Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-12-12
THE PACIFIC CABLE,
Arrangements Completed for Laying Line
Across the Ocean.

f<TauSStuSuO NOmpiGtGO TOT LAYING Line
Across the Ocean.
During the fall of 1901 . communi-
cation was addressed to the Secretary
of State asking whether permission
would be granted by the President to
a corporation to lay a cable from q
point on the California Coast to the
Philippine Islands by way of Hawaii.
A statement of conditions or terms
upon which such corporation would
undertake to lay and operate a cable
was volunteered.
Inasmuch as the Congress was
shortly to convene, and Pacific cable
legislation had been the subject OF
consideration by the Congress for sew
eral years, it seemed to me wise to de-
fer action upon the application until
Congress had first An opportunity to
act. The Congress adjourned without
taking any action, leaving the matter
in exactly the same condition in
which it stood when the Congress con-
vened.
Meanwhile it appears that the Com
mercial Pacific Cable Company had
promptly proceeded with preparations
for laying its cable. 1t also made ap-
plicaticn to the President for access 10
and use of soundings taken by the
United States steamship Nero. for the
purpose Of discovering practicable
route for q trans-Pacific cable, the
company urging that with access to
these soundings it could complete its
cable much sooner than if it were re-
quired to take soundings upon its own
account. Pending consideration of
this subject, it appeared important and
desirable to attach certain conditions
to the permission to examine and use
the soundings, ii it should be granted.
In consequence Of this solicitation
Of the Cable Company, certain condi.
tions were formulated, upon which
the President was willing to allow
access to these soundings and to con-
sent to the landing and laying of the
cable, subject to any alterations or
conditions thereto imposed by the
Congress. This was deemed proper,
especially as it Was clear that q cable
connection OF some kind with China,
foreign country, was y part OF the
company's plan. This course was,
moreover, in accordance with line OF
precedents, including President Grants
action in the case of the French cable,
explained to the Congress in his an
nual message OF December, 1875. and
the instance occurring in 1879, Of the
second French cable, from Brest to
st. Pierre, with branch to Cape Cod.
These conditions prescribed, among
other things, = maximum rate for
commercial messages and that the
company should construct line from
the Philippine Islands to China, there
being at present, as is we'll known, q
British line from Manila to Hong
Kong.
The representatives Of the Cable
Company kept these conditions long
under consideration, continuing, in
the meantime. to prepare for laying
the cable. They have, however, At
length acceded to them, and an all.
American line between our Pacific
Coast and the Chinese Empire, by way
Of Honolulu and the Philippine Isl.
ands. is thus provided for, and is ex-
pected within . few months to be
ready for business.
Among the conditions is one reserv.
ing the power OF the Congress to
modify or repeal any or all of them.
A copy Of the conditions is herewith
transmitted.
OF Porto Rico it is only necessary to
say that the prosperity Of the island
aud the wisdom with which it has
been governed have been such as to
make it serve as an example OF all
that 10 best in iusular administration.