Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-09-03

- q. Taroulo 90. !

floni8n Cor. Toroufo Gl1he
M. STAFFORD FIerning. VS. inter
vieMed rscenEly. II rsfsrence e ne
proposed cabs line from Canada -
Australasia He gave. Of eouzsas .
very glowing account Of the pr9lscf.
and spoke hopefully 81 the prusPeci
of rs success. As b vel known N
Canada. he proposal 3 % make the
Canadiaa Pacife telegraph system
the basis Of 3 new cable route D.
tween Crest Britain and Australasia
by constructing q Submarine cable
from VancouFer % Brisbane OF sid
ney via the Sandwich islandS II
necessary q rev Atlantic cable frem
Gaspe 70 Ireland would also Be laid
down, bu1 # New York intelligeBee
eabled here IS 70 BE trusted this neces-
sitv would Be obviated By arrange
ments with the Commercial Cable
Company. Il il claimed for the
route that is commercial benefits
would Be very great. as the present
tariff wo1ld be reduced more than
50 psr cent, and also that is polit1-
cal, naval, and military value would
Be considerable. had an opportun-
ity yesterday Of chatting over the
matter WIth = gentleman who is well
known In the city a. one Of the best
authorities il the city on submarine
telegraphy. Ny informant has had
nearly q quarter Of centurY's ex-
perienee il cable business, and Is
thoroughly posted, not merely in the
latest Developments here and in
America, but also with the c0ndi-
tons attached 70 Ii in the East. In
the course Of conversation he point
ed out several difficulties in connec-
ton with the enterprise which struck
me IS being Well worth consider
ation In Canada- First, my friend
dwelt upon the great length Of the
Pacific section Of the proposed new
route. In all, this cable would be
8, 900 geographical miles in length,
and il is most important to note thas
Is the only calling places are points
In the Fiji and Sandwich Islands.
practically speaking, no trafic could
be hoped for en- route. On The other
hand, the existing system touches 81
many important points from which,
in the aggregate q considerable vol
ume Of trade is derived. Again, 80
far as is known. the new Pacific
route lies in parts through very deep
water, hence the cost and difficulty
Of laying and repairing cable, and
the risk Of interruption would be
very great. The line, my friend
stated, would be not only the longest
submarine cable in the world, but in
his judgment, also one Of the most
expensive to maintain. As to the
volume Of Canadian, or, indeed, oil
American business. with Australasia.
was informed that il was ct present
very small and that it would be ab
surd to expect any very rapid growth.
My friend. moreover somewhat ridi
culed the idea Of any material helE
being obtained from the Australasia
governments. The present system
already receives subsidy from somt
OF the Australasian governments, and
prima faeia, it seems very unlikely
that the governments will see much
advantage In supporting 3 compel
ing line. For, if my Information b
correct, any reduction in the rate
which might result from competition
could be secured at less expense 4
the government by additional sub
sides to the existing companies
Such were the chief points dwelt up
on by my friend, who is avowedly {
hostile critic Of the scheme.