The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-12-26

series OI COQueCJlug CdDl0S, 10 Al1Skd anu
the Orient by the northern route. 1t is
earnestly hoped that despite the pres
sure of manifold business, this measure
may be adopted and speedily carried into
execution.
The subject of Pacific cable has re-
ceived more or less public consideration
through past years; but though the At
lantic is underlaid with score of cables
in active use, none as yet underlie the
broad Pacific. Commercial bodies have
talked about the matter, officers of our
army and navy have discussed it, and
divers bills have been introduced in con-
gress about it, yet it is only recently
that the enterprise has commanded at
tention, with the appreciation of the
need, and the knowledge of facts and
the earnest purpose required for its &C
complishment.
A cable by southern route from San
Francisco to Honolulu, and thence via
Guam to Manila, is advocated and
pressed on the public attention. And
already the Commercial Pacific Cable
Company, with capital stock of $780,
GOO "a mere bagatelle of the cost, has
been incorporated at Albany, N. Y, by
John w. Mackay and others, acting in
the interest of the Postal Telegraph
Cable Company, for the purpose OF lay
ing cable about {, 500 miles long on
licenses and concessions are being sought
therefor. That the commerce of the
Hawaiian islands demands telegraphic
communication admits no doubt, and a
cable will surely be laid at no distant
day from San Francisco to Honolulu.
But the surveys and soundings made,
and the facts already ascertained demon.
strate the vast superiority of the north
ern route for such cable via Alaska, the
Aleutian islands and Japan to the Phil
ippines. Thereto connecting branches
can be laid to the Asiastic ports. This
superiority is based on shortness of dis
tance, shallowness of waters, economy
of cost of construction and maintenance
and efficiency in operation.
The very interesting and instructive
literature on this subject, conceding and
emphasizing its governmental, CONNER
cial and social importance, has put the
two routes in direct contrast with com
parison of facts and figures that show
conclusively the greatly superior advan-
tages of the northern route. Space for.
bids our entering into details from re.
ports OF our army and navy officers and
electrical experts, but an examination ol
globe reveals what maps conceal; and
the fact that the links Of cable by the
southern route would necessarily be
three or four times as long as those ol
the northern route, taken in connection
with the accepted rule of electricians that
the efficiency of cable in transmission
of intelligence is inversely in proportion
to the square of its length, settles the
question. A cable 900 miles long car
do approximately nine times the busi
ness of one 5000 miles long. It is stated
by high authority that the links between
Puget sound and Manila would be only
about 800 miles long. Such cable would
give as direct and independent commu
lnication with Alaska, matter of trans
cendent importance, both for govern
mental and commercial purposes. Pro
ceeding by proper stations along thu
Aleutian islands via Dutch Harbor, sucf
cable would extend to Japan, and Themes
to the Philippines, with unlimited c.
pacity Of connecting branches to Siberia
Korea, China, Siam and India.
# our national Legislators rise to thu
full measure Of their duty and opportu
nifty this subject will be fully investseats(
with speedy results Of cables both from
California to the Hawaiian Islands. anf
from Puget Sound to Alaska, the Philip
pines and the Orient. Then will our ex
| panding commerce Of the Pacific &
America ships. with the 'sopen door
maintained in Asia, exemplify the nota
be saying Of Thomas II. Benton, point