The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-15

IGovernment, wrote at that period to the
/ Premier as follows: Whatever route be
followed by the cable across the Pacific,
/ the object will be to bring the group of
Australian Colonies into direct telegraph
lie connection with Canada, and secure a
means of communication between them
land England, independent of all lines
passing through or in proximity to Eu-
rope. Messages will be conveyed by the
new line at lower rates than are now
exacted, and the immediate effect which
must follow its establishment is manifest.
The cost Of telegraphing Che added) be-
tween Australia and England will be re-
Iduced, intercourse will be facilitated be-
tween the sister Colonies and Canada,
and an impulse given to commercial ac-
tivity."
| 1t may be recalled further that in 1885
when the possibility of such a scheme
first began to assume tangible shape, the
Agents General for the Colonies, address,
ling Sir Charles Upper, then High Com
missioner for Canada, declared that they
had considered the whole question, and
were of opinion that a substantial COM
Ipany could be formed to connect England
Geographically with Australia, through
Canada and the Pacific Ocean, for total
annual subsidy of G100,000 for a period Of
twenty-five years. half the subsidy to be
of the United Kingdom, India and the
Grown Colonies, and the remainder, in
equal proportions, to Canada, Queens
land, New South Wales. Victoria and
New Zealand, Tasmania and Western
Australia. Six years ago, when an ex-
lpert estimate was prepared Of the busi-
ness to be anticipated from Pacific ca
bic, it was a calculated that the gross
earnings from it's operations during the
first twelve months, reckoned at the low
tariff of Is per word-half the amount, it
lshould be borne in mind, of the existing
Itariff-would be a110,000; for the second
year, e126.5O0; and for the third, s143,-
1000: and it was further computed that
these figures would yield a total surplus
for the first three years of 9154,50
In conversation yesterday a high au-
lthority on the working of submarine tele-
graphs made light of the difficulties of
the projected undertaking, upon which
lemphasis has been laid in certain quar-
ters. Some people," he observed, "seem
to think that there is likely to be danger
Iby reason of the steep gradient in the aD-
lproach to stations like Tanning Island.
for example But, in reality, there is no
cause for fear, and, as a matter of fact.
there is a similar approach to Bermudas,
where a cable has been laid for many
years without any interruption, so far as
I can remember, having been suffered =
The cable, this authority proceeded,
NAL depth in the case of submarine work
Three thousand two hundred fathoms will
be the average depth whereas, as a rule
$500 fathoms, for such purpose, is con-
lsidered deep water. But no difficulty
constructive or otherwise. he added, was
Ito be unprecedented on this score. AS for
the types of cable to be employed he
described them as excellent, and those of
the smallest diameter, it appears, will he
laid where the water is deepest.
Asked as to the time that messages
transmitted over the new system would
be likely to occupy, he replied, after
some consideration, that in his opinion
transmission ought to be effected in
twenty minutes. The question of longi-
tude is difficulty that has always pre-
sented itself in this connection. But here
again, although the same problem neces-
sarily remains, the new scheme will pos
sess a great advantage, inasmuch as mes
sages dispatched from London during
the City's busiest hours-say, from 10
m. to 8 p. m.-will. owing to the differ
ence In the time. have clear road across,
the North American continent, so that
the rate Of transmission during those
hours ought to be very high.
Upon the question Of the advantages
that may be derived by the public from
possible reduction in the cost of trans
hitting messages to the Colonies of Fed
Grated Australasia it is early as We. tc
v.
with reference to the existing tariff of
the Eastern Telegraph Company that it
is arranged upon a sliding SCALE where
by, when specified revenue Is attained
taking a certain average over a period Of
three years, a reduction Is made of ca
per word. Thus, upon Jan. 1 next the
rate, at present as word, will be reiuc-
ed to IS Sd. Under this system the ire
ducible minimum is 2s Cd, but, when II Is
recalled that fourteen years back. when
the question Of laying a cable across the
Pacific was first seriously considered the
tariff was as much as los 10d per word
1t will be recognized that, even as things
are, the public are infinitely better of
now In respect of the cost of cabling to
these distant parts than they could have
hoped to be formerly.
Shipping Notes.
The American ship Charmer, Captain
Davis, is on the way here from Oyster
Harbor
The American schooner Serena
Thayer is expected soon at Kahului,
from Eureka.
The American brig Consuelo, Captain
Page, is out from San Francisco seven
teen days for Mahukona.
Another vessel about due is the
barkentine John Smith, twenty-five
, days out of Port Blakeley.
The American bark Mohican, Captain
nelly, Luz I1ouOiulu, ITOIn odn FRANCIS
: co, is out seventeen days.
, The American bark Albert, Captain
Griffiths, is now eleven days out from
. San Francisco for this port
; The bark klikitat is due here from
,, Port Gamble very shortly, having sail
ed from that port nineteen days ago.
The American schooner Honolulu, for
kahului, is about due to arrive there
from Newcastle. She is OUT sIxty-on
days.
The American schooner A. M. Baxter
. Captain Marshall, arrived In port yes
terday afternoon, fortyfour days from
Seattle.
The schooner Honoipu arrived also
!, at Kahului, having sailed from New
:. castle on the 14th of November with
coal. Captain Olsen is her master.
, The American schooner H. c. Wright
. arrived at Kahului on the 10th instant
from San Francisco with a genera
|. cargo, having sailed from that port
on the 18th of last month. Captain
: Nelson commands her