The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-26
The Pacific Cable.

Assuming that II would be conducted In
the proper way, the proposal to appropriate
$25, 900 for the survey Of q telegraphic
cable route between Hawaii and Japan
merits adoption by Congress.
To facilitate its passage at this session,
the measure is introduced by Mr.. LODGE as
a Senate amendment to the pending navy
appropriation bill which has been passed
by the House. The survey would be con-
Quoted by the navy, the process being
merely that Of taking soundings.
Thanks to the work done by the Thetis
and the Albatross between October, 1891,
and May, 1892, experimenting that of the
Tuscarora years earlier, enough Is known
to start with Of the route between Cali.
fornia and Hawaii. The Tuscarora's line
from San Francisco to Oahu had shown
deep depressions and lofty elevations, yet
was not considered disoouraging, while the
later soundings have been very favorable.
The Albatross ran from Salinas Pier, in
Monterey Bay, where n soft mud bottom
exists, to Honolulu, and discovered q good
landing about three miles from that port.
In returning to Monterey Bay she took a
course a few miles to the south and found it
still more advantageous. The deepest
sounding on the outward run was 3,l68
fathoms, caused by a valley that fell 1000
feet below the surrounding levels, while
the greatest elevation above neighboring
levels was $500 feet. Coral formations
would make IL advisable to incase the cable
near Honolulu in armor. Next followed
the work Of the Thetis, which ran a great
circle line Of soundings between Point Con.
ception, "a miles west OF Santa Barbara, to
Hilo, about 200 miles southeast Of Honolulu,
a distance Of 1000 miles. The work Of the
ship was thorough, 341 soundings being
taken, with a maximum depth Of 3,22S
fathoms, or 1a,36s feet. The Albatross
had made, In her two voyages. o sound
ings with wire and ffty-four with hand
lines. In general, while no plateau was
found so free from great hollows and peaks
as that Of the Atlantic cables, yet the results
pointed to the p~racticability Of the route.
But how is it from Hawaii to Japani For
a line clear across the Pacific, touching at
Hawaii, is the real one to take into consid-
Grafton. The population and business OF
Hawaii are small for ending the cable
there, when its extension will make the
continent Of Asia tributary.
Along the eastern shore OF Asia, extending
from the Kurile Island to and along Japan,
Is an enormous trough which has hitherto
defied soundings. Its route seems TO be he.
meath the Kuro Siwo or Black Stream, and
years z Admiral BELKNAP's famous series
Of soundings showed the depth to exceed
five miles and n quarter, while the degree Of
the excess is not known. In other parts of
the Pacific between Hawaii and Japan there
are known to be sharp and extreme changes
Of level, as, indeed, its numerous islands
and archipelagos must suggest. These
groups and ~islets, however, have their ad.
vantages as intermediate stopping places
for the cable, II desired.
A new survey Of the Pacific, particularly
with a view to seeing where the trough east
Of Japan may best be crossed by a cable,
seems to be called for at this time. Since
the work will all he dom by the navy, at
an additional expense Of only $4,000, II
as much, and will be of scientific value, It
is a contribution that ought to he made to
the Pacific cable project.