The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-01-31

The willingness of the Hawaiian
authorities to grant cable concessions
to Great Britain is due to their great
desire to establish quick communities
ton with this continent, coupled with
their belief that the United States
Government will give no financial aid
to an independent cable line between
the United States and Hawaii, says
a late Washington Star. A bill
for aiding an enterprise which pro-
posed laying wire between California
and Honolulu came up in the last
Congress, but was amended In the
House by providing simply for sur
vey. The main objection to the ap-
preparation in aid of the cable was
that, as the islands were not part of
our territory, there was no national
obligation to assist an enterprise to
establish connection with them.
There was not sufficient promise of
business for such line to justify it as
a purely commercial enterprise.
The practicability of a cable line be-
tween the United States and Hawaii
is fully established by four surveys
made by the Tuscarora, Albatross and
Thetis. The surveys of the Tuscarora
were made many years ago, but those
Of the Albatross and Thetis were made
between October, 1891, and May, 1892.
The general conclusion reached by
Lieutenant Commander Glover Of the
photographic office, as a result Of
these surveys, Is that q practicable
lane exists on the route to Hawaii,
having an average breadth OF 300
miles, along which, at various points,
are sharp peaks, arising abruptly
toward the surface Of the ocean. Ac.
cording to this authority, the most
suitable route Is along a mercator line
between Monterey Day and Honolulu,
a distance of about 2IOO miles. This
requires q minimum length of cable,
while the bottom is chiefly ooze,
which is known to be the best for pre-
serving the sheathing unimpaired.
The surveys showed the existence Of
great plateau between the two coun-
tries. The deepest sounding was 3166
fathoms, formed by q large valley
ing level. The greatest elevation
above surrounding levels was $500
feet. Coral formations near Honolulu
would probably require the cable to
be incased in steel armor at that
point.
There is q trans-Pacific cable already
lsiI and working between Queensland
about 800 miles, and the French COM
pany that built it is planning to con-
tinue It by way Of the Fills and Samoa
to Hawaii, and thence to this con-
tinent. Whether the liue, If the ex-
tensions are made, will run from
Honolulu to British Columbia or to
some point in California, 1t is said,
depends on the offers that may be
made to those interested in the enter
prize. The establishment of q British
cable station on one Of the Hawaiian
islands would possibly cause the aban-
Comment of the French project.
In February, 1891, Mr.. Chapman,
from the Committee on Foreign AZ
fairs, submitted report recommend
ing the passage of the bill to incorpor-
ate the Pacific Cable Company for the
purpose of laying q submarine tele-
graph from San Francisco to the
Hawaiian Islands, and thence via
Samoa to New Zealand, and also to
Japan. and providing an annual sub
sidy Of $50, 600 for fifteen years.
In concluding their report the COM
mittee said: "Your committee regard
the establishment of submarine cleo
trio telegraph between San Francisco
and Hawaii as q measure Of high ma
tional concern, which will be an eff
cient factor not only in securing Ha-
waiian autonomy as long as the inter-
ests Of the United States require, and
q firm and permanent American in
huence in the Hawaiian Islands, but
in securing for our country the COM
merce of the Pacific ocean and the
~ ha ofFol 10 al
We also think that unless such action
as is proposed in the bill be taken at
this session, the danger is great that q
large proportion of that trade and
commerce will be diverted to Canada
and England. For the reasons here
named, If there were no other consid-
erations which occur to those observ-
ant Of public affairs, it appears to
your committee that this bill ought to
be enacted"
In q letter to the committee, dated
January %, 1891, Secretary Blame
summarized his support of the propo-
sition In the following vigorous words:
81 have no doubt Of the great inn
portance to the United States Of pos
sessing cable communication with
Hawaii. Besides subscribing the close
interests which we maintain with
those islands, and tending to exert a
positive and potential influence on
the political autonomy Of the Hawai-
ian group, such cable would be a
necessary factor in great scheme of
direct communication with China and
Japan, and with Australasia by way
OF the Samoan Islands.
In the course of events, telegraphic
communication throughout the Pacific
ocean and with the shores Of America,
Asia and Australasia Is Indispensable
and certain to come. The section join
ing Hawaii to the American CONT
nent, besides being the shortest and
least costly link in the general chain,
is by far the most important from
political points Of view; and deem it
of the highest consequence to the
United States that 1t be promptly con-
structed by American effort, and with !
the sanction of our government