Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-01-04

city, whose business is brighter than
during any period In the history of the
company. The firm is extensively
engaged in the manufacture of insulated
wire and submarine cables. There is a
full force of men on the payroll, and
the indications are that the company
will be compelled to secure additional
workmen skilled in the knowledge of
the trade in order that the large con-
tracts now under way may be completed
In the specified time.
Henry B. Cobb, general manager of
the company, in speaking with re.
porter of The GAZETTE Thursday af-
ternoon, stated that the company had
received a contract to furnish "a miles
of 7-conductor submarine cable for the
United States Government to be used in
the torpedo service, and that it would
require constant work for a year to
complete the contract, and he looked
forward to a season of great business
prosperity.
owe feel that we have accomplished
great deal in securing this large contract
from the government" said Mr. Cobb
sand when it is known that our com
petitors were among the leading cable
manufacturers of this country and of
Europe the magnitude of the contract
will be comprehended. 1t is the first
time in the history Of this country that
an American concern, like the Chicago
Electric Wire Company, has been able
to compete with the large manufacturers
of England in making these submarine
cables, and never before has such con-
tract fallen this side of the water. This
talk about the evil effects that would
follow the passage of the Wilson bill
comes with very bad grace from many
people who oppose the passage of the
measure, and | can assure you that il it
becomes law, and there seems to be
doubI that it will, why our business will
be benefited two-fold. Throw open the
gates to the material that is consumed in
making this insulated cable, and let us
have better opportunity to compete
with the industries of Europe, and we
will show the people of this country
that we can fill government contracts
and place our goods in the hands of the
consumers as cheaply as any firm in the
world.
Zone Of the important elements used
In the manufacture of cables is rubber
True 1t is rubber comes in duty free,
which is blessing, but let us have the
copper and iron duty free, which enter
largely into the consumption of wire,
and then we will be on equal footing
with England, and will mark a revolu-
ton in the manufacture of submarine
cables. This would enable us to COM
rete with foreign countries in manu-
featuring the Atlantic cables also, and
we would not have to go to Europe for
our cables in the future"
Then you advocate the passage of
the Wilson bill to better enable the
manufacturers of this country to com.
pete with Europeans in the manufact-
ure of goods?" the reporter suggested.
81 most certainly do" was Manager
Cobbs reply, land the sooner it is passed
the better it will be for all of us. De-
lays are dangerous and there is no time
like the present Let us have free raw
material, and equal competition with
the other nations of the earth, and no
one need be at all alarmed about our
ability to fill big contracts in the
future, and compete with international
bidders. Our cables have been examined
by the United States engineers, and we
have already begun the shipment of
goods TO the torpedo station at Long
Island where the cables have stood the
required tests under the supervision of
Engineer w. r. King, and we have been
Informed that our insulation has been
found to be of a superior quality. If we
can accomplish such an era as this in
the American manufacture of cables,
with only the rubber admitted free,
what can We not do with the duty re-
moved from copper and iron.
The successful manufacture by
Americans of submarine cables for use
in the torpedo service is comparatively
of modern origin, is it not?"
ut undoubtedly is. Some small con-
tracts have been awarded to American
bidders, but no large ones such as we
nave recently obtained. The submarine
cable is used in placing torpedoes in
rivers leading out from the shore, and it
is laid in similar way to the Atlantic
cable. One end of the cable is securely
fastened to tine shore, and the vessel
starts out to sea, the huge drum on
board revolving and permitting the
cable to fall into the depth of the river,
and in this way the cable can be ex-
tended two miles from shore. There
is battery on shore, and when
hostile fleet is observed coming up
the harbor, the torpedo is exploded
by means OF the battery and war ships
could be blown to atoms. II is the
customary rule TO guarantee the govern
ment 500 megohms per mile, but we
have gone farther in our contract and
we propose to guarantee 5000 megohms
to the mile so confident are we that our
cable will stand the test. The cable is
made by grouping seven strands of
twisted wire, which is covered with
rubber, and then given thin coating of
lead, SO as to make it absolutely i'm
pervlous to water. 1t is then vulcan
lied and cabled. 1t is then given two
layers of jute, treated to coat of armor,
over which is placed galvanized iron
wire, and last of all comes two layers of
hemp, and then the cable is ready for
shipment.
awe are also manufacturing all kinds
OF wire for house consumption, loaden-
coated tubing and insulation for encas-
ing pipes, the patents for which are exclu
sively ours. Welikewise manufacture the
flexible cables, and have now on hand
$76,0OO0 worth of underground cable
for the city of Chicago. Our business
is brighter than ever before"
Order of Court In the Knauff Case.
Judge Wales Thursday made an
order in the case of the Theodore Q.