New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-13
PACIFIC CABLE PROJECT.
MANY ADVANTAGES POSSESSED BY THE
NAVAL PLAN.

oOh'E1S ALREADY MADE ENABLE COST
AND FEASIBILITY TO BE DETERMINED
SENATOR HALE's BILL Likely
TO BECOME LAW
tRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIpUxEl
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE naval project for
Pacific cable connecting San Francisco, Homo
lulu. Guam and the Philippines gives greater
promise of practicability than other plans sug-
gested TO Congress for facilitating commercial
and military communication in that ocean. and
the bill embodying its features and authorizing
Its construction and maintenance which has
been introduced by Senator Hale. is likely to be-
come a law. The only cable surveys of a route
across the Pacific haze been made By the Navy.
J and they have enabled the naval authorities 20
| count the cost OF the enterprise and It's feasi-
| biUty with confident accuracy. The Army
! scheme for cable to remain always a military
| line has been planned wholly theoretical
| considerations involving a mdocean landing
place on a coral rock frequently submerged each
year in the stormy season.
| The private cable companies which have been
| rivals in seeking Government aid have made no
surveys, and their projects have savored strong
| ly OF speculation at Government expense. The
/ principal private company asks Congress to
give IT a charter and guarantee subsidy Of
cfuu,ooo dnfludlIy 1Or twenty years. DurlnB tnat
| period It offers to carry Government messages
free, and thereafter will charge the Government
one half commercial rates Under this plan the
Government would pay out SS.OOO.0OO. and in
| the end the company would have the cable and
could sell It to England Germany, Russia or
Japan.
The naval project calls for a S10,000.0OO cable
plant including submarine lines, stations and
equipment TO be laid by regular naval vessels
and to be delivered when completed to the Post
master General. who will manage. operate and
maintain the service in the same manner as the
postal system. with single regard for the pub
lie interest. The Tribune on November 10 pub
lshed the official chart OF the surveys made
across the Pacific by the United States steamer
Nero. with an account of the great work per-
formed by that vessel. and now presents the
legislative proposition In Its entirety. In ex-
planaton Of the appropriation called for. 1t Is
said by Rear Admiral Bradford who has had
charge Of the matter. that S1,OO,WO Is esti-
mated as the cost OF maintenance for the first
year, after which the Postofice Department
could pay the expenses out of the receipts
TEXT OF THE NAVAL BILL.
The Naval bill is as follows:
bill to provide for the construction. mantenance
and operation. under Government control OF
Pacific cable. n
Be II enacted by the Senate ana the Rouse oL rep
resentatives of the United States of America IN
Congress assembled:
Section S That there S shs bs Sc ecTesry of the
Navy n submarine teegraphic cable or canes,
qd la d be cs Gy Of qR as i
Islands, and thence by way Of the Midway Islands
foGte s9d 'ns may lieNS be dee@ed M Say
to be the rs raPbSfs 70 sands snG Se' Oh oO
the President Of the United States is authorized
concession CONCESSIONS, with all APP
propriate rights. privileges and exemptions from
sary to the construction, maintenance and opera
ton Of cable lines along the routes above ndieateG
authorized to cause such surveys and soundings
most practicable route upon which to establish cable
communication connecting the cities of San Fran
s9G eas or purchase cha SUCH lands and rights
in as may be requisite for the establishment OF
on the PScbc ia ne caSe aEhozed
Sec l. II It shall appear that the work OF laying
the Pacific cable here authorized; or any por-
Is and economically performed by vessels OF the
Navy, their employment for such purpose Is author
lied; and such changes in the naval vessels so
~ made in order to fit them FOR such work may
ns Of the Sqe Of I NaVy it Is
vantageous TO the public interests the vessels and
of laying the Pacific cable may be obtained by pur-
Sec s. That the Secretary Of the Navy is hereby
empowered Immediately upon the passage Of this
lions to solicit proposals. by suitable advertise
ment and TO enter into contract or contracts for
the construction. laying and equipment of said
lines OF eegraphic cable portions thereof at the
earliest practicable date such contracts TO include
the furnishing Of all necessary materials. instru-
ments, appliances and appurtenances and the per-
formance OF all work necessary 10 the laying ana
complete equipment and successfu operation OF
said Pacific cables except such materials and ar
ticles as be more advantaGeously furnlsned
and such work he more efficiently performed
labor connected with the establishment or the
Pacific cables shall be governed by provisions OF
existing law relating to public contracts Provided
that the wires cables insulators batteries. lnsru-
shall he Of such quality 10 insure the sats,,
factory maintenance and efficient operation or SAID
cables and inferior materials. Instruments pat
teres or other appliances or work shal ne &C
cepted or paid for under any contract MADE under
the provisions Of this act. ,, go
Sec g. That when the Pacific cables herein au,
thorized are completed the operation ana conToI
thereof shall be transferred 10 the fosinastess
General who shall have authority IN receive ana
transmit messages In the interests or commerce
and public shall establish rates or toI tneIe-
for and shall arrange and provide for the trans,
mission OF messages from news associations ana
agencies TO the newspapers Of the United states,
reduction from the rates established for ordinary
Sec T. That the Postmaster General shall estab-
lish fund TO be known as the "Pacthc cable
Fund" into which all receipts derived from the
revenues Of the cable shall be deposited. and the
net proceeds over and above operating expenses de-
rived therefrom shall ne paid into the Treasury OF
Sec s. That for the purpose OF carrying this act
into effect the Of s11 10000 or so much thereon
as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated 10 DC
paid out OF any money In the treasury not other-
wise appropriated
SOUVENIR FOR PRESIDENT LOUBET.