The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-22
The Northern Cable Route.


northern route. grows in favor. 1t Is
now simply a question of knowledge
against interest of merit against pull"
And in the long run merit is bound to
win.
The Post-Intelligencer publishes this
morning an exhaustive article compar-
ing the two routes proposed. The adj
vantages on the side Of the Seattle line
are many and conclusive. We believe
that all that is necessary is to get and
keep these facts before the public.
Once become familiar to all, they will
fight for the Alaska Pacific cable as no
other influence could do.
II is seen that the actual construction
to be done by the Hawaiian route is
nearly double that required for a cable
by way OF Alaska. The comparative
figures are SOL and 1856. difference
in our favor OF 1856 miles. The differ
ence In cost is much greater. The cost
Of cable construction varies widely with
the length Of the separate links, the
depth OF ocean to be traversed and the
confsuration OF the ocean floor The
longest link by the Alaska route is s5s
miles; by the Hawaiian route. 2.4Os
miles. The former would be laid in
seas for the most part shallow and on
a bottom favorable TO the work. The
latter must span the enormous depths
OF the Pacific and cross Its hills and val
would certainly not exceed one-third Of
that by the southern
Commercially and politically the ar
guments are all In favor OF the Alaska
Pacific enterprise. Doubtless a cable
will be laid in any event from San
Francisco to Honolulu. Let us grant
this, as following properly the incorpor-
alton of the Hawaiian islands with our
territory Equally without doubt is 1t
that telegraph connection must be made
between Seattle and Alaska. as far, say,
as Dutch harbor. Assuming that each
of these lines must be constructed. IN
order TO AFFORD communication between
the central authority and its distant
territory. and what remains? The ques-
ton OF cable communication with Ma
Mia. The question how to secure this
at the least cost and to the greatest gain
for commerce.
At this point let the reader turn to
the map on page 26 OF this issue. He
will appreciate by the testimony of the
eye the vast superiority OF the northern
route, owing to the earth's curvature.
He will realize that cable To Alaska.
more necessary on Its own merits than
one to Honolulu. establishes the direc-
ton for submarine communication with
Japan and China II is these countries
with which the great volume of our
commercial intercourse Is To be carried
on. They are in direct line from Dutch
harbor, requiring the building OF less
than 2,700 miles to have the ticker at
Seattle transmit messages to Yoke
hama, to Manila, TO Hongkong Grant
the building OF the line direct from Hon
olulu to Manila. and another from
Guam "a Yokohama would be a prac-
ticsl commercial necessity. otherwise
all dispatches for Japan must double
on their course for thousands Of miles
beneath the sea
( In commerce as in mathematics. n
straight line is the shortest distance be
/ tween two points The shortest dis
I tancc. the lowest cost ~ construction
resistance, wins That is why Scat
tie owns her presen, ana is confident
/ OF her future. The same law thar Is
I gathering here the foreign trade ~ the
/ Pacific coast. the same reason that lies
I behind the demand FOR a Nicarag qua
: canal the reasons which make railroad
( companies straighten their curved lines
and reduce heavy grades. argue unan-
swerablS for the northern cable route
/ II It's claim had been understood. II
/ the Alaska development had come ear
| Tier. no man would have had the temer-
I i,y even % suggest a cable to the Phil
I ippines via Honolulu Though forty
transpaclhc cables spread fauiike from
san Francisco as their starting point
the northern cable from Seattle would
be built IL would be built because it
isa commercial necessity and has phys
teal advantages that enable 1t to dis