The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-04-28

IN the ctlse OF cltlzen Cyrus w. Field, for
Establishing telegraphic communicafRns
BY means Of the Atlantic cable traVeFslng
midOceRn and connecting the Old World
with the New" the approval Of the people
Mt large WAS N hearty IN the vote in both
SENATE and house had been unanimous In
passing the act. Men and women who were
children then now recall the cable celebra-
tton ~ the first great event in memory, and
gray haired folk have not forgotten the
years OF dazzling expectation and Of hopes
blasted and deferred bctween the inception
aud the achievement Of that wonderful
undertaking.
The first news dispatch by the successful
cable told Of the end Of the Austro-
Prn.S,iaI war nf 1874, and between the lines
might IN mad the announcement that the
warfare Of the cable WAS also ended. After
thirteen years Of struggle the Atlantic tele-
Yrnpn was fact. What triumphs Of
science or miracles Of art" In the history
{ civilization have called forth greater
display Of human energy, endurance and
courage thnn this same hattie Of the ciibleS
Admitting the correctuesS Of the cOnclu-
SiOns Of the able deep sea explorer Lieut.
MHury. that there was plateau stretching,
between Newfoundland and Iceland espe.
hNNIANNA WV pulpbS VI ubiuluk
md protecting submarine cables there
lrOse ut that date the questions whether a
wire could be constructed long enough 20
span l,GOO miles, and. II 80, n ship large
nOugh to carry it and lay IL: and would
ever the trcHcheruus Sea prove calm ell-ugh
ind smooth enough TO admit Of the laying
u a cable mile and half to two miles
Town in the deep. AMI above all would men
AenSiblc enough TO control 10 much gold ~
would be required for the scheme be in.
Ipired with faith to put their hands into
heir bank vaults and foot the billSl And
q the cable could lie laid would the electric
urrent work.
Field had accumulated a competence for
hose simple days and WAS enjoying Il
when the idea Of cable came to him in
,Si2 lie then enlisted Peter Cooper. Moses
Taylor. Marshall q. Roberts and Chan Ter
White In the enterprise, secured the char.
ser Of the New York, Newfoundland and
,ondon Telegraph company, and with a
apital Of q .:iC0, 900 went to work. a tile
rHpl line and road were built through
100 miles Of Newfoundland wilderness, over
mountain and gorge. through swampS and
lcrosS rivers, around deep inlets and over
rocky headlanas, a task that nj, lr de
nanded genius that could handle an army.
Then came the laying Of cable across the
iulf Of st. Lawrence, the lOsSS u n cable in
gale at the iinSt attempt, the completion
" line and road 40 miles long across
cape Rreton island, u years delay in MAX
ng and laying u second cable through the
gulf, the whole at u cost Of ronnd million
Of dollars, all out Of the Golfers Of half a
lozcn men.
Mr.. Field then went to England TO ask
financial aid. his estimates Gazing for ESQ,
no. To the inquiry, But suppose you
lOn't succeed-Suppose you make the at
tempt and fail-your cable is lost in the
ea-then what will you dor Mr.. Field
quickly replied. Charge 1t to profit and
osS.. and go to work to lay another"
To show that he meant business, Mr.
field paid down ESS,O00 for lightweight
ShHrtH Of the stock subscribed In his own
lame. The English government granted
iii In the uSe Of ships, and Rl4;O0O annual
subsidy for term Of years, and Mr. Field
returned to ask similar grants from his
lone government After the American
eagle had aired his feathers In lengthy de
nate the bill passed. and the lightning
promoter" went to England again. II
was then 1871.
The United States loaned the steam war
frignte Niagara, and England the waPIhip
AgamemnOn to lay the cal,le. and the work
begun on the Irish coast Aug. s, each vessel
hearing coiled within her sides $50 miles
II wire. The Niagara hogan, and after
paying out I'll miles Of wire. half Of II In
water two miles deep, the cable parted.
The machinery for paying out was insult
able. and the fleet returned to England to
hear on all SideS the cynical comment, Il
told you 40" Not at all discouraged, Mr..