Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-30
The Pacific Cable.

The journal has been inclined to be-
leve that the cable connecting our
Pacific Coast. with HaWan,
Guam and the Philippines, should be
laid, operated and controlled by the
United States government. If. how
ever, in view of all the circumstances
it should be deemed inadvisable for the
government to so forward with the
work, the next best thing, so far rs
this country is concerned. would be
to have the project carried through
with American capital, by distinctly
American company, with carefully re-
served and guarded government rights
in the way of supervision and service.
The government would be in
position to exact such reason
able concessions in return for
the grant of landing privileges.
There has been no difference OF
opinion in Congress regarding the
desirability of such cable connection;
but a wide divergence of views has eX-
listed as to the best way of obtaining
it, While many have advocated
Government ownership. others have
insisted that il would be wiser to
permit the project to be carried
through by private capital, reservihg
some measure of government over
sight and control.
Just how the matter may be deter
mined remains to be seen. \ few days
ago there was incorporated at Albany,
New York an organization known as
the Commercial Pacific Gable Company.
with a capital stock of 81, 100000.
The members of this company were
John w. Mackay. Clarence H. Mackay.
Edward c. Pratt, Albert Beck, George
w. Ward. Albert 3. Chandler and
William w. Cook.
The names of these men are
sufficient guarantee of their ability to
carry this immense project to sue
cessful conclusion. In speaking OF
the aim of his company Mr.. Mackay
said that it had been organized for the
purpose of laying submarine cable
from California to the Philippine is
lands by way of Honolulu in the
Hawaiian islands The length of the
cable will be about $500 miles, the part
1a;l FROM, Cali fOrnla
to the Hawaiian islands. This portion
Mr.. Mackay expects, will be in opera
ton within nine months. The time re-
quired for the laying of the remainder
of the cable from the Hawaiian islands
to the Philippine islands will depend
upon how quickly the cable will be
manufactured, but Mr.. Mackay be
lieves the whole cable will be COM
pleted within two years from this date.
Mr.. Mackay further stated that his
company is willing to lay the cable on
the same terms and conditions at San
Francisco, Honolulu and Manila. SO
far as landing rights are concerned, as
were imposed by the United States
government on the cable lines which
have been landed on the Atlantic
coast of the United States. The new
company does not ask any subsidy OF
any guaranty, which is Mr.. Mackay'
reason for believing there will be nc
trouble in agreeing with the govern
ment on the terms and conditions
upon which the cable will be landed
The new cable. when it reaches the
Philippines, will connect at that point
with the present cable running from
the Philippines to Japan and also tht
cable running from the Philippines t.
China. A direct cable route IRON
China and Japan to the United State!
will thereby be established. At pres
ent cablegrams from China to th'
United States have to be sent by way
of Europe. Mr.. Mackay said that tn
present cable rates from the United
States to the Philippines and to Chin;
and Japan would be reduced, when thu
new cable is laid, from 80 to 60 pc
cent
If the government can make sucl
terms with this company as will proper
ly and permanently safeguard it
interests the chances are that Mr.
Mackay and his associates will hav
no serious difficulty in securing tn
concessions they ask for 1t has lon,
been known that English capital ha
been ready and anxious to carr
through this undertaking but our gov
eminent has been from the first de
termined that in whatever form
might finally be inaugurated it shoul
be from start to finish an America
enterprise
Too often TIE bigger the