The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-02-07

routes in distance the difference in
cost could scarcely exceed 10 per cent
at most, instead OF the 500 or more set
forth in the article in question, There
remains, thcn, the question OF ease and
safety. The advocate Of the northern
route dwells upon the disadvantages OF
deep sea cables, the danger to the shore
ends Of them from anchors, draggipg,
ourrents and storms, and the conse-
quent necessity OF making those ends
heavier aud more costly, and the ditH-
Guilty Of making repairs II is, We be-
ueve, matter Of record that most
accidents to cables necessitating re-
pairs occur TO the shore ends OF them.
in comparatively shallow water--O fact
hinted at indeed in the reference al
ready made ,o the dangers that beset
those ends, Now. the northern route
proposed has nearly twice as many
shore ends as the equatorial or ALI
American line, Moreover its shore
ends looping along the northern coasts
would be especially exposed to danser
from currents icefoes storms, and
what not That argument is decided
~ in favor Of the all-American line.
Nor must We neglect the argument as
to freedom from cutting in time Of
var We are told with apparent seri-
BUSINESS that a British Pacific cable
from Vancouver would be in awiIa
peril from the desperate pirates who
swarm in the Fuea Straits. And yet a
cable looping along that same coast and
along the Siberian and Japanese coasts
void be immune! We are gravely told,
too. that the reason the United States
found 50 much difficulty in cutting on
cable communication with Cuba was
that the cables ran to neutral shores.
and that Admiral Dewey had the same
trouble at Manila, because, while he
did not cut the caole-w which. by the
way, ran to a neutral shore-he could
not shut out messages brought in by
boat That is not argument. 1t is
farce.
With al the arguments against the
all-American lire and in favor of It's
rival thus hopelessly discredited, there
remains the enc great argument in
favor of the former and against the
latter which is indicated in the very
title and description of the routes. This
country wants an all-Amerlcan line and I
no other. 1t does not want to have to
communicate with its own possessions
by way Of alien lands. When this gov
ernnient sends message to its officers
at Manila IL does not want to send It
over British and Russian and Japanese
wires, or by way of stations on their
shores. 1t does not want its business
delay ed OF interrupted at their pleas
ure or through their disturbances. Let
us leave out Of consideration the pos
sibilIty of our ever having war or
other trouble with one Of those coun-
tries, The possibility of war between
some of them must be taken into ac-
count. In case Of war with japan
and Russia, for example what would |
become Of our communication with
Manila via Siberia and Japan? Yet, at
such time 1t might be of supreme i'm
portance for us to maintain that COM
uninterrupted and inviolate. |!
At the very time when we most needed |
the cable we would be deprived Of the
use Of it. No, the very location, char
acter and control of the cable line
urged by The Engineering Magazine"
writer are its strongest condemnation.
Our c0nnectiona with our ou,n noqeae