The morning call., 1892-03-19
A PACIFIC CABLE.
Admiral Belknap on the Sub.
marine Telegraph.
Practicablity Of the Enterprise and the Rene-
fits Which Wculd Result From It's
Acct mplshment

Rear-Admiral George Z. Belknap, who
returned from Japan a few days ago,
brought with him two very curious and val.
liable gifts
That possessing the greater interest is a
golden guinea, coined at the London Mint in
the year 1776, during the reign Of George
Ill TIE coin was once the property of
Lord Nelson, England's greatest sailor and
favorite hero. and was presented to Ad-
miral Belknap by Captain Dundas, retired
naval officer. The latter procured the coin
from famous London antquary named
Wells, who in turn obtained II from Ad-
mlral Lord Hood. II came into the possess
sion Of its present owner July T. 1891, sig
nitlcant date for such present.
The other gift is beautifully chased
specimen of Corean artifce. It's native
designation is Hibachi, and it is made of
iron, inlaid with silver. Its purpose is TO
contain live charcoal and 10 furnish a light
10 smokers 1t IS rare specimen OF
Damascene ware and was presented by the
Coresn Minister to Japan.
admiral Belknap Is recognized as some
what Of an authority upon the question of
the Pacific submarine telegraph. He con-
Quoted a series of S0undlugs, running two
lines from San Diego to Hilo and three TO
Yokohama.
"Ihe two most important things for the
further development Of the port of San
Francisco" said the admiral yesterday.
ARE the laying of the cable across the Pa
cine and the opening OF the Nicaragua
canal. Both plans ara feasible. The lay
Ing Of the cable Is only question OF cost
no mechanical or physical difficulties stand
ing IN the way of lis accom- lishment.
The cost will be greater than il would
have been ten years ago, because gutta-
peTcha, which Is used
FOR INSULATING THE WIRE,
price. No other substance has yet been
found TO replace Ii for this purpose, rubber
proving entirely unsuitable. The cable viii
probably be laid eventually as a private
business enterprise. SO much opposition is
manifested to the granting Of subsidies that
II would be difficult for the Government to
undertake the task.
NV onid such an enterprise pay its pro-
meters? Well, facility naturally creates
business, and cable between this city and
the Sandwich Islands is almost political
necessity. Honolulu is now one of the few
important ports of the world where the
mails provide the only method Of COMMUNE
cation. If cable were laid to Honolulu
the HaWalin Government would probably
extend II to Hiio, the chief port of Haw all
and to other Islands of the group, and when
1t reached the Sandwich Islands it would
lie merely question IF time until i: was
laid 10 Australia and Japan.
''All naval men would naturally favor
such project as securing a further devel-
opment OF our means of communication
with all parts Of the world. A cable to the
Sandwich Islands would be of great adVan-
tage to the United States Government be-
cause IN the event of any tronble the news
could be telegraphed at once to Washington
lie Islands occupy very important strate-
gic position in the North Pacific Ocean
The port OF Honolulu is easy of access and
many vessels would call there for instruc-
tons If Geographic communication were
once established.
" The AlbatrOss recently made a close
survey at short distances OF seven or eight
miles and nearer than the s0CndingS taken
under my direction. This survey devel-
0ped, it is understood, from what has been
published In the Washington papers, the
existence OF considerable
RISE AND FALL,
And Of greater uneyenness of bottom be-
tween this coast and Honolulu than APP
peaTed from my survey at greater distances
between sOundings. That would make no
difference in the laying Of the BILE Occa-
s.onaily faults appear IN the cable and it is
necessary to gEapple for it in order to heaye
1t up to the surface for repairs This would
be less difficult, OF coJOSe. in shallow water
The greatest depth so far discovered in
the ocean was somewhat more than 81
miles. and If the cable broke or became ia
operative in such depth it would be difficult
to regain It The strain upon any apparatus
II hauling up the cable from such a great
depth would be enormous, and | doubt If it
could be done, the strain would be so Excess
siye.
All cable-laying steamers carry deep-sea
sounding apparatus with them so that the
depth can be ascertaIned as the rope is paid
out If h ecesSary. In some instances a small
steamer has preceded the vessel bearing the
cable and conducting the s0undiDgs imme-
Giately IN advance, communicating results
by signals from this boat. The distance to
the Sandwich Islands is about 2lOO miles
from this port and from 10 TO 10 days would
probably be occupied in laying the cable"