Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-04-24
DEEP SEA TELEGRAPHY.
Cyrus w. Field Talks Of the Future
on Ocean Telegraphy.

According 10 CyTuS w. Tlelu, SUD
marine telegraphy is only in its in
fancy.
Thirteen cables are stretched from
America to Europe to-day. Commu-
nication with London can he had
more quickly than with Poughkeepsie.
In the space of five minutes the presi-
dent OF the United States can flash his
congratulations to the English queen
or announce the declaration Of war on
her people. All these are feats that
40 wears ago would have seemed uto-
plan dreams.
Yet Mr.. Field says that within the
next - years the work already accom-
plished will seem but puny effort,
and that where a bakers dozen of
cables now suffice, probably five times
that many will be required, while the
system will be extended in all direc-
tiOns.
" In Il few years feel certain that a
cable will be stretched across the Pa
citic connecting San Francisco with
Japan. 1t will run from the Califor-
MIA coast to the Sandwich Islands,
and from thence to Japan, with
branch line to China AS soon as this
line is established it will give an i'm
mense impetus to our Asiatic trade.
The Atlantic lines have made possible
for us Il commercial development in
the European markets that would
never have been attainable without
telegraphic communication. We would
have remained isolated to large ex-
tent and our national progress would
not have approached its present di-
mensions for many years to come.
1t will he the same in the Orient.
Once We get direct Geographic com
munication our trade will double and
treble. Even now we can cable to
China and Japan or almost any part
of the world, but it is too expensive
for ordinary commercial uses. Then,
too, a Pacific line will give us direct
communication with the other hemi-
sphere in case war among the big
European powers should cut off our
Atlantic lines
South America will also in COM
paratively short time be brought to
our doors by means of the cable. For
many years TO Come n land Limo tn
South America will be impossible, but
direct telegraphic communication is
becoming more and more imperative
every day, and submarine cables will
be employed to meet the demand.
The nucleus of the system exists al
ready in Central America and Mexican
cable lines. As soon rs we get into
the main cities by Il direct telegraph
line our trade will respond, as it did in
Europe and as it will in Asia.
England has long seen the great
advantage of close communication,
and she was deep.sea lines all over the
world. Africa is completely encircled
by cables. One line runs from Gibral-
tar around the west coast and the
other goes around the east coast, the
two lines meeting at the Cape of Good
Hope. Every point of importance
along either shore is tapped by this
cable.
"When | made my trip around the
world, 10 years ago, there was hardly
an hour when l could not have placed
myself in telegraphic communication
with New York. From India, China,
Japan, Burmah, Cochin China,
Afghanistan, everywhere you can send
an electric message to America. of
course such message has to travel in
very roundabout way, but it is
amazing how rapidly it is tran united.