, 1866-07-16
ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH EXPEDI-
TION.
Final Arran:cmcnts-Thc bCfe1tt1c


[FzoIu .he London Times, June 18th.
All the final arrangements for the sailing Of
this great mechanical and scientific expedition
were settled on Tuesday. The great ship IL
now receiving her last length Of cable from
the Iris, and the coiling OF this aud tho final
dental injury, will bc completed by to-day.
The directors and a few invited guests then
pay d farewell visit, md utter that none will
he allowed on board any Of the vessels Of the
wire squadron, save the representatives Of
the press and those actually connected with
Every part OF the Great Eastern has nov been
got into the most perfect order. The ma
chlnery By which in less than four minutes
her paddles can be disconnected md made to
work independently or each other has been
tried and found TO answer admirably, and
this improvement Is Of the last importance
iu keeping the ship on the same spot while
engaged In hauling up tho cable laid last
summer. 1t was then attempted to put
very powerful wrought iron guard over the
screw, so that in backing asteTn at full power
there should not be tho least risk Of the
the great ship Was trimmed down By the
head considerably, In order to bring her stern
well out OF water. After while, however,
it was wisely decided not to ali1x
such q guard, and those who rcmcm-
her the imminent risk of loss to which
Guc aSA4uGALAOu H1c GApO3Gu Al LIE stOA u Ot
1858, BY sinilnr apparatus, will not he sorry
to hear that the Great Eastern will sail with
out one this time. On ali Vessels where ii
has been tried It has never been Of the slight
est use, and alwnrs source Of moro or less
serious apprehension. In backing over the
her paddles only. The floats OF the latter
have been reduced to about third Of their
width, and reefed in townrd the axle so rs
virtually 10 rcd.ce them to third Of their
diameter. Tdis dinEnution Of both surface
nnd size will, Of course. have material effect
careful cleansing the bottom has got, not
more than knot IN hour over the speed or
last year Is expected this time. Some old
lcugtls of last years cable have been slowed
away on board the Albaay and Afedway.
The Irish shore end Is coiled on board tho
the Great Eastern. We much moderated tile
strength OF this latter pondcrous coil In 4
previous notice. The Limit Ut its breaking
strain has Lever been hsctr:aftted, but il Ii
enormous. Tic outer covering Is formed of
wires or rather Of iron bars about as thick as
ordinary pokers, and IL weighs upward Of 20
tons to the nile-nearly 1ou0le the size and
ships which arc TO take fuel Tor the Great
Eastern to Bearhaven have already started,
and the whole squadron will sail from the
Medway on Saturday next. The tide on that
day Will suit perfectly DIE ID tNa cnannel Is
devious and the Great Eastern deep, she will
only 70 at very slow speed till past the
Downs, being carefully piloted so far BIZ q
Government vessel, which will precede her.
Al Bearhayen she will fill up the rest
Of her coal while tho William CORY Ia
LAYING the shore end from under the cliffs at
| valent,a. This labor oyer, the splice will be
| made, aud the Great Eastern will commence
| ler work. For the first 100 miles from shore
! the new cable will be used, hut dow1 the gen
| tic Incline into deep water, known In deep sea
l nomenclature as the Irish bank, 500 miles oi
tie caole Of last year will be used, aud for the
re.t Of the route to Newfoundland the new
cable only will be employed The entire yoy-
age out, il no accident occurs, is expected 10
| occupy not more than len days, There Is to
he m important alienation II the plan OF cleo.
trical operations this year. The expedit ons
OF 1855 and 1865 proved, what Is now well IN.
| derstnod by engineers, that there Is no dill.
Gully in merely laying wire rope across the
| Atlantic, hut to lay such rope with an lusu,
lated telegraph conductor in its interior with
| out damaging its integrity has hitherto proved
| impsucticable. This year, as we have said
| great improvements hare been male IN the
! pIan and apparatus for testing the electrical
| condition Of the line. The Telegraph Con
| structlon md Maintenance Company have So
cured the professional services Of those emi
nept electricians. Prof.. William Thomson aut
Mr.. Cromwell Varley, Who are now the con
sulting electricians Of that company.
= At- r.. acts - determining III