The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-10
3oulh and Russian America, as well as
Europe, to be Put in Direct COmmunisa-
ton with New York.
COLLINS PROPOSED OVERLAND TELEGRAPH.
The Behring Straits and Asiatic::
Russian Line.
Government aid and Countenance
Given to 1t.
The South American Merchants Anxious
-t =. to Aid the Enterprise,


&C. 90. &C.
The Atlantic cable s not yet success but there every
reasonable hope that shortly will be- The present month
will probably put us In communication with Europe.
But If this great undertaking did not snfncen absorb
all the enterprise Of the Anso saxon race, or as if its
bump of caution Is SO great TO urge the to pre-
pare another scheme to which to resort in Of the
failure Of the Atlantic cable find that individuals
have planned and obtained government aid to scheme
for not cny extending elegraphc communication south
ward and northward TO the rcmotest parts OF this CONT
nent but also for crossing Behrng straits and invading
Europe via Asintic Russia.
THE PLAN AND ITS ORIGIN.
The plan WIS originated by Perry EcD Collins, ESQ.,.
our CONNIE ercial agent on the Amoor river, and Is
approved by the government The principal feature
Of tho undertaking is to extend the San Francisco
limo from that city northward along the Pacific
coast, through the British and Russian colonies Of
New Cornwall, New Norfolk and Russian America
to Behring straits at Cape Prince of Wales. Here it
Is proposed to the straits thirtynine miles wdo
into Asatic Russia line down the Pacific coast to
the mouth ofhe Aoor river thence through North China
and the southern provinces of Russian Asia to Moscow and
St. Petersburg From st. Petersburg the main direct
line extended along the north of the Baltic
Sea and Gulf Of Bothnia to and the English chan
mel to London and the jumping OF place Of the Atlantic
cable the coast Of Ireland Thence the Atlantic cable
would complete 'the girde round the earth," and
Puck's preposteTous fancy grow tame and common
place beside the great reality. The second part OF the
plan s simply to extend the San Francisco line south
ward through Mexico Central America and the Isthmus
of Panama to South America, and thence around the
coast Of that country passing through Bogota Quito
Lima to Santiago where leaving the coast it the
continent to Buenos Ayres and thence runs through
Aontevideo, Rio dc Janero, San Salvador, Pernambuco
Para and Caracas, back to Panama From point
points OF the main line in Asatic Russia it Is also
proposed to extend connecting lines southwark through
out Southern Asia, even extending them in time to
Japan and Australia
WHAT HAS BEEN ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED.
The direct land line thus contemplated would be
twenty thousand four hundred and seventy nine miles
length 1t will doubtless surprise many OF readers
70 know that twelve thousand hundred and forty
miles already completed, and that supposing the
Atlantic cable to be and already completed,
only seven thousand seven hundred miles Of overland
and thirty mine miles Of submerged line remain to be
built. There s but single continuous gap of seven
thousand seven hundred and thirty-nine miles 70 be
finished and the greater part OF the proposed route lies
through country not formidable by OF climate
hostile inhabitants that through which the San
Francisco line has been II will be by the OFF,
cial documents which we publish this morning. that
grants have already been obtained by Mr. Collins from
the British and Russian governments granting all the
requisite prvieges and indeed stpuations have been
entered into by which these agree to
struc the only gap in the line existing in order to
complete it, Even If the Atlantic cable should fail we
are a fair way to secure telegaphc communication
with Europe by another route
GOVERNMENT AID TO THE ENTERPRISE
Tho following official document will give additional
facts regarding the feasibility Of this enterprise and
show how far the government is disposed aid the
enterprise
SECRETARY SEWARD APPROVES THE ENTERPRISE.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WAsHrSeroS, August Is, 1884
TO THE DIPLOMATIC oFFicKRs W rnr UNITED srA1Es IN
GssrInEs--You viii already have learned from the
public Journals and from communications of this depart
ment that undertaking has been set foot TO
the continents Of Europe and North America by
Of line OF telegraph through Central Asia and along
the northern shores Of the Pacific Ocean.
This enterprise first brought before The public by
Mr. Perry Med Collins commercial agent Of the United
States at the Amoor river who in the beginning Of 1861
asked the aid OF Congress In making an exploration Of
the proposed route. The memorial OF Mr. Collins
reported avoraby by the Committee Of the House Of
quentIy in 1862 received the sanction Of the Committee
on Military Affairs OF the senate In both bills
were presented providing adequate appropriation to
ever at that time Congress did deem Il expedcnt
take final action In the meanwhile Mr.. Collins, with
perseverance, and energy we'll bettng that clear sagacy
which first suggested the work urged its consideration
upon the governments OF Russia and Great Britain,
whose territories the projected line would traverse and
whose consent and cooperation therefore necessary
to ite success His proposal and
couraged by specific grants He has been authorized by
her Britannia Majestys government construct line
Of telegraph the Province British Columbia and
from the imperial government OF Russia not only OBJ
tained similar privilege covering the ground from the
AulQDT The frunf r.f fhrn
possessions in America, but stipulation their part
also to construct upon certain conditions continuous
Inc OF telegraph connecting the European system with
In view Of these grants and In consideration of the
ocnents 70 result TO us, az great commercial nation,
from the complexion OF elegrapbic circuit embracing
the Eastern and Western continents Mr. Collins renewed
mis- petition 10 the Congress Of the United states during
thoriz zng survey of the route
copy Of this act with the letter Of the Department of
state 10 the Commee on Commerce Of the Senate OF the
United states which led 70 is introduction aud passage
map illustrative Of the subject and other Documents n
relation 10 IL are herewith enclosed Tor your nioina
ton
All the legal conditions OF success 10 the main cnter
prise being thus fulfilled the attention OF the depar,men,
mas oeen invited ,o proposon ior the construction OF
continuous line OF telegraph to the whole maritime
border Of south America terminating at Panama and 10
be continued when practicable through Central America
and hexico 20 counect with lines 10 the United states
thus sdording unbroken telegraphic communication
throughout North and South America with this invita-
top 70 the department coupled request on the mari
Of Mr. Collins ha, diplomatic officers in the States Of
bouth America may be notified of this teegraphic PROMO
suoD and nsructed 10 further the p!sa far as thew
may consistently do 90.
The late affirmative action of Congress not less than
~ own estimate OF the nsoua ADVANTAGE TO be derived
from successful achievement OF the Undertaking
rants she department In sccsding 70 Mr.. Colils
quest
II peace be indeed as II is believed 20 be the prime
Interest Of nations; free intercourse be- IL s be-
uevsd 10 be- the first and best those
xs,Sob make for pence, and " OF intercourse
me electric telegraph be- ss u s believed TO be- the most
q nv ~ ibpr f.
department. wisely extend ts good ofces for the sncou
IGZA1Gok Ql onopoaad 4 Ia