The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-05-30
CABLES AND
THEIR COST
Governments Are
Not Making
Success.
PRIVATE CAPITAL
DOES MOST WORK
Germans Have Not Taken Step,
Tor Extension Of Gables
as Yet.

IT ROM what have heard. both
while In san Francisco and from
the technical press. I do not think
there - much To- be expected from the
Possibility mentioned by Congressman
corIiss. as TO the presence OF many ca
bies In the Pacific Ocean" said s. 8.
Dickinson yesterday. while discussing
the probabilities which were mentioned
In the dispatches from Washington II
did hear that there was n chance that
cinc Ocean. TO Join the German pos
sessions This. however. I believe IL
largely In the air.
There would be nothing more natur-
nj ~ the Germans believe that the pos
sessions under their flag In this ocean
are worth holding. that they would
want 20 have them Joined by wire.
There has been. however. not the great
est success attending the laying and
operation OF cables by governments.
For instance. there never would have
been n cable laid In the Pacific Ocean
By the British Government. IL the COM
panies had been willing TO undertake
the project But not one OF the con-
Germs would make any bids for the
laying OF that line. even though there
ern Extension Company perhaps made
an error In the matter. but II was not
until every company had refused that
the government decided that II would
put down the cable itself.
THE state OF affairs In the United
States now In such that IL there was
passed n bill for a Government Pacific
cable IL would take years OF preparing /
for the line. For Instance the making
OF a cable IL n matter for experts.
There would be no way for the building
up OF n mandatory without weaving
away from some OF the established
manufactures the experts who have In
charge the making OF the cable. This
In shown in the care with which the
great makers guard the secrets OF their
business. Unless visitor Is very well
known indeed he Is not permitted TO
see how the gutta percha. for the coat
ing OF the conductors. Is treated.
such n plant as is needed would
mean an Investment OF millions. too.
and IL would seem that the Govern
ment would hardly feel justified In in
vesting such sums. and certainly there
Ia no private corporation In the states
that could hope to earn the interest on
such an investment when the United
States would lay perhaps only one ca
BILE. The business is one which takes
years OF work In the laying OF the
technical grounds for the establishment
and success comes only after many
trials. There are now cables which
were laid at high cost and which have
never been OF great use 20 the con-
structOrs.
since my coming here I have re-
reIved not a word from the East N re-
gard To- the progress OF our work. as
The people there are waiting for my re-
ports as To- what I am doing here.
Meanwhile I can only wait for develop
uents While In san Francisco I saw
! paragraph which said that the Por-
.uguese cables would be- sold to a Ger
nan corporation and there would be-
ater an extension % the cables To- the
German Pacific Islands. This may have
given rise 10 Mr.. Coriiss' remarks.
.annot see. either. why there should
,e any prohibition OF the landing on
american soil OF any foreign cable. and
I'm OF opinion that there would be-
VI NhHENFNN htlAl W
,ose such action
\ recent number OF the Journal OF
he American Asiatic Association has
he following concerning the Pacific
able:
The present condition OF the Corliss
III - briefly this: The House IL rather
ehind in its general work. and the i'm
Ortant business OF the session will oc-
upy the time from now on pretty fully.
here Is every indication that the ca
lie question will not come regularly be-
ore the House since. under existing
IL cannot be brought up
'ithout n special rule which probably
lnnot be had. Should. however. the
Ituation change. and the COrliss bill
ass the House. IL would unquestion-
bly, be allowed TO die in the Senate.
7 the bill does not pass this session
ne cable will presumably be completed
, Honolulu before the opening OF the
ext session. and in face Of such
OF the efficacy Of private
iterprise 10 carry out this great work
iere would be still less excuse than
lere Is now for any interference by