Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-09-06
THE CUBAN CABLE.

The United States and Cuba are now con.
nected by an ocean telegraph. and it's prob
able that the end Of the present year will
Ind US ln instant cemm uuication with all
the West India Islands. and that very
short time only vii elapse before we shall
have, by the same means, daily report,
from the Cape Of Good Hope and the Re
public Of Liberia The first liae Of the
long proposed scheme ofan ocean telegraph
line wa the West Indies to South America
and the African Coast has been success fully
lald. This enterprise was conducted by the
international Ocean Telegraph C0mpa9v of
New \ 0rk. This company was orranized
IN 1865, the original projectors being Capt
JAS. A. Scrymser and Alfred Pell. Jr., Gen.
William t. Smith being subsequently as
soelat with Ihem and assuming charge as
president OF this company. 1t first bailt a
line through Florida 400 miles in length
which Is already operating from New Nor
to Key West. The Cuban submarine cable
was finished in England and was shipped
from Liverpool on June 27, direct far Ha-
vana. The work Of submerging it began
during the first part Of last month: but on
the Ith ult. the cable was unfortunately bro
ken about midway between Key West and
Havana And after several DAYS spent in
graphing, the wire was drawn to the sur
face OF the water, q successful splice made,
aud the great work accomplished. The sew
eral Islands OF the group, including Jamaica,
St- Domingo, st. thomas, &c, are within
short distances OF each other, and great in-
ducements have been made to secure the
extension. The Government Of Spain
granted concession, giving the Interna-
tlonal Ocean Telegraph Company the exclu-
slve right for forty years to lay all cables
between Cuba and the United States, and
the Captain General Of Cuba was directed
to afford every facility in carrying out the
project The State Of Florida also granted
similar exclusive concession for q period
oftwenty years, which was further ratified
and sanctioned By the Government Of the
United States. The Venezuelan Govern
ment has entered into a contract with par
ties to connect that country with European
lines by means of a telegraph cable 10 Cuba.
The government Is to pay $50, 900 quarterly
for thirty three years, and have its dcs-
patches sent free. 4 very liberal grant has
also been made by the Argentine Govern
ment to establish telegraph line between
Buenos Ayres and the Chiliau frontier,
which, in connection with the telegraph
system Of Chill and the projected coast line
Of the Hlspono American inter Communi
cation Company from Valparaiso to PanQ
ma, for which grants are now being sought
will place the southwest and eastern coasts
Of South America in immediate communica-
ton with the West India Islands The Uni
ted States, and Europe Hapr's Hsaty
says: Ihuimportancc Of these lines to the
merchants OF this country cannot be ealcu-
lated. The trade of The West Indies
amounts 20 nearly $500, 600, ,Gg0 year, and,
partly owing TO the superior means Of COM
munication sustained By Great Britain with
that region, thTae-iourths Of this traffic is
transacted directly by English merchants.
The Isthmus of Panama j. the natural focus
of the whole trade Of the Pacific The com
merce Of the southwest coast, which. ac-
cording 20 all laws political and geographic
cal. should belong to Us. Is now almost en-
tirely in the hands Of the European com
mercial communitics attributable mainly,
to the same liberal system of postal connec-
ti0ns whereby EHr.aui fosters indirectly
the establishment OF markets for her prin-
cipal staples. Were our merchants placed
in telegraphic communication with the
West India Islands, Brazil, and the Repub-
lies OF Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Chill, and Argentine, there would be no
reason why fair avcra1e of the commerce
OF these countries should not be directed to
us. The success Of the line to Cuba, and
its extension 20 the other islands, and to
Brazil, Panama, &c, will undoubtedly
greatly affect this commerce in favor Of
American merchants