The times., 1899-03-09
HOW GREAT CABLES
ENCIRCLE THE EARTH
An Interesting History Of Sub
marine Telegraphy.
The First Experiments, Failures,
and Final Triumphs.
American Genius n Potent Factor in
GirdIing the World With
Electric Currents.

The development of the submarine tele-
graph from a mere gutta-percha coated
wire laid in New York Harbor by Prof
Morse in 1912 TO the great cables which
now engirdie the entire earth, except the
bed of the Pacific, is described in a state
ment just issued by the Treasury Bureau
of Statistics. entitled Chronology of Sub
marine Telegraph Construction Through
out the World, and the Development OF
Submarine Telegraphy.' This publication,
which has been prepared by the Bureau OF
Statistics in view of the special interest
just now developed in submarine tele-
graph line to connect the United States
with Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and
the Asiatic Coast, shows not only the loca-
tion, number, and length of the submarine
telegraphs of the world, but also the his
tory of this great system and the part
which American genius and enterprise have
had in its development.
The First Experiments
The statement credits Saliva, a SpaniarG,
with the first recorded suggestion of sub
marine telegraphy, made before the BARGE
Iona Academy of Sciences in 1875. Aldlnl,
a nephew of Calvin. performed expert
ments in the transmission of electric sig
mails under the sea near Calais, France,
in 1903; Schilling ignited gunpowder by
electricity transmitted through a suba-
queous conducting wire under the Neva
River near St Petersburg in 1872; tele-
graphic signals were transmitted through
insulated wires under the River Hugh, in
India, by the director of the East India
Company's telegraph system in 1889, and
in 1872 Prof. Morse transmitted electric
currents and signals through an insulated
copper wire laid for that purpose between
Castle Garden and Governors Island, IN
New York Harbor, and in the following
year suggested submarine electric com
munication between the United States and
Europe. In 1915 Ezra Cornell, in conjunc-
tion with Prof. Morse. laid and success
fully operated submarine copper wires IN
the Hudson River between New York and
Fort Lee and in 1877 a section OF the tele-
graph line connecting New York and
Washington was laid through the waters
OF a narrow creek by J. J. Craven, OF New
Jersey. thus demonstrating the practlca-
bility of actual submarine teiegraphic serv-
ice.
In 1870 a submarine telegraph line was
laid across the English Channel and signals
exchanged. but without further success,
though in the following year a cable con-
tanning four copper wires insulated with
gutta percha and protected by galvanized
iron wires wound spirally about it, was
into successful operation as submarine
telegraph line.
These experiments having proved the
practicability of submarine telegraphy, the
great enterprise of a telegraph line under
the Atlantic Ocean was undertaken, and
the subsequent developments are described
in the statement, as follows:
1S57-First attempt to lay a submarine
telegraphic cable across the Atlantic
ba hafw dad nv
rus W Field. of New York. and Charles
Bright ]. W. Brett. and Others. of Eng
land The cable was 10 extend from VAL
entia, Ireland, to Newfoundland, the
length of the cable necessary being esti-
mated at $500 miles. The construction of
this cable was similar to that across the
q, English Channel After 255 miles had been
laid from Valentia westward, the cable
broke and the work abandoned.
Mr. Fields Triumph.
lS5s-Renewal by Mr. Field and his asso-
ciates of the attempt to lay submarine
teIegraphic cable across the Atlantic The
United States naval vessel Niagara and the
British vessel Agamemnon carrying each
one-half of the cable, proceeded to mid
ocean. and after joining the ends of theil
respective sections, on July 2g, proceeded
westward and eastward, paying out the
cable and reaching their respective destina-
tions. Newfoundland and Nalentia, on the
same day, August ;. 1855 when electrica
connection between the continents was al
once established over 1850 nautical mile;
of cable which they had thus laid Con-
gratulatory messages were exchanged be
tween the President of the United State.
and the Queen of England and there were
public reioicings in both countries oyel
what was pronounced the great event o
the century. After less than one month o
operation, however. the cable ceased work
ing and il was never operated further no
was any part of 1t ever recovered. Dur
ing the time OF its operation 130 message
of about 10000 words were passed owe
it. Its total cost was 81 ,256, $50.
ls5g-A submarine telegraphic cable 1,
connect England with British India wa
laid through the Red Sea and Arabial
Sea to Kurracheo. India, having a tota
length of 3.043 nautical miles, but wit
several intermediate landings. Some por
tions OF the line worked satisfactory
for thirty days, but few if any message
were sent over the entire length, and
soon proved complete failure.
ls60-Elaborate study of the entire sub
jeet OF submarine telegraphs and the con
struction of cables was made by com
rnittee appointed by the British Board {
Trade resulting in an expression of tn
belief that submarine telegraphy nigh
despite past failures. become successft
and profitable If sufficient care We're exeT
clsed in constructing, laying. and man
aging the cable.
lS6l-A submarine telegraphic cab
which had been manufactured with groa
care, was laid across the Mediterranea
from Malta to Alexandria. Egypt. Wit
intermediate landing places at Tripoli an
BenghaZi The cable consisted Of seye