New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-18
THE PACIFIC GABLE.

REPORT OF DEEP-SEA SOUNDINGS TO JAPAN.
TUE TusoARoRA's VOYAGE CONTINUED DOWN THE
PACIFIC COAsT-A DEEP But LEVEL PLATEAU
BETWEEN SAN DIEGO AND HoNoLULu-pRoBABLE
ADVANTAGES OF THIS ROUTE FOR CABLE OVER
THAT SURVEYED FROM CAPE FLATTERY 10
ooNAIAsKA.
trtox AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIDUNRl
u STEAMER TUsCARORA, OFF HONOLULU, Feb
Sin my last noted our arrival at San Francisco,
Nov G. Although orders awaited US ut that place,
they were revoked and the ship was detained and
her battery and ammunition placed on board, to
await the action of Spain in the of the Vrgnius
until December s. when orders reached us to proceed
with the work of the expedition. The steam sound
ing-machine and line were placed in store at the
Nayy-Yard. and the remainder of the work in max
ing soundings will be performed by Sir w. Thorn
sons wire machine.
The undertaking now before us will occupy eight
or nine months under favorable circumstances. 1t
is as follOws The determination of the continental
outline from the 100 fathoms' line to the ocean bed
proper (which is to be considered at 1900 fathoms
depth. from San Francisco to San Diego. Then q
line of soundings a great circle from that
place 10 Honolulu and thence TO the BONN Islands,
and from there TO Yokohama. By that time also
the work begun on the great circle route from De
tween Yokohama and Cape Flattery, passing through
The Aleutlan Islands, VIII De conlPlot0u'
On the 10Th of December we left san FRANCISCO
and wore engaged ten days in sounding on an open
traverse To san Diego aud in making other ODSerVa
tions Fifty-eight casts were TAKEN Inc contour
was foupd 10 be very irregular; in this respect dit-
ferinc from that north of San Francisco. AT 5O
miles from the coast in lat. SO AS NJ long. 2f' US,
w. a depth of 220O fathoms was attaned-the
creates. found in this part of the cruise. on the
mort of San Diego there is brown and dark nud
boitom Swallowing gradually, and otherwise III
every respect suitable for the eastern terminus OF
tbe'paciGc cable The currents down the coast
yere found TO he only the continuation of those OBJ
served north of san Francisco. The surface current
10 the depth of % athoms set TO the southwark and
eastward: the current below that to 800 fathoms set
10 the northward The strength of each varied from
two to four fathoms per hour.
STAY of seven days was made at San Diego, the
delay being somewhat greater than was expected
on account of a southeast gale. On the 9th of Jan
uary we started for this place, which we reached
Yesterday. We encountered only two gales which
occasoned a suspension of work for about five days
Other than this the trip was most delightful one
and more particularly so from the remarkable and
continued success in securing all the important in
formation of which we We're in search. The slope OF
the bed of the ocean to the depth of 1900 fathOms-
which was found in lat 81 49, N, long. 1872 2S W.,
at Us miles from San DegO-averaged about 80 feet
10 mile. From that position to lat. 23o 10 NJ, long.
1902 81 W., at which point u,75O miles from San
Diego) the greatest depth found, the slope IS
three feet to mile while from that position to
Honolulu about 400 miles the slope is d feet to
o mile.