The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1865-06-29
The Atlantic Felesraph.

light and admiration that partial success
| lifted the people OF the two continents we
have not yet forgotten. The ''Cabie Gel
ebration" will live iong in the memory of
New Workers, and the keen interest with
which the brief life of that link between
the Old and New World was invested will
he remembered as more than romantic
The hopes of Humanity-in our then ex,
aggerated estimate of the Importance of
unication-seemed to hang on the
slender thread that stretched from Ireland
to New Founaland and, when it broke,
we should have been inconsoiablc if other
events more momentous and vital had not
| succeeded.
Now, that ske great telegraph enterprise
OF the century is once more to be renewed,
the public takes the matter more coolly.
The tremendous excitements of the last
tour years have superseded our interest in
| peaceful affairs, so that, though we have
heard from time to time Of the progress
OF the new cable, we content ourselves
with languid speculations on its probable
success or want OF success-quite ready
to welcome it heartily if it prove deserv-
ing OF welcome, but by no means disposed
to set the City Hall on fire again, should
message once more cross the ocean.
Yet 1t would be an afectation to DENY
that We look anxiously and hopefully and
eagerly to the great experiment which is
once more on the eve of "a great success or
great failure. The new cable is compile
ted. The last mile has been rolled aud
spun and twisted and coated, and all. or
nearly all, of its immense length is safely
| aOiIol Il L Il
Great Eastern. Yet we do not know that
the anxiety or indifference of the public
has much to do with the probable success
of the voyage which next month will see
begun and completed 1t is safe to pre-
sumo that, if the cable is ouce fairly down,
our municipal fathers will find ample op-
portunity to organize another celebration
and spend or steal a comfortable sum of
money IL announcing the event.
Comparing the circumstances of the
last attempt with the present, there is
abundant cause for expecting good fortune
now when before we bad only Ill The
very first question is, of course, the cable
itself-anG the difference between the
two is the difference between an awkward
and hasty attempt of Ignorance. and the
intelligent, deliberate effort to which ripe
experience and conscientious devotion
have contributed their best resources
The present cable is $500 miles long.
It's central conductor consists of seven
fine copper wires, twisted into one COM
plete strand, and perfectly insulated
-Four layers of gutta percha, inclose it,
each of them insulated like the conductor
itself. This outer covering is protected
by eleven strong wires, each wound with
strands of hemp, saturated with tar. Du-
ring the process of manufacture, the ca
bic has been kept constantly exposed to
severe tests of its conductive power and oil
its insulation, having been all the time
immersed In water and traversed by elec-
trio currents of such density and force as
to develop the weakness of the wires, if
it anywhere existed The difference be-
tween the process of manufa aoture of the
first cable and of the present is remarka
ble. Then everything seems to have been
taken for granted; now, nothing Is LET;
to chance or theory. The strength of the
cable, as we'll as It's insularity and econ,
ductivity," has been perfectly established
1t will bear a weight of nearly eight tons
and can safely be depended on to support
eleven miles of its length In water. In
stead of being committed now to two ships
as formerly, the whole cable is slowed or
board the Great Eastern and to that yes
sci, aided by escorts which will supply
assistance but carry none of the wire, tht
great task of depositing the cablo on thC
bottom of the Atlantic is to be intrusted
1t is slowed in three tanks, which are re
spec.ively, 81 feet, So feet 6 in, and 81
feet in diameter, and will hold coil-th,
fret of $50 miles, the second of $40 miles
! and the third OF $50 miles of cable Th'
mechanical arrangements for its delivery
are not materially different from those or
the Niagara and Agamemnon. 1t is or
the character of the cable itself that th'
company rest their chief hopes OF more
, permanent success than attended their las
experiment.
; 1t would be unjust not to give credit tt
the leading men in this enterprise 10
their persistent faith in its final success
: and their unremitting efforts to secure IT
They have not refused to profit by thu
lessons ofexperience, but, in the minutes
details as we'll as in the general scheme o
the present undertaking, have sought tt
avoid the errors which caused failure
before. If this also should, from any
cause that cannot be foreseen or provided
, against, be necessarily abandoned, we pre-
sumo the same men will with the sam
, zeal and faith renew their efforts, anC
continue them till the two continents are
, permanently united.
It is expected that the Great Eastern
with its invaluable freight and precious