The New York herald., 1879-02-13
CABLE CELEBRATION.

SILVER JUBILEE OF SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHY.
On the 10th Of March next Mr.. Cyrus W. Field will
give grand dinner party In celebration OF the
twenty anniversary Of the formation OF the CON-
pany. by New York merchants. to establish tee-
graphic communication across the Atlantic Ocean.
Invitations for this most interesting jubilee hand
somely engraved on beautiful cards. have been sent
to distinguished people in al parts Of the world.
The festival will take place at Mr. Fields residence.
Gramcrcy Park.
ORIGIN TIE ENrERPnIsE
We ore so familiar with tho usc of tho telegraph
across THO that apt to forget how recent
thing is and that the orginators of the great
terprisc are still among 1t is only quarter of
century since the project first conceived. The
10th Of March, 1884 is the date of its BIRTH and Of
the birth of deep telegraphy. On that day
signed tho agreement to organize the "Ncw York,
Newfoundland and London Telegraph Company tf
certain privileges could bc obtained from Newfound-
land the object OF which stated in the very first
sentence of it's charter to be ito establish lpc Of
telegraphic communication between America and
Europe by way Of Newfoundland" The company
was formed in private housc-that Of Mr. Cyrus
w. Field-and composed ot but fve individuals;
shall 8. Roberts and Chandler White. MIR. David
Dudley Field present as the legal adviser of the
company, and went with his brother and Mr.. White
to st. Johns to obt1n the charter. Mr..
White soon after died, and was succeeded by Mr..
Wilson a. Hunt. These Ave gentlemen arc all still
living the great results of the experiment then
first made to carry the telegraph across the ocean,
Small attempts had been made in Europe to transmit
messages under water-frst across the River Rhine.
but half u mile wide and next across the British
Channel. Tho irst attempt to unite England
and France made in 1850. copper wire.
covered with gutta percha, was laid between Dover
and Calais, about twenty yone miles, but communica-
tion was kept mp but for very brief period The
next year It was replaced by cable OF four wires.
which is still perfect. A few other cables wcro
laid but only in shallow water and for short dis
tances-the longest, that to Holland being but l30
american company was the rst to propose to span
the ocean. Az as the line had been completed
to Newfoundland Mr.. Cyrus " Field went to London.
THE PIONEER CABLES.
It's frst attempt made In 1887 but the ships
had saicd but little over three hundred miles from
tho Of Ireland when tho cable broke aud the
pedfton returned. Tho next year us58l the attempt
was renewed in different manner. The American
and English ships-of-war. the Niagara and Agamcm-
non sailed the middle OF the Atlantic where they
were to JOIN cables. and sail and west to carry
tho two ends their respective shores But before
they reachcd mid ocean storm arose, and tho Aga
memnon hsd narrow escape from founicrine; and
when nt last the cable joined it broken
eraf times IN the attempt n isy II. an the expedition
returned to England almost in despair.
SUCCESS Ar LAST.
One effort. however. was made that summer.
and with success. Tho cable was stretched from
shore to shore and messages passed between Europe
and America But communication continued only
three weeks, IL reestablished till eight
later lin 1866, after two new cables had been manu-
fact,lrcd tone OF which. after being paid ont LOO
miles in 1865 broken in mid-ocean and fished MP
tho year after and carried to the shore of Newfound
lsnd) mainly by tho exertions of the ndcfati-
gable spirit which had originated the project and
urged It forward in spite Of all obstacles for twelve
years.
A WORLDWIDE SYSTEM.
But tho success Of that first Atlantic telegraph in
1885, brief though 1t was, had demonstrated the pos
sibily of crossing the ocean, and led the way for
all after triumphs in deep telegraphy. II had
proved that "A cable two thousand miles long
could be laid in water two miles Deep After
that nothing seemed impossible. Cables laid in
the Mediterranean. in the Red Sea aud the Persian
Gulf aud thence the Arabian Sea to India and
across the Bay OF Bengal to Burmah. aud down tho
Malayan Peninsula to Penang and Singapore. and up
the Eastern coast of Asia to China, and across TO
Japan while southwark lines were carried to Java
and across that island and the surrounding to
Australia and to New Zealand. In this Western
Hemisphere cables laid to Cuba and the other
West india Islands, and down the const of South
America to Brazil and the Argentine Confederation.
80 cHERIsHED MEMORIES.
Thus within quarter of q century, submarine
tclegrnpns have been carried acToss almost all the
seas and of tho globe Except the broad Pacific,
which yet remains to be conqucrctll, bringing into
close communication all parts Of the civilized world.
Many who bore honorable part in these great
achievements have passed away. Their memory is
cherished by their survivors. who hnd many stirring
rccollcctions recalled whenever they meet together.
a. they will continue to do long any OF
those who actors In these scenes shall remain
eata,