The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-23
The New Atla,faic Cable.

lSo.-AS = Ski-Ss I'D y. -.
The New Atla,1sic Cable.
During the last few days, the Tele-
graph Construction and Maintenance
Company have begun in real earnest.
Little had been done since the return
of the expedition in August last, as
there was no reason why the cable
should be ready very much sooner
than it will be needed. The Great
Eastern still lies at her moorings in
the Medway, with the remainder of
last years cable on board; and this
will again be used during the present
year, when that part Of the cable
which will have then enjoyed a twelve
months s rest on the bed of the Allan
tic will be grappled for. Capt. Ander-
son will once more have charge of
the big ship, and he will again have
the invaluable assistance of Mr..
Halpin, the chief officer. Mr.. Can
ming and Mr.. Clifford will be, as in
last summer, in charge of the laying
of the cable, and Mr.. DeSauty will
be again in large of the electrical
department.. Hhus, so far as skill
goes, there is everything in favor of
the success of the coming expedition,
which will set sail in the beginning
of June, bearing with it the good
wishes of all Europe. AS at present
arranged, the Great Eastern will carry
the new cable, will lay it to New
foundland, will there coal and return
to the mid-Atlantic, where she will,
with her consorts, grapple for the lost
end, tho locality of which can be as
certained within a quarter of mile
through the observations taken last
summer by Capt. Anderson and Capt.
Ihuf1za It :aslulot intended that the
part Of the old able which now lies
in the Great Easiern's tanks sfau be
again slowed in her hold On the out
ward trip. It Will be carried in an
other vessel until it is needed. The
graphing will boenkone in this way:
Three vessels, Including the Great
Eastern, will be provided with Crap
ping apparatus. Last year, it may
be remembered, the graphing was
done with make-shift appliances. In
fact, the graphing lines were only
buoy ropes, and the swivels which
broke while the cable was being
hauled up were Lever intended to
bear any such strain as that to which
they were subjected. In the new
graphing tackle, there will be no
swivels; perhaps even no shackles.
Each line will be, if possible, in one
piece, certainly not in more than
two, joined together by strong
shackle. There is, therefore, little
fear that if the cable is grappled, of
which there can be no reasonable
doubt in the mind of any one con-
versant with the subject, it will be
brought to the surface. And there
is the more probability of this, be-
ncause the cable will be grappled in
3three places, at intervals Of about two
miles. One vessel will grapple, and,
if necessary, cut her ends by means
of steel blade set in the graphing
iron; the middle ship will haul up,
and the third vessel will also raise
the cable to lessen the strain. There
will, therefore, be three bights on
the cable, or two bights and an end,
and this end will be prevented from
slipping by the formation of the
graphing iron in which the cable
will be jammed. No one connected
with the project appears to entertain
the slightest doubt about the success
of this section of it. When the end
is recovered, and message sent
through to Valentia, as test of the
electrical condition, the splice will be
made with the cable now lying in the
Greast Eastern, and then all will be
plain sailing, except in case of an
other accident similar to that of last
year, when all would have to be done
over again; but this would be the
worst damage. If one graphing is
successful, there. is no reason why a
second should not be, and even a
third and fourth, if it should come
to that. The laying of the old cable
may, therefore, be considered a GER
tainty, 30 far as anything about cable
laying can be certain. But hope de-
ferred- viii probably not make sick
the hearts OF shareholders beyond
next July.
The new cable, which is to be laid
first, is very different in ap1Aarance
fsom that 1856. That = Sask.
not S slSaassIs =