The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-25

bureaus OF the Navy Department have also
been In the habit Of ordering submarine cable
OF American manufacturers under competitive
bids. During the war the cable that was used
In connection with the submarine mine fields
was all made here. and there is nothing that
they know abroad about submarine cable
making that our people do not know. The
young graduates OF our technical schools have
been over there there IN their works. and we
Understandable methods thoroughly and there
are now several educated cable cnglncers IN
this country. Some Of this American-Duilt
cable has been under water and in constant
use Tor five years, .and II T. an acRnowlnfged
five years viii work for an indefinite length Of
time. and its minimum life may be stated TO be
forty years. There are no submarine cables
anywhere in existence that have been down
cable made with the scienyc accuracy and
experience Of to-day shouldn't last for twice
Several OF these cable manufacturing con-
Germs have deep-water sites where they, can
manufacture cable and pay IL into the tanks Of
the steamers from which II H. to be laid. There
are no cable laying vessels in this country at
present. because the Government has never
hrratofOrc had need OF them. ana no private
corporation will invest the capi,ni required to
they arc quite useless for any other purpose:
Our people. however. thoroughly understand
the consl ruction and Installation o, cab,e.lay:
has %several vessels. which. might be used; for
instance, those OF the Yankee class. An
A Anssif'1 r ;ssIlf r sisis from 20 the iro, 'y TO two re;
and one-hali tons. per, knot. and, as cable
+ generally :. laid , s,m yh,ns ~ x. from
even IL these Government vessels should not
be employed. there are many vessels flying the
American flag which could be converted into
construction, The core Of such a cable is
generally made IN hundred mile lengths,
Amnl nnnnnr UtrAg twiGfnd or hFnitpd
together. form the conductors around that
is an insulating compound, either OF
STttI is r pIassa a jS ST bseadadhinns. wh1eS acts G ns q
projection TO the insulating material. and then
an armor Of galvanized steel, wire IL wrapped
nronnd' ana The whole r thing t. again projected
OF course. varies according TO the depth Of the
water in which It is employed. A cable laid In
s Seo9eh y, wH tS n mTst De a y"Ty bs ssTlSaa 10 on ,hs small mall
face for repairs. &c. whereas. the shore ends.
In shoal water. are very heavily armDred. rs the
water pressure does not preyen, easy handling
and their proximlt ~ 70 the Ihnd increases the
danger from accident.
American manufacturers have proved their
ability to make 4 heGp sea G HSeIs OF the most
ing speed that would be better than any that
can be- made abroad. And this is natural. rs
our people excel foreign mnnHiacturers u al
they have gone. Al to the time in which a
Transatlantic cable can he built: There are
several responsible manuluctlTefS who Will
guaranteed the Government that they can make
and lay tn" frat span to Honolulu ia niteen
months from tho date OF receiving the order;
that is the limit OF time mentioned In several
OF the bills now pending before Congress, and
Il as quick as It could be secured from foreign
makers.
Government by having this cable, built here
and laid under the American flag. the question
OF cost should be entirely a secondary consid-
Grafton. In the first place; the conditions Of
the Presidents recommendation can only be
arried out by having tho cable built here. He
stated to Congress TINT connection With our
snch n way as 10 be- wholly under the control Of
the United states. whether IN timeo Of peace or
Of var Certainly, t and M ycpoy! n ,atons our ai che me
cable should no. Only be on soil controlled by
c,bIe. 10 repair II. II II is broken by accident or
an enemy. and to extend II without looking for
foreign assistance. We learned in the Spanish
most as Of much importance as good range
Hnders or Q smokeless powder. or ships: and