The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-12-09

TIE NEW ATLANTIC CABLE.-The manu-
facture of the new Atlantic telegraph, which
is TO be submerged between Brest and suit
able terminus on the shores of the State of
New York, is progressing satisfactorily. The
new cable is almost Identical in construction
with those which were completed in 1866,
the only difference being that the diameter
OF the conducting copper core is slightly
greater, and the outside wires are homoge-
neous Bessemer steel, galvanized, having
breaking strain of about ,090 pounds, while
the wires outside the existing Atlantic lines
have breaking strain of only about 500
pounds. The new cable will be laid in two
lengths-one from Brest to St. Pierre, in
deep sea, and the other from St. Pierre to
the terminus of 122 miles in length, not in
GLIDING slack. The latter section will be
similar to the Persian Gulf cable, as it will
have to be laid in comparatively shallow
water, and its exterior wires will be pro-
tected with Bright and Clark's patent SLICE
Gus compound, which consists chiefly of
powdered flint and pitch. The construction
of the shore ends will be similar to that of
the existing Atlantic lines. and will gIadu-
ally become thinner until they assume the
deep sea dimensions. During the summer,
Her Majesty's ship GdnHf took soundings
along the proposed route, and from the re-
suits of the operations it is understood that
the bottom OF the ocean is nearly the same
in character as the bed in which the exist
ing cables are laid, and of about the same
depth. Little but mud and ooze were found
along the route. In order to avoid the dam
ger of injury from rocks and icebergs, the
new line will be laid to the south of the
present cables, below the southern edge of
the Great Bank, so that 10 may be laid In
deep water. Sir James Anderson, who will
command the Great Eastern during the ex-
petition organized for the submergence of
the line, has made the following observa-
lions regarding the Newfoundland Banks:
"By keeping in the 500 fathom line upon
the Milne Bank, and around the southern
edge of the Grand Bank, there is no posi-
bility OF ice, or any other agency that can be
suggested, injuring the cable The northern
edge of the Grand Bank was avoided because
it Is uncertain at what depth the icebergs
ground. They are said upon good authority
TO ground at times in 20 fathoms II is not
certain at what depth the vessels employed
10 the seal trade may sometimes choose to
drop an anchor for the purpose ofkeeping in
the track ofthe ice foes. These dangers are
avoided by the track chosen for the proposed
cables, and / am justified by my own expert
ence In saying that the track from the south
ern edge Of the Grand Bank to St. Pierre,
and thence to the place Of landing In Amer
lea, Is entirely free from any danger from ice,
and does not cross any anchorage resorted to
BY the fleet Of fishing vessels"
The breaking strain Of the new steel cable
will be ~ tons, and the strain required for
submersiOn need not be more than II cwt.
Even If, at any time, 1t be necessary to haul
up any portion Of it already laid, the strain
need not exceed IL tons in the deepest
water. The weight Of copper forming the
conductor of the existing Atlantic cables Is
800 pounds per knot; in the new cable, it
viii be about 400 pounds. The Great Eastern
has arrived at sheerness, whence she will
proceed with the cable, probably in the end
Of next June. After leaving the Midway,
she viii go to Brest, to finish eoaling, and
viii thence start on the -telegrzphie expedi.
tion--Lozdoz Times, Oct Is