The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-09-09
The Hawaiian Gable.


California coast with Japan and I
China by telegraphic cable, dis
cussed ever since the successful link
ing of the eastern and western
hemispheres, may receive new inn
petus from the results of the sound
ings made by the government steam
or Albatross between California and
the Sandwich islands. The Senate
voted last year in favor of subsidiz-
ing cable to Hawaii, but the House
rejected the measure, though both
bodies subsequently provided a small
appropriation for a>preparatory sur
vey of the route, which has now been
completed by the Albatross The
report shows that while no extended |
plateau, like that existing in the
Atlantic sea-hoor, exists in the Paci-
fic, and that the changes of level are
often abrupt and considerable, yet |
it is practicable to select a route for
a submarine cable, presenting no in
superable difficulties. The coudi-
tions along the inshore portions of
the route, especially on the southern
coast of California, are reported to
be favorable, and as that portion of
the coast lies nearest to Honolulu,
it is probable that any cable laid
would start from that quarter. In
deed, in the matter of distance to
the Hawaiian group an American
cable would have decided advan-
tage over the proposed British line
to run from Victoria, in British
Columbia, though the latter could
doubtless depend upon a subsidy,
with view to ultimate extension to
Australia or New Zealand.
Prior to the Investigations made
by the United States steamer Tus-
carora and the British ship Challen-
ger, in 1874 and 1875, comparatively
little was known of the bed of the
Pacific, though it was generally be-
lieved to be much less uneven than
that of the Atlantic, and its waters
much shallower. But the soundings
made proved that throughout a great
area it was deeper, for while in the
North Atlantic the depth between
Newfoundland and France nowhere
exceeded twenty-four hundred ia
thoms, the average depth of the
North Pacific, in the latitude of Ho-
nolulu, was three thousand fathoms.
These figures %are apparently con-
frmed by the soundings taken by
the Albatross, the average depth
over an extended area ranging from
twenty-seven hundred to three thou
sand fathoms, with maximum depth,
in longitude 1877 degrees, of thirty
two hundred fathoms. On the re-
turn voyage from Honolulu, the AL
batross made a second series of
soundings, though, so far as known
without material change of results
but it is not improbable that should
any commercial company decide tc
lay cable, other surveys might re
suit in finding still more practica
BILE route.
The chief obstacle in the way o.
such an enterprise will be that the
Atlantic cables already supply tele
graphic communication between this
country, Australia, China and Japan
with the latter two of which the
proposed cable would, of course, be
expected ultimately to connect
Moreover, the gain in point of time
would be of little importance, while
in SO long and costly cable as thai
crossing the Pacific, the rates for
time at least would necessarily hav,
to be high A serious difficulty il
the completion of an American cabl
to Japan would also be encountered
in the deep depression extendin;
along the eastern shores of Asia ant
Japan, a difficulty which in the cas-
of the British line would be avoide,
by proceeding from Hawaii south o
the equator to New Zealand. Doubt
less, however, this obstacle could b
overcome, as it would have to be
the line proved remunerative, for tn
trade with Hawaii alone would hare
ly warrant the laying of cable t
stop at that point; and if compan
can be found willing to risk its cap
tai in the enterprise, there seems t
be no insuperable difficulty in tn
way of construction.