The morning call., 1893-03-26

that vicinity we would have accepted it, but
glance at the chart of the adjacent coast
viii show large area OF comparatively
shoal water, extending even beyond the
farallones and Cordell Banks, over which
the ocean Sweiis reach the bottom with
securing effect during great storms.
"a heavily armored cable would sustain
comparatively little injury from this source,
but other and more imminent dangers
would await it from ships anchors and
drifting wIeckage
During the progress of our work of deep
sea exploration we found remarkable de-
pTessiOn extending seaward from Salinas or
Moss Landing, near the center of the bay.
which promised so favorably that We deter
mined TO commence the survey at that
point.
"The first sounding was made on the
morning of October II, 1891, In 90 fathoms,
less than quarter of mile to the west
ward OF the head of Salinas pier, wooden
structure about $50 yards in length.
"a depth of 20 fathOms was found within
200 yards OF the beach, and 90 fathoms with
In quarter OF mile with soft mud bot
tom.
From this point the great trou III, con-
stautly widening and deepening, extends
seaward in a southwesterly direction, re-
tanning the same soft-mud bOttom-an ideal
bed for a submarine cable, where less than
half mile OF shore end would require eX-
ira care aud protection.
''Soundings were taken at very short in
tervals until reaching the open sea, when n
great circle course was laid for the east end
Of Oahu Island and the intervals we're
gradually increased to FIVE, ten and finally
fifteen miles as we approached the FORMAL
ocean depth.
cali traces of sand or other substances Of
continental origin disappeared in 206t faith
0ms. ninety-fve miles from land, the bot
tom being composed of gray ouze, rich in
forminifera.
Gradual and fairly uniform increase in
depth brought rs into 2S9j fathoms, 4S6
miles from Salinas Landing; thence the
bottom became more updulating and the
depth decreased until finally about GOO miles
from the California coast we found our
selves on the crest Of an elevation having a
depth Of 2014 fathoms, the bottom beng of
partially dlsntegTated lava.
Leaving the elevation the line was d a.
veloped l46 miles farther in depths of 2400
to 200 fathOms.
In latitude 80 "a north, longitude 1867 "A
west, the lead revealed a depth of 1856
fathoms, the deepest water found during the
survey.
This remarkable depression's approxi-
mate limits have been defined as follows:
1t falls 1000 feet below the surrounding
plateau aud extends seventy miles or more
in southern direction. It's northern end
beng from seven TO ten miles in width,
Willie the opposite extremity expands to
twenty-five or thirty miles
Normal depths from 200 to 2700 fatboms
were found TO latitude 29o IL 80" north,
longitude 143e II 80" west, where the water
again shoaled to . 50 fathoms.
Ihe most important elevation on the
line was encountered 2l0 miles from the
east OF Oahu. From base of 800 miles in
extent the waters gradually shOaled over
gently rising slopes to an altitude of $500
feet above the ocean bed, having on its sub
merged apex depth OF 1856 fathoms. SO
gentle was the ascent, however, that the
bottom retained its normal bed of ooze even
to the summit.
Approaching the east end of Oahu de-
preston was crossed, sixty miles from land,
having depth OF 2S78 fathOms, mud bot
tom. all traces of forminifera having disap-
peared 100 miles from the island
The shore platform was reached after q
steep ascent in $40 fathoms, twenty miles
from MakaDuu Point.
out OF four points examined on the east
and south side Of Oahu. for a cable landing,
Waikiki, about three miles from Honolulu,
seemed the BEST although the other three
may be considered practicable.
The scheme of the Albatross' survey
contemplated not only the development OF
the great circle from Salinas Landing 20 the
east end oil Oahu, but also that of a rhumb
line between these two points, the routes
being practically parallel
I'VE left Honolulu on December II, 1891,
to commence the work of sounding on a
rhunb line north 63 deg, east true, between
the extremes OF the great circle route.
"Reaohlng the verge of tho shore plat
form in 603 fathoms twenty miles from
land, descent of 1178 fathoms was made
in four miles, a grade of over 20 per cent,
yet 1t retained its character of mud and
sand, with no indications of rocky projec-
conditions.
Each succeeding cast revealed iucreas-
ing depth until seventy-five miles from
Oanu we reached depression thirty miles
In extent, over which the suUndings indi-
Gated maximum of 1927 fathoms.
Thence for 160 miles the average was
little more than 2600 fathoms, followed by
increasing depths To 1898 fathoms, $40 miles
from land being the deepest cast made on
the rhumb line.
The slight but constant elevation of the
great central plateau continued for 3S5
miles. with mean of 2600 fathoms, TO still
another elevation having a depth on the
thumb line of 1921 fathoms.
The depth alter this varied from 1858 to
over 27OO fathoms, until the gradually shoal-
ing waters warned us of our approach to
the terminal at Salinas Landing, 10 miles
away, where our work ended
"Neither of the Albatross' lines present
serious obstacles to the laying of sui
marine cable, yet somewhat deeper water
and more frequent undulations are found
on the great circle.
The rhumb line is few miles sIlonger, ,,but
the advantages of more uniform depths and
smaller gradients seem to point to the latter
as the preferable line.
There still remained an unsurveyed route
from Point Conception on the California
coast to Hlln, Hawaii, lying about 150 miles
to the southwark and eastward of the A lba-
tross lines, and about forty miles shorter
between land and land.
There was very little known of the phys-
ieai characteristics of the region. but the
magnitude of the proposed undertaking
seemed TO make the examination advisa BILE,
and reported to that effect 10 the Navy
Department.
The disadvantages of the line we not
overlooked. An inter-island cable. abont
200 miles In length, would be required TO
Cnnnect with Hnnnlnln tha Inatrnnnlis and