The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-26


large means and financial experience. The
President, General W. F. Smith, surnamed
"Baldy,n distinguished himself during the Ia.e
war. He is a native Of Vermont, ana gssuuao9S ~
of1West Point. As an officer In tue corpS ~
Topoeranhica cal Engineers, be was employed IN
surveying the Lake Superior region, tne nlo 1
Grande the military roed to GaHrI S"T in
which he performed all OF these uuues Vo-
tanned for him a rapid promotion IN tne regular
service. As an engineer General smith is, per
haps equal to any on this continent, and no
better selection could have been made for the
responsible position OF President.
CONCESSIONS TO THE COMPANY.
The Government of Spain has granted to the
company the sole right, for the space of forty
years, of laying ocean cables between the United
States and Cuba, and between the latter place
and such other countries as the company may
deem advisable. Soon after the close of the
war General Smith visited Florida, and obtained
by an almost unanimous vote of the Legislature
the exclusive right to construct submarine
telegraph from it's shores to Cuba, rs well ds the
right to construct land line OF four hundred
miles in length through the State. These con.
cessons were granted for space OF twenty
years. In addition the State OF Panama has
granted the exclusive right for twenty-five years
10 land cables on either her Atlantic or Pacific
shores, while the West Indian, Venezuelan,
Argentine, aud other Central and South Ameri-
can Governments have also expressed willing
ness to grant, and in some cases have already
granted, liberal concessions for telegrs ohio con-
nectiOns with other countries. 1t will thus be
seen that no obstacles remain on the part of
the Company TO prevent a speedy telegraphic
communication with the turthermost portions of
America.
THE LINE ALREADY COMPLETED.
The work completed by the International
Ocean Telegraph Company IS very important,
forming "a it does the base from which Will
start the cable lines to link the Antilles to Cen
trail and South America. The land line through
Florida commences at Lake City, fron thence
to Punta Rassa, where cable line tconnects 1t
to Key West, where it connects With the cable.
Between Lake CITY and Punta Rassa stations
are located at Caloosahatchie, Pine Islands,
Brand River, Barlow, Tucker Town, SUMTER
ville Ocala, Micanope, Gainsvle and Baldwin.
The cable to Cuba is about ninety miles in
length, and ls laid from Key West to Cherarra,
small hamlet west of the city Of Havana.
THE PROPOSED CONNECTIONS.
The proposed connections will make Cuba the
base OF three cables. The lines connecting the
South American countries on the Atlantic Ocean
will be via CUBA, st. Domingo Porto Rico. st.
Thomas, GuadalouPe, Martinique, Trinidad, and
Demarara. From thence, principally by land
lines, telegraphlc communication will be opened
through the empire of Brazil to ST. Rogue From
this latter point submarine cable Will extend to
the Cape Verde Islands, from thence TO the coast
of Africa, and Ee carried to Caliz, IN Spain thus
completing the circle or the Atlantic Ocean, On
tho Pacific shores OF South America Ielegraphic
communication will be obtained with the United
States through Cuba. Commencing at Santiago
de Cuba, cable will be laid to some point in
the vicinity OF MOrant Point or Falmouth, in
the island of Jamaica, distance of about one
hundred and iorty-three miles. A shore line
Will connect this with Kingston, from whence
cable will be laid to Aspin WALL on the Isthmus
OF Panama, a distance of about six hundred
miles. IL ls expected that the International
Ocean Telegraph Company will Immediately
proceed 10 the work OF constructing the lines to
Jamaica and Panama.
The following table shows the number of DAYS
required for the transmission of news and COM
mercial intelligence from the localities named to
| the city of New York by the present mail sys-
| tenn