The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-05
Northern Cable Route.

Northern Cable Route.
Gen. Greedy, chief of the United
States army signal service. is on his
way to the Coast. to visit Alaska and |
examine into the work now under way
OF building a system OF military teie-
graph lines all through the Yukon coun-
try. IL that work Is completed within
any reasonable period. It viii settle the
question of the future route Of the pro-
posed cable to the Philippines. because
the advantages OF the new northern
route VIII then become so apparent that
no argument can be advanced against |
II.
Coincident with the building Of the
United States telegraph line up the Yu- |
kon, the Canadian government is build
ing a line from Edmonton 10 Dawson. |
When the two lines meet at the inter-
national boundary there will be through |
Geographic communication between the |
United States and st. Michael and the |
try occupied by mining population.
with open roads and trails at all sea-
sons of the year, so that IL viii be |
no more expensive to maintain than |
any other line. 1t win have commercial |
business sufficient to make II a profit
able Investment. although II has been |
L. ~ ha h,,tt< vx,fl
tary necessity.
From 81. Michael to Dutch harbor will |
require the laying OF but somA six hur-
dred miles of cable. or by utilizing the |
land route few short sections OF ca
BILE In connection with land lines would |
make a comparatively inexpensive line.
From Dutch harbor to Yokohama is
about $500 miles. A single cable. but |
little longer than Is necessary 70 reach |
the Hawaiian islands from San Fran |
cisco. would bridge the gap from Dutch
harbor. In the Aleutian islands, to ia
pan.
II short cables, in combination with |
shore lines. were laid connecting Dutch |
harbor with the Islands AZ the Aieutsan |
group lying the farthest to the west and
south, the scope of cable to be required |
to close the last gap TO Asia would be
very much reduced and the primary
cost Of construction would be mach !
iessened: but the cost oil. maintenance
would probably be slightly Increased.
As no such depth Of water is encounter
ed on this route as has been found on /
the survey OF the line via Hawaii, a
much lighter cable could be used, and |
there would be very much less danger
OF the breaks which are inevitable when
cables are laid in water Of great depth |
when the first attempts were being
made to lay cable across the Atlantic
and successive failures were encouu-
tered. IT was thought for time that
the only practicable route through
which to open up teiegraphtc communal |
cation with Europe was by means OF |
land telegraphie lines across Alaska and
Siberia, with a short stretch of cable
across Boring strait to connect them.
The lire was actually under eonstrac-
tion when the word came that the At
iantic cable had been laid successfully
and was In actual operation The work
on which millions had been expended
WAS forthwith abandoned Now. a gen
GRAFTON afterwards. the most important
portion CT this line IL to be construct
ed as a commercial necessity for the
Inhabitants OF what was then an ice
bound wilderness.
Within n year or so there VIII be
telegraph line established 10 Port
Clarence. just acr0ss Boring strait from
Siberia, and a few miles % cable can
then connect the two centinentx II
ss not necessary TO look very far into
the future To see the bong abandoned
project oace more revived. and the Al
isntie cables having serious crsnpetl-
cor in a land Tine spanning bath con-
tiEsata
Mira Tahn rngn1 en- ~r.,,nA -