The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-05-29
Monday Morning, May 80, 1866.
{ The Atlantio TsIegraph oabla,.

The work CONNECTED with the CONTINENT
and preparation OF the Great Eastern Steam.
ship for laying down the Atlantic telegraph
between this country and America during the
approaching summer is being carried on in
the most expeditions manner at the vessels
moorings, Saitpanreach between Chatham
and Sheerness. Already considerably more
than / 900 miles OF the cable have been placl
ed on board, the total length deposited in the
tanks constructed between the decks for the
reception OF the cable up to Saturday even.
ing being 220 statute miles, rather more than
nall the quantity intended to be shipped. The
total length OF cable required to stretch from
the starting pointin Ireland to the spot whsra
1t is intended to land on the American side Il
exactiy z,zo5 miles; but, according 10 present
arrangements, it is intended to place at least
400 miles on board, the few additional hum
dred miles length being allowed for "slack. !
tne action OF currents, and other such like
Contingencies. E 80 9177e -
The smallest of the three monster turks IN
which the cable is deposited when received OH
board the Great Eastern--that Ia the forward
part OF the ship--is now full, the total length
slowed away within 1t being exactly 633
miles. The largest of the tanks-that In The
after part Of the vessels intended to receive
between 800 and 300 miles of the cable, and
already total quantity Of $40 miles has been
deposited in it,, the filing or this tank being
or midship tank, which Is constructed to nold
about $40 miles, being proceeded with. The
returns on Saturday evening gave length OF
81 miles az deposited in the last or the three
tanks. During the time the cable is on board
1t is kept submerged, the tanks, for this purl
pose, being always allied with water. Elec1
tricians are constantly employed on board in
portion of the Great Eastern appropriated
for their accommodation, and BY means OF tha
most sensitive and delicate instruments every
portion of the cable is subjected to the most
careful and rigid tests, as il is received from
the hunks and deposited in the tanks. la order
that the most trihing. defect may be discover
ed. Up to the present time, however, not the
slightest break or flaw in the whole OF the
l,z'lO miles length Of cable has been detected
Notwithstanding that during every minute oil
the day a constant current Of electricity 81
passing through the coils, and there is little
doubt therefore, that, so far as Its electric ca
liabilities are concerned, the cable will leave
this country in the highest possible state OF
perfection, and with the Improved Instruments
intended TO be used. capable Of transmitting
messages betweenihis country and America
at the rate OF twelve words per minute, OF
more than donble the number which could be
forced through the old Atlantic telegraph ca
BILE.
The rate Al which the cable has been ship
ped on board has varied from 20 to 80 miles
per day, and it is calculated thar, proyid M
no delay takes place at the works. OF Messfs.
Glass, Elliot and Co, Of Morden wharf. Green
witch, where the cable is manufactured at the
rate of 100 miles per week, the entire quanti-
ty will be shipped by the first week in June,
and the Great Eastern ready to take her De-
parture towards the latter end of the same
month, so as to fall In with the best possible
weather to be met with in the Atlantic. AL
though the construction of the tanks is com
plete, numerous body of mechanics and
workme!n are employed on board in strength
ening the ship by means OF system of knees,
butts and deck-beams, so as to support the ad
dilional dead weightof the cable, and to over
cone the lateral pressure of the mass by con-
filming Its dead weight TO the centre Of the
ship, and thus to lessen as much as possible
the rolling propensity of the Great Eastern
when at sea with the three tanks filled with
the cable and water. The weight of the new
Atlantic cable is nearly double that of the one
originally laid, the weight of the entire insu-
lation Of the cable submerged in 1858 being
26llbs. per nautical mile, while that of the
new cable is 400ibs. per nautical mile. The
weight OF the new cable in air Is IS cwt. ors.
per nautical mile, and in water l4cwt. per
knot, or equait0 II times its weight in water
per knot; or, in other words, it will bear its
own weight In l miles depth OF water. The
original Atlantic cable weighed but 20 cwt.
cwt. per nautical mile In water, which would
be equal to 4.85 times Its weight In water per
knot. II s. as.es sas 400
In the cable now in course Of shipment tho
breaking strength is tons 15cwt while the
breaking strength OF the first laid cable was
only IA TONS, aud the contract strain equal
to ASS its weight per knot in water. The
contract strain Of the new cable is equal to II
times its weight per mile in water, or more
than double the strength of the cable frat laid
between this country and America The
whole Of the arrangements connected with
the shipment of the cable, and, indeed, with
the equipment and preparation of the Great
Eastern, are most ably carried out by Mr..
Canning, the company's engineer, who has
had the great advantage of being similarly
engaged on the occasion of the first Atlantic
cable being submerged. tiae aa'ew
The Great Eastern has commenced shipping
her Goals, about 1000 tons of the 5000 she
will require having been already received on
board The restrictions as TO the admission
of visitors have recently been removed, and
the public are now admitted to inspect the
great ship and witness the operation of shin
ping the Atlantic cable on board