The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1895, 1895-06-10
Proposed Pacific Cable

Chamber of Commerce and others
interested in the proposal to es-
tablish cable via the Pacific held |
at the Chamber, Exchange, on
Thursday evening, Mr.. S. A.
Joseph, in moving, --"That this
meeting is of opinion that in the
broadcast interest Of the British
Empire the early establishment of
cable connecting Australasia
and Canada across the Pacific,
and under British control, is o
necessity" after briefly arguing
that ocean telegraphy is indispen-
sable to civilization and to com
mercial life, said Hitherto we
have enjoyed the advantages of
ocean telegraphy through the
patriotic energies of our South
Australian sister, III laying, at her
own expense and risk, land wire
to Port Darwin of nearly 1000
miles, and to the commercial on
terprise of private companies, the
Eastern and the Eastern Exten.-
sion companies, who together
work about one-third Of the cable
mileage Of the world. South Aus
tralia has worked her land line
for over 20 years, at a considera-
BILE loss to herself, but for the
benefit of the other colonies; there
fore, in any inter colonial agree
ment for Pacific cable, the in
terest of South Australia should
be especially provided for, where
as, the Eastern and Eastern Ex-
tension companies, to whom we
are indebted for having introduce
ed to us luxury which has now
become necessity, have, L am
glad to say, resped the advantage
of their enterprise, by earning
good dividends and handsome
reserve. These interests natural,
ask us, what is Pacific cable
wanted for, while we are serving
you well F.? And our answer il
: a very plain one. First, from {
commercial view. While tele-
graphy was luxury, and coult
only be used by the rich, we wer'
content to pay, as for all luxurie
a high price, and also to put u
with the risk attached thereto
but now it has become a dali,
necessity of commercial life W
: are bound, not only to endeavor
by reducing the cost of messages
to place it within the reach of
much larger number of people
but also ensure to the system tina
safety and security against inter
ruption which we believe can onl
be secured by passing our mes
sages over cable that touche
only on British territory, and
absolutely under British contro
= The question of a duplicate cab
. across the Pacific, L think, frs
took a hold on the public min
when l was in England in 1885,
1886 Cat the time of the Russia
scare), and was subsequently flu,
ly discussed at the Colonial Coz
ference held in London in 1888
9r when a resolution was passed.
That the connection Of Cana(
with Australia by a direct sui
marine telegraph across the Pac
fic is q project of high important
= to the Empire, and every dou
as to it's practicability shou
without delay be set at rest by
thorough and exhaustive survey
Then again at the congress of Au
tralian Chambers of CONNER
7, held in November, 1886, when
had the honor, as your presider
to represent this chamber,
was moved and carried unan
mously,-" That this congre
3 heartily endorses, both on con
mercial and strategical ground
the laying of submarine tel,
's' grahic cable through the Pacil
'rt Ocean connecting Australia wi
the Dominion of Canada al
Great Britain, and trust tn
every effort will be made to haste
the completion of the survey
2 the ocean floor; it also urges upC
= the various colonial Government
the ACCESSIBILITY of endeavorin