The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-18
Fate Of tho Atlantic Gable.

Fate of tho Atlantic Gable.
We are no longer in suspense as to the fate
of the Atlantic cable. The news received yes
Terrible and Galatea--the consorts of the
Great Eastern-at ST. Johns, Newfoundland, in
forms us of the failure of the enterprise. The
cable parted ON the I'd inst, in 1850 fathoms of
water 1t was grappled for three different
times, and was raised twelve hundred, nine
hundred and six hundred fathoms respectively,
the graphing machinery breaking each time,
and thus exhibiting its ineficiency to raise the
cable. The Great Eastern consequently re-
turned to England for graphing gear of more
powerful and perfect character. The cable,
however, it appears did not break in the efforts
to raise it from its bed, some two miles under
the surface of the ocean, and as the buoy which
marks the place in mid-ocean where the frac-
tured end of the cable lies is reported to ride
out the gales well, it is just possible that, If the
Great Eastern returns to the spot with good
graphing instruments, it may yet be raised,
spliced and carried to its destination in Hearts
Content This, however, may now, under all
The hopes entertained for the success of the
cable were considerably dimmed when the
news brought by the sailing vessel First Fruit
reached here few days ago. The information
so charity furnished to the captain Of the First
Fruit, by the steamer Terrible, did not afford
much room for hope. The commander of the
Terrible did not state whether the broken
cable had been attached to the buoy "No. s."
or whether the cable lay at the bottom Of the
ocean, and the buoy was placed there to mark
the spot where the disaster occurred. We were,
therefore, in total ignorance upon that point
until the late arrival 1t was difficult to con-
ceive the object Of leaving buoy there if the
cable was fractured and went down in depth
of nearly two miles of water, as all idea OF
raising it seemed at that time out of the
question.
However the failure of this attempt must
not be considered as destroying our chances
for telegraphic communication with Europe.
There are still three other routes which
are open to us-one by Behring's Strait
another by the Iceland route, and another
by the Cape de Verde Islands to France.
One or all Of these lines will undoubt-
cdly, be constructed; but, at the same
time, it is to be regretted that the grand At
lantic enterprise should look so like q failure
after the many millions which have been liter
ally sunk in it. The recent disaster is proba-
bly, owing to bad management on the other
side, and the interference of members Of Par
lament and other unskilled persons with
scientific men. These gentlemen may represent
their constituencies very well in the House OF
Commons, but they know no more about laying
cable than the man in the moon. 1t is not
Parliamentary experience That is wanted, but
common sense and scientific knowledge. We
hope, therefore, that when the enterprise is again
undertaken, it's management will be entrusted
to men who understand it.
It is probable that the route by Behring's
Strait will be the first constructed, as the
soundings have been already made, and the
Russian government have given the scheme an
authoritative sanction, and the stock, we be-
lieve, is all disposed Of The attempt TO lay
the Atlantic cable has proved one fact which is
important in its bearing upon the prospects of
the other submarine lines. Il has proved that
insulation can be preserved for distance of
over one thousand two hundred miles, and as
the submerson of the cable in either of the
three lines, by Behring's Strait, Iceland or the
Cape de Verde Islands, will not exceed six hun.
dred miles at any one point, the continuity Of
the electric influence for that distance may be
relied upon. Hence we see no reason to
despair Of securing telegrapbic intercourse with
the old world even should the Atlantic cable
prove an impossibiity, which it would, per-
haps be premature to assume even in the pres
ent cloudy condition of the enterprise
Tho Evening stock Exchange and some
OF It's Effects.
Some time ago we excluded from our col
umns the reports of the quotation, at the Even
ing Stock Exchange II would have been we'll
for the community had the other papers fol-
lowed our example, and had our reputable
bankers aud brokers dlscountsnanced the even
ing board. This exchange is at once the off
crr; of tho rock asa sririt nf tiou which