The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-07
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TIE COLLINS OVERLAND TELEGRAPH.
The honor Of conceivng and originating the idss a
connecting the great commercial mars Of the Europsn
continent with the great metropolis OF the American hem
isphere by the Overland route, belongs to Major Perry
MDonough Collins formerly United States Commercials
Agent at the Amoor River Major Collins urged the fss
sby Of the enterprise and the great dement's 10 accrue
from its accomplishment upon his imperh Majesty 'ns
Gear of all the Russas, with such cogency ana SUE
tanned his arguments with such formidable array
of facts that the Gar always mbued with the friendly
feelings so often manifested towards this country by hs
government granted to Major Collins the exclusive rghs
TO build telegraph line through the Russian tertofy'
both on the eastern and western continents
This grant ian unusual thing for an emperor O
any Of the great European Powers to confer upon
other than of his subjecs) having been OBJ
tanned, Major Collins Immediately took the necessary
steps in this country the building and success
full completion Of the line Capital necessary, en-
cheering skill Of the highest order, combined with
equally high Geographic experience and scientific attain
ments, to be obtained, and all tho multifarious
duties pertaining to the organizing of expedition -
build the line were to be accomplished
THE CAPITAL AND now 1T WAS OBTAINED.
The first step the obtaining of sufficient capital in
the interest OF the proposed plan to insure against all
possibilities of failure through lack of necessary pecu
mary resources. Major Collins found difficulty upon
Western Union Telegraph Company, in convincing thas
entorprising corporation Of tho perfect feasibility and
practicabiity of the project vast as 1t appeared Hon
Hiram Sbley President; J. H. Wade Vice Pres dent;
| Colonel Arson Stager General superintendent;
| O. H. Palmer Treasurer; Samuel Wilder ESQ.,,
| George b. Hicks and other eminent telegraphen
| connected with the Western Union line, formed .
| company under the provisions OF the existing char
| ter of the Western Union Telegraph Company,
| % oll;pct 0uarln
western Union Extension" The usual prcmins-
| res attendant upon forming company receiving
subscriptons to stock &C., soon concluded ana
Major Collins had the satisfaction Of seeing his grand pro-
cct under such favorable auspices as to leave no que
ton of ultimate success. The total amount OF STOCK
issued thirteen millions OF dollars and such was the
confidence felt in the undertaking by our capaiists
after the of the selection oil the ads
engineer to whom entrusted the building OF the
cxcnsion that it all subscribed within one montn
| from the day the books opened.
| INTEREST OF THE EUROPEAN POWERS IN TIKI
| PROJECT.
In company with Mr. sbley, President OF the Exten-
sion Major Collins left for st. Petersburg some months
SINCE visit to the Emperor of Russia and Tor the
purpose of comforting with the Russian officials relative
to certain details necessarily connected with the compile
ton of the line in the Russian possessions In Asia Lot
tiers received from these gentlemen mention the greas
/
Gear and his whole family well the wealthy and In
teigen mobiles of his realm but also state that the live
lest interest is evnccd by the Kaiser of Prussia the En-
peror OF France the other crowned heads Of Europ
all of whom appear fully convinced of the Immense
benefits which must necessarily follow the teiesrapn~
| connection OF the two continents.
| THE ROUTE.
Various statements the route to DO raversed ~
the projected line have been printed evidently wr1sen
by uniformed parties their statements tending to mis-
lead the public in this important matter. We give here
with the route which, after careful study OF exsuhe
maps and long consultations with experienced travel
lers of those regions been decided upon by Engineer
Buckley as the most feasible and practicable The wirss
of the Pacific Telegraph line already extend through
California Oregon and Washington Territory TO New
Westminster British Columbia. This leaves the con-
necon to be made in British Columbia near the mouth
of Frazer river Of which will follow north
ward feast of the Cascade range Of mounains) 70 ~
headwaters skirting Lake Alexander and Stuars LakA
This will properly be considered the first section Of ths
line. considerable portion OF this section has bees
surveyed by Assistant Engineer Conway, who's
explorations during the winter have been pr.
formed upon the Ice and through or over ths
deep SHOWS characerizing that region. His sx-
plorations will be Of incalculable advantage, -
the party have made such landmarks under hh
supervision will enable depots Of telegraphss
| supplies TO be established AZ various cohvonso1s
points easily accessible to the working parties, ana
have placed him in possession Of much valuable In
formation relative the topography of the country and
the character and disposition Of its Inhabitants which
will enable him report to the chief engincss
the quantity and character Of supplies essential for the
provision OF the building parties, and likewise the amouna
Of wire other teegraphic material necessary TO IN
| verse the district
Leaving the headwaters of Frazer river the line VIII
run norhward through the valley between Cascade and
Rocky Mountains TO Sampson river Following the
course OF this stream It will pass through gap q n
Cascade Mountains touch the Pacific coast at various
points near Admiralty Prince Of Wales and Queen Char
lotte islands Thence the line will run along the coese
TO the mouth OF Copper river the eastern boundary q
the Russian possessions in America Following IL
course Of this will be extended northwsrd y
Fort Yonkon at the junction Of Porcupne and Peily
rivers and the outpost Of the British
American possessions. Following the course OF the
river Yonkon formed by the Pey and Porcnpins a
stream 1000 miles long, and nnvgnble for steamers fes
500 miles and for barges the whole lengthy the linz
will reach the Pacific coast again the Of Mchas'
owski on Norton sound, about three hundred mile
below Behring Strait
HOW THE PACIFIC IS TO BE CROSSED.
Instead OF crossing the Pacific at Behring Strait -
originally intended, Colonel Buckley has determined
make the passage by submerged cables from Michaoloa
ski to st. Island and thence TO tho other sho
at Cape Thadeus These two cables will be respectively
one hundred and thirty I'VE and two hundred and nfy
Eve miles in length The following map illustrates
! THE PROPOSED PLAN OF CROSSING The PAcrvN
, OCEAN.
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