The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-17
TIE. MTG TEL EGRAPH

On the 10Th, the somewhat tedious
process was commenced of shipping a
portion of submarine cable, which has
been made for this great undertaking
from the works at Greenwich, on board
the hulk Iris, for transfcrencc to the
Midway, and final stowage in the tanks
of the Great Eastern. The shipment was
begun early in the morning, and will
continue without intcrmission now until
nearly the end Of May, by which time it
is hoped all will be coilcd away snugly
on board the great steamship. The total
quantity of rope required to connect
Valentia with Bulls bay, Newfoundland,
allowing for the "slack," which must
run out to prevent too great strain on
the cable, is about two thousand three
hundred nautical, or nearly two thousand
seven hundred statute miles. With this
length liberal margin is given of nearly
six hundred statute miles of rope for
slack caused by currents, possible rough
weather, and the avoidance of anything
like unusual strain ON the cable in tho
deepest water.
Over one part of the route the depth
is as great as from two thousand to two
thousand five hundred fathOms, or nearly
three statute miles; a depth, however,
which is only considered of moment in
case of rough weather in paying out, the
mere strength Of the cable being sufii-
cient to bear its own weight in eleven
miles of still water. In this respect, as,
indeed, in all others, the new cable has
an enormous superiority over the oldand
ill-used rope which was first laid, and
which, to the amazemcnt of all those
who knew its real condition, nevcrthe-
less remained in fair working order for
few days. If such unexpected results
were obtained from the old cable, which
the advancement of electrical science
since then shows to have been thoroughly
ill., adapted for it's purpose, it is not over
sanguine to expect far more favorable
conclusion to the present enterprise, every
step in the conduct Of which has been
marked with the most jealous care, not
only to guard against the dangers known
to exist, but against other emergencies
which experience shows may arise, but
WulCu uVo yVd4o 0SO WVAO uAhuOWu. III
size, in strength, iIrbetter condition, bet
ter insulation, and better outer covering,
tho new rope is never less than three
times as good as the old one, while in
many cases, and these the most impor-
tant, its superiority is four or five times
greater. Though a much larger cable,
its weight in water per mile is less than
half that Of its unfortunate predecessor;
it's breaking strain is seven and three
fourths tons, against three and one fourth
tons, the maximum strength Of tho old
rope. The method Of joining up the
two mile lengths in which it is construct
cd is also great improvement upon the
soldcrcd joints in the wires of the first
cable, while the standards for insulation
and 'conductivity arc as high rs those
devised for the Persian Gulf cable, and
the tests arc continuous in every portion
of the manufacture.
Nearly nine hundred miles Of the cable
have already been made, and are heauti.
fully coiled away in tho large tanks in
the Telegraph Construction Company S
works, lately those Of Messrs. Glass &
Elliot. One thousand five hundred nau.
teal miles have yet 10 be manufactured
to- complete the tale, exclusive Of tho