The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1865-06-27
The New Atlantic Telegraph
Cable.

The present Atlantic cable is jnsI
2300 nautical miles. or in rough mum.
bers, about 2600 miles long. The
central conductor is composed OF seven
fine copper wires, twisted into one
complete strand, which is insulated
with Chaiterton's patent compound
Outside this some four distinct layers
OF gutra percha, each also insulated
with the same material that encloses
the conductor. Outside the gutla
percha again are wound IL stout iron
wires, each OF which, before being
twisted on is itself carefully wound
round with strands of hemp, soaked
with tar. THUS, then, there are no
less than 25,000 miles of copper wire
in the conductor, about $4,000 miles
OF iron wire in the outside covering,
AMI upwards Of 10000 miles OF
strands Of hemp, more than enough in
all TO 60 lweniy-four times round the
world. The cable has been made on
an average al the rate of Z miles per
day complete. and in some days its
outside covering OF hemp and iron has
been oteTield at the tale OF l73 miles
a day, though not falbom or a foot
has be- manufactured without every
part being k pit under constant test
Tor couductvity and to this hour 1t
i, as regularly tested as il was a year
ago, when the first mile was twisted
In strength The cable is equal TO
bearing strain Of II tons, while It's
specific gravity is so low that it can
with safety be depended on to support
/ miles Of us length OF water. 1t
has been made mile by mile, joined
up ia long lengths OF 700 and 800
miles, and shipped on board the Great
Eastern into three enormous tanks.
The first OF these wrought-iron struc-
lures, which look like lltle gasometers,
is in the forward part OF the ship, aud
Is 81 ii. IN dlamt ter; that ~ the md
ships over the boilers SO tt. Gin, and
that in the atlerpart 58,t. The first
wal hold a coil oi $50 miles OF cable,
tile second On c ct $40, and the third
one OF $50. 500 miles have etill TO
be slowed away on board, aud It will
take a fortnight TO complete this work,
though he last mile OF the coil will
CONE through the maehines of the til
egraph works al 3 o'clock on Monday
next. All three ianks are kept filled
with wafer. and when each is slowed
with cable as well, the ends OF the
wire will be joined up and a constant
system of Signals kept through every
part from the moment the expedition
starts ull the whole cable is lald.
The tanks themselves, with water
and their contents OF cable, weigh 10
all upwards Of 5000 tons. Great
care has therefore been used in shur.
ing them up from beneath the main
deck and down by succession OF
powerful supports TO the very keelson'
Some idea OF tie masslveness with
which this part oi the work has been
effected may be derived from The fact
that ln the construction Of these cross
beams, strut, AID braces. 40 less than
400 loads OF timber have been con.
sumed. Every part of the tanks
themselves also is braced with wrought
iron tie rods TO the sides Of the ship.
ln fact, unless The vessel meets with
such heavy sea AS would break her
back, thtre seems to be no possibility
Of danger arising rom the s,owage Of
tie cattle. The mere cable, however.
IS bui an item in the mass Of heavy
weights the Great Eastern will have
to carry on tilis occasion. Her draugtt
ol water sill be- rather over than un-
der 80 feet. ard, all told. her weights,
when starting firm Valenlia, viii
eome near the stupendous mass OF ls,-
600 tons. They are all, however,
slowed high aid 50 placed from end
70 end as 10 eounieract, a. much as il
can be eounterAetrd, lie Great East
ern's uapieAsan, tendency 10 rolI IN a
beam sea.
According 20 present arrangements
j, is believed iha, The Great Eastern
sill start ia The very raily part o. July,
and certainly, if possible, not later
than the l0th. With her ni.l also sail
Iier Majestys ship Terrible, and Al
olhef paddle steam frie0t ef great