The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-20
TEE TELEGRAPH ABROAD.
Extension Of the Wire In Australasia TO the
North and West.

Extension Of the Wire In Australasia to the
North and West.
We borrow, says the Melbourne Argus from the
South Australian Register the following epitome OF
areporr by Mr.. Todd, the superintendent of teis-
graphs In South Australia, on the extension Of the
telegraph lines to Northern and Western Australia
He observes that the first phase OF competition to
be studied has reference to the overland routes.
Tnese have now been virtually reduced to two-the
Northern, Burke Town, and the Western, Perth,
route. Mr.. Todd Selects In Illustration OF The latter
the recent proposal made by Mr.. Watts on behalf OF
the Direct English, indian and Australian Tee-
graph Company. 1t specifies the general de-
sign Of the projectors without condescend
ing much TO details. They would raise capital Of
fi,oSo,oo OF which 100000 would be required TO
construct the line, and the remaining quarter mil
lion would be invested In colonial bonds a reserve
fund. The Australian terminus would be nc Perth,
from which Mr.. Todd suggests an overland line to
Port Augusta, VIA the Sound. This, II wholly a land
line, would cost Ello, s00at the rate OF ESQ per mile
from Port Augusta around the head OF the Blight
and eco per mile from tue Sound 70 PERTH But If a
section OF sea cable were TO be interposed
between the sound and fowiers Bay, the original
cost would be raised TO slg2 900, subject however
to large allowance for reduced expense IN
working.
The Northern schemes described In the report
are:-flrst mr. G1sborne's, published two years ago.
second, Captain Sherard 0sborne's, as communal
Gated to Mr. Verdoni and third, MIR. Frasers, wnich
Is being promoted by the Queensland governments
Mr.. Gisborne's original demand was for 1881 600 for
cable IRON East Java 10 the Gulf Oh Carpen-
recently learned from HIM that an extension OF the
Indian lines from RaDgoon TO Singapore Is now
under negotiation, and should 1t end successfully
ne may be enabled TO make modined proposal 10
the Australian governments. The Fraser ana crack
nell project IL 10 carry cable from East Java via
Ifmor and Port Darwin; also, "shouid suaidehs IN
diceidents onern to Burke Town. The estimated
distance 10 1900 knots for the direct route ana The
cost--wnich Mr.. Todd emphasizes as minimum
t.600,000. Were the cable to stop az Port Darwin
the ocean section would be only 1000 knots and the
cost $3.50 000 but there would tcn be $50 miles OF
land line TO construct before achieving connection
with Queensland, namely, 700 miles IN south Austria
han territory and $50 TO the eastward. Tie Brisbane
government are said 10 have made oyeftures w our
own government some time ago regarding this sec
tion, on the basis thar each should be responsible
for tho line TO its own boundary. The South Aus
traan share, as estimated by MI. Todd. would be
500 000 aud thai OF queensland f4a,0OO The Fraser
scheme thus modihed-wltn a cable from East Java,
via Timor to Port Darwin, and land line RON Port
Darwin via Burke Town to Rockhampton Bay
would cost G4500O0. Mr.. Fraser, VINO was recently
In Batavia entertains a visionary hope that the
Dutch government would share half the subsidy
with the Australian government, making 1000 per
annum Tor each. Mr. Todd, though obviously well
inclined toward the scheme and it, promoters finds
this too much for his creduity He candldy endorses
the opinion we expressed on Mr.. Frasers sanKulne
temperament when 10 first showed ltseitD The
Dutch,n no says, 'after having spent 30 much IN
perfecting the land lines through Java, and having
besides 10 provide the cable and land lines connect
nR Java VITA sipsspors, are hardly ikey 70 render