The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-06-04
From the n. Y. Herald, April I9thl
The Pacific Submarine Telegraph Project.


We are so accustomed to hear of grand projects
for connecting continents thousands of miles apart
by the telegraph, for spanning continents by rail-
roads thousands of miles in length and of cutting
magnificent water ways through the solid earth
from one great ocean to another that we are no
longer surprised at any project, however stupen-
dous it may be. Had any one proposed a few
years ago to have connected Asia with America
by a telegraph cable under the Pacific Ocean he
would have been ridiculed or shut up in an asylum
as insane. The project for laying the Atlantic
cable was long deemed n visionary and impracti-
cable one, and when it was accomplished the
world opened its eyes with establishment yet the
distance between the two points OF Ireland and
America where the cable terminates Is less than
two thousand miles. Now it is proposed to lay q
cable or cables six thousand miles or thereabout
under the vast Pacific Ocean. We have no doubt
the scheme is practicable and believe it will be
carried out. Hardly anything is impossible in
this wonderful age of science and enterprise.
A bill : to incorporate the Pacific Submarine
Telegraph Company and to facilitate telegraphic
communication between America and Asia !" is
already before Congress, and it is favorably re-
garded by both houses. This bill will be passed,
probably, at any early day, and, looking at its
provisions, we see no reason why it should not.
No subsidy or loan of money from the government
is asked. There is to be a grant of public lands
to the company if it carries out and when it has
carried out the project. In the abstract of the
bill before US the quantity of public lands is left
blank. We suppose, however, a pretty large slice
will be demanded and granted. Nor can it be
expected that the projectors of the Pacific Sub
marine Telegraph and their associates are not
going to make money if they can out OF the
government. 1t is Il great enterprise, and requires
vast capital, and Of course people will not run
risks in such a matter without some tempting
considerations. Still, there is no necessity for
Congress to be too lavish with the public lands.
We are parting with this precious inheritance of
the people very rapidly to railroad and other
corporations. In fact, Congress has been far too
lavish, and has not had in view the wants and
welfare of the people in the future. In any
grant of lands to the Pacific Submarine Telegraph
Company, or to any company hereafter, provision
should be made to prevent settlers being charged
a high price for these lands, and to prevent a
monopoly of them in the hands of a few.
The policy of the government should be to
create as many landed proprietOrs with small or
moderate sized farms among the working classes
as possible, and to see that the lands can be had
at a reasonable rate. The bill incorporating the
company provides also that the government shall
lend the aid of vessels Of the navy for sounding
and exploring the Pacific and for laying the cables.
This is proper. Our naval ships have to be cruis-
ing somewhere, and they could be put to no bet
ter or more useful purpose.
Mr.. Cyrus w. Field seems to be the prime
mover in the project, and by this bill he is made,
with all other persons who shall or may be asso-
ciated with him, a body polite and corporate
NAANASA WV IAbAS Va bAC l. NASAhS IN pm |
Company. Mr.. Field has been very successful in
large telegraph and cable enterprises, and under
stands well what he is about. We have no doubt
therefore, that he can raise the means, and will
carry out the work. When accomplished it will
prove of great importance in developing and in
creasing our trade and intercourse with Asia. 1t
will be one of the most efficient steps to revive our
mercantile marine and foreign commerce., and
will tend more than anything else to make this
country, what it ought to be, the first in CONNER
cial business with China, Japan, and other parts
Of Asia. Since the war we have lost many of the
advantages, particularly with regard
to the carrying trade, which we held with Europe,
and it will not be easy to recover them. But from
our geographical position and other circumstances
we can compensate this loss and increase our COM
merce and carrying trade with Asia, with the
West Indies and with the Continent of America,
if we seize the opportunities within our reach.
One of the first things to do is to establish by tel
egraphs instant and constant communication with
Asia and those other countries. for the telegraph
is the great stimulant to and promoter of trade.
We say to Congress, then, let us have the Pacific
telegraph without delay.