AmoOr
RIVER would be about twenty hundred miles The en-
tire length Of the line would be about sx thousand and
forty miles Operative telegraph wires have already been
stretched on this continent of the aggregate length of
enty miles and similar wires have been stretched
the Eastern Continent of the aggregate length OF two
hundred thousand miles Operative submarine telegraph
wires have been lad Of the lengths respectively of three
hundred mics ard FIVE hundred niles, from Dover to
Heligoland, and from Malta to Tnpoh.
Thus it is seen that the extent OF the route to be
in the present does not constitute an IN
surmountabe serious dihculty
The physical obstacle which next presents itself is the
surface formation Of regions 10 be traversed That
portion of the which lies within own territory is
chiefly mountainous and the projected telegraph line
must ut least along decves of the mountains even
if should not be found necessary one case to surmoun
them British Columbia presents similar topography
Bat there the mountains divided into three ranges
whose courses north to SOU b. while intervening
valleys invite the introduction Of telegraphs and roads
The Pacific coast of Russian America chiefly level The
portion of Siberia which lies between East Cape and the
head of the Of Okhotsk s for large extent steppe
or plain with gentle elevations occasionally risng lato
mountainous ridges At the head Of the sea OF Okhotsk
of mountains must be crossed and the region lying
thai range aud the mouth OF the Am0or river Is m
the came that before mentioned which extends
from the same range nortbward to East Cape The highest
reva ion to be the whole ine wou be found
the Rocky Mountains within the United States aud thus
elevation may be estimated at eight thousand to ten thou
sand feet.
Operative telegraph lines have already been stretched
over seppes in both similar those thus do
.crbed The Pac fc telegraph ne in crossing the Sierra
Nevada elevation greater than that which Is TO
be surmounted the line under examination
With the exception of timber all the materials OF tele
graph line light and portable Metallic wire sufficient
for mile of telegraph together with the materials fur IN
suation weighs ct than four hundred pounds Suf
fcent timber awaits the builder along the through
the United States aud British Columbia Timber is also
found those portions of the projected line which lilo
within the Russian domnions ach continent with the
ptun of timberess steppe~ five buntred miles wide
each side of Behring's strait here the needfu timber
be brought t. the line either by sea or from the
forest-covered shores OF navigabe rivers
The temperature of the region through which the north
part OF the line would pass very low Nevertheless,
winter less IN it lie between the parallels
OF latitude the Atlantic coast. The teegrapbic line
which connects st Peterborough with ArchanRel he
White and also the telegraphic line Which passes
around the Gulf of Bothna and connects st Ptersburgh
with Tornea are maintained in operation without Difficult
y although they high parallels Of latitude those
which lie 10 the way of Mr. Coins's line.
The waters Of Behring's Strait are about one hundred
and eighty feet deep and they czen through oneha
rally takes the form Of anchor ce and not that OF cebergs
Thus climate to offer serious obstacle to the
terrse while it is not entirely unworthy Of consid ration
that cold atitudes timber used any necessary sruc
is les. rshabe than timber used in ATTITUDES
while less OF insulating material is demanded in high ati
tudrs than is required in M re genial climates
The only political difficulty in the of the enterprise
the fact that requires concerted aid from three
raj States, namely the United States Great Britain and
Russia The two last named Powers have already with
enlightened and fraterna iberay towards the United
States, made all the concessions which we're demanded
Therefore, if Congress shall grant the application of Mr.
Collins, political obstacle will remain
That portion of country which the enterprise
is to be carried is well known hardly to require
description minute than have already given 1t
newly and yet thinly settled The is the in
British Columbia. Indian tribes found along the Anne
can part of the route but they have been we'll subject
ed to the influences of society and government through
the operations of the Fur Trade that no serious
from them need be spprehend~d The inhabitants Of
Asatic Russia who dwell inland nomadc Tartars,
affecting much independence They are nevertheless
savage like the American natives After centuries Of
ternal war, they have settled into sae Of semi
civilization in which they accustomed to barter with
whaers, with exploring parties, and with the Govern
ment agents of Russia aud they Hospitality inclined by
that intercourse.
The result Of the survey Of facts thus far made
that there insuperabe obstacles either physical
political social 10 tie way of the projected line OF
| telegraph
Ia regard to the expense which it requires must be
content 10 refer the committee Of the Senate to the ee
| mates which have been submitted by Mr. Collins. They
advaace Of the to BE- expended and the
time TO obtain from the Governments Of Great Britain
Russia and the United States the necessary political aid
1t may be assumed, therefore, that they prepared
honestly and cautiously, aud with approach to
curacy is possible 10 regard to design ia which 30
much that is to be be done under conditions
before tried Mr. Collins estimates the whole cost
at FIVE million Of dollars just legislative caution would
probably induce Congress to double that estimate.
derssnd that association is already formed with
pal Of ten millions to be devoted to the enterprise
therefore n IL ntirrly faasih
proceed In the next place. to consider the probable
| usefulness OF the enterprise
1t is needn't here 10 that the line Of telegraph
proposed will b. extended mm- diaely from AMOR river
To lrk0utsk to complete the elegraphc chain
the two continents The agreement of Russia leaves no
room for doubt this point
II quite too late at this day to debate the abstract
question OF the usefulness of tho magnetic telegraph 1t
would be eay to dispense with the steam engine
on land or on sea- IN the business Of commerce. social
int rcourse, political AFFAIR." az would be to foreRo
the OF the telegraph To be without it, is to be so
lated Other conditions being equal the country that has
the largest ension and the tho radiation of
the telegraph wire enjoys the most active and profitable
system OF domestic commerce
or the seventy Thousand miles OF telegraph now In ope
ration on the American continent sixty thousand miles
found within the United States and the remainder in
the provinces # Brtrh America But commerce on The
American continent ders political restraint and cenrazes
itself within our country For practical purposes
we may regard the whole telegraph system of the Amer
continent But internal com rerce
life to, and receives life in return from foreign com
MERGE In proportion to the extent and variety of it's
Resources the nation that enjoys the prosperous
eiRn commerce exhibits the greatest industrial scivty
and domestic happiness within IT'S bord The vigor