The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-07

pany two years ago and who, it was
recently reported. called on President
Roosevelt to enter his protest against
the granting of landing privileges to
that or to any other company. He be-
Heves that the commerce of the Pacific
Will warrant the immense outlay that
the construction of a cable would in
Volve, and also that the government
would benefit UNNECESSARILY not only
by the saving in tolls, but by its free
dom from oversight and hamperlng re-
strictions in time of war.
A bill was reported to the last Con-
gresS by the house committee on inter-
state and foreign affairs providing for
the construction of cable connecting
the west coast of the United States
with the Philippines via Honolulu and
Guam, authorizing the postmaster gen.
eral to advertise for bids and guaran-
teeing that the government would pay
not to exceed 100000 annually for
twenty years. 1t was urged against
this bill that the payments as pro-
passed, aggregating S6,000,06Q would be
equal to more than half the expense
of construction; but the latest PROPOSE
ton, by private corporation, is, 1t is
understood, to construct the cable
without any concession from the gov
eminent except for landing stations on
the shores of the United States and
our eastern possessions. The system
is to be maintained without cost to the
government, which is to have the right
of way in time OF war and the privilege
of sending messages at a reduction of
from 40 to 60 per cent from present
rates. The line to Honolulu, 1t is
agreed, shall be open and in running
order within nine or ten months after
the commencement of the work.
It is estimated that the United States
government has expended al of $500, 900
annually since the Philippines came
ffNNv-r
which will probably be continued in the
future for some time to come. The cost
of a cable message to and from Manila,
regular rate, is 81. So per word, includ-
ing address; to the government from
SI.IO to 81 SIS per word. To Yokohama
either by the northern route through
Siberia, or by the southern, via the
Indian ocean and the Mediterranean
The business rate to Hongkong is $L6o
per word.
The line to Honolulu. it is claimed.
can be constructed for about 81. 500, 900.
and maintained at an annual cost of
$40, 900, not including repairs and reck-
oning the life of q cable at twenty
years. The average cost of q subma-
rine cable such as would be required
in the Pacific is estimated at from
81 900 TO 81 POO per mile. The estimate
on the cost Of the proposed British
cable from Australia TO British Column
bia- was about s.. 500. 900. The average
depth was given as about 5000 faith
oms, which exceeded, II was stated, the
depth Of any cable then laid. The av-
erage depth along the central route is
from two and one-half TO three miles. !
There were 800 submarine cables, /
with a total length of about lis, 600
miles, at the beginning Of this year, or
nearly enough 10 seven times girdle the
globe, and yet, as already stated, not |,
one trans-Pacific cable in existence. OF /
the total cable mileage the various !
governments Of the world owned about |
France leading with 5000 !
miles; Germany being second with /
I. 225; Great Britain, 1000: Spain, 1900. 1
and Japan, 1900 miles. Indirectly, !
Great Britain controls and practically
OWNS vastly more mileage than is Civ /
IN in the statistics.
power which at the opening of this |
century owned no submarine cables: |
but, having come into possession Of /
Rico and the Philippines, this govern (
cables In the latter islands, General |
Greedy being at present engaged in /
aging them on the finely equipped ca /
Die ship Burnside. Having through |
'orce Of circumstances become q cable !
owning nation. II remains to be seen /
whether the United States will embark I
more extensively in the venture. The |
question will probably be settled by /
he forthcoming Congress.
Gilbert .. WOODSoN- /