New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17

which. previously said. it is attached recorded
The history OF the cable as recalled by the obser
Walton OF its great progress, dates back 10 only
hfty-seven years ago. when the earliest experiment
on record in submarine teleeraphy was made by DR..
". O'Shaughnessy at Calcutta. He laid copper
wire. insulated with coating OF cotton thread sat
and transmitted signals through IL.
The next effort 10 chroniced OF one nearer nome nn
wire with gu;ta-percha and placed 1t in the circuit
Of the New-York and Washington telegraph me me,
submersing II IN the waters of a small creek Inc
success OF this experiment led to the laying OF a
gutta-percna cable between New-York and Jersey
City In lsiS Two years later an experimental line
was laid the English Channel. followed In
1851 By permanent cable which is still in use
CYRUS ". FIELDS GREAT WORK.
The success OF this undertaking at once revived
the suggestion OF laying a cable across the Atlantic
from Ireland to Newfoundland. In 1884 ;he atten-
ton OF Cyrus w Field directed to the subject.
and mainly through his efforts a company was
formed. principally OF English capitalists, 10 under
take the enterprise
The first attempt was made in August. 1887. but It
unsuccessful. the cable parting 800 miles from
shore The following year the attempt was re,
August 5. ISIS '"' '''7' p '@e
The electrical condition OF the cable was faulty
from the first but signals and communications were
exchanged with more less facility until Septem-
Der !, when the cable failed altogether In this time
355 messages, containing 3942 words. were Inter-
changed between Europe and America. Several at
tempis to pick up and repair the cable We're made
without success ana this disastrous
aged further enterprise In the same direction FOR a
number OF years. The experience gained. however
OF the highest value, and the success OF the
Malta and Alexandria QS6l). Persian Gulf 0s6D and
other deep-sea cables led a renewal OF the at
tempt the Atlantic In 1865. which again re-
suited in the breaking OF the cable after 1ls6 miles
had been paid out. The following year. however, a
new cable was successfully submerged being land
ed at Newfoundland in perfect working order on
July a. 1866 and the great problem was then at last
definitely solved. In September following the lost
cable OF 1865 picked up and completed.
In the cable laid between Dover and Calais. In 1851
four gutta-percha coated conducting wires were
wrapped with hemp and inclosed in wire rope for
protection. This general plan has been followed In
are composed OF copper strand OF seven wires,
forming the conductor, surrounded by four layers
OF gutta-percha and covered by serving of jute:
outside OF this Is protecting armor OF ten wires of
homogeneous iron each enveoped in fine strands Of
manila hemp.
In shallow waters where cables are exposed to in
jury from anchors. as In the region of Governors
Island, the armor is often made enormously thick
and heavy. sometimes weighing much twenty
tons mile
The suggestion OF telephone cable is attracting
particular attention. Mr. Vaughn. OF the Western
Union Telegraph Company. has proposed the trans
atlantic telephone. telephone has frequently been
worked TO Coney Island through a cable. London
telephones to Paris every day over 273 miles OF