New-York tribune., 1871-08-08
TELEGR1PHIC EXTENSION.

RAPID COMMUNICATION WITH TIE EAST OF
IVROPE-SHANGHAI ONLY TWO HOURS DIS
TANT-NEW ENTERPRISES.
There are 100000 miles Of telegraph wire III
Europe 10000 America 14OO0 in India and 10000 in
Australia There in addition 10000 miles OF subma-
rne cable and yet teegaphic extension throughout the
world going at the rate of 10000 miles of wire per
annum. The development Of submarine teegraphic
communication is at present matter Of serious Interest
and consideration. Its construction is costly, and the
laying Of IL s hazardOus while the amount Of business
especially In the Indian and Pacific Oceans, is not SO
large as might be wished
There are now two distinct lines Of communication be-
tween America and China and the East-One by'way OF
the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean the other by
way OF st. Petersburg, through Siberia TO the AmOor
River. In addition TO these lines, Mr. Cyrus Field pro-
poses 10 lay a cable between San Francisco and
Shanghai. The route Of this line runs in a southwest
erly direction il straight line to Honolulu one of tho
Sandwich Islands distance Of 1850 nautical miles
thence to Midway Island LAO; from the Island to Yo
kohama, fl Japan. 2,26O; and from Yokohama to
Shanghai l055Otal distance, G,5l5 miles. Another pro-
posed line between Shanghai and San Francisco,
about The distance, takes notherly direction,
very similar in character that of the southern ne the
two lines forming opposite obtuse angles, the ex-
reme northern point being at the Attention Islands, the
southern at the Sandwich Islands.
The Russian line, which is under the control Of the
Government, runs by way Of Moscow and Tomsb TO
Cykoutsk the southern shore Of the Baikal Sea,
and thence to the Amoor River, which it strikes at
Tchan, the north-easte1n point OF tue Chinese En-.
plTc From there branch line to the mouth OF
the AmOor, the main line taking due sOuthery dlrec-
tOn to the Japan Sea. srtng the coast OF Corea, and
crossing the Yellow Sea to Shanghai This line is about
1900 miles in length The route by the European and
Indian lines is very circuous one, hut reputed
to be more trustworthy than the Russian route:
The first branch Of il Is the Falmouth, Gibraltar and
Malta line 245G miles in length and opened May 81 1870
tie second, the AnclO-Mcditerrauean Company, from
Malta TO Alexandria, 9Gs milcs opened October 1858:
then the suoz and Bombay line $500 miles opened April,
ls7O the British Indian Extension Company, to CeyOn
and Singapore, 1856 miles opened IL months ago and
the China Submarine Telegraph Company, from singa-
pore to Hong Kong and Shanghai, 26i0 miles, lately
opened line 2d miles in length, is also constructing
between Singapore and Port Darwin, on the northern
shores OF Australia passing through the island Of Java
This line win be completed before the end of this year,
accordneBto the stipuatons OF the contract Another
line u also contracted for between Melbourne and the
southerunost point of New-Zeaand. Thus, by
this rOutc tie line of communication between
York and Shanghai s 1920 miles, and with Austria
liza 1890 miles, be sent direct from New
York Shanghai over these lines and an answer re-
ceivcd In two hours time. Ths, OF course Is not the or
dnaTy time occupied in the transmission OF messages,
two days sometimes being taken. by the Russian route,
the distance between SewYOrk and Shanghai Is about
= a mill