Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-07-07
PROGRESS OF THE CABLES.

Americans are naturally jubilant
over the realization OF the Pacific cable |
after the years OF delay. They feel, |
and rightly too, that this medium OF
communication will do more to
strengthen our best interests in the
Orient than battleships or armies not.
withstanding the necessity OF armed
power to establish our power and pro-
tect our citizens. While contemplat
ing the magnificent enterprise OF Mac.
kay. however, we are unfortunately
reminded that the American ration rs
such is very much behind the times
In it's cable expansion and its national
equipment to follow up the advance OF
the pioneers who are paving the way
for assuming a commanding position
In the arts of peaceful trade.
Events Of the past few years while
establishing our right to consideration
as world power have also served to
impress the fact that the United States
is still decidedly domestic country
Its official leaders are framing broad
policies which even now do not attract
the vital interests among the people as
whole which the magnitude of future
possibilities warrants. In the single
item OF cable building II must be adj
mitted that our country Is slow, par
/ ticularly when compared with Euro
pean competitors. American millions
! built the cable, earnestly assisted by
such moral support as the Government
could give. Yet the people have not
awakened TO a realization that the es
adjustment of ocean lines OF commune
ication is a legitimate field for Gov
eminent construction, management and
control.
Great Britain has set n leading eX-
ample and Germany. quirk TO see the
advantage gained, is taking up the
work OF establishing its own system OF
cables. During the last seven years,
Germany has laid 1875 miles Of cable,
at cost of over s7,OOUOOO In 1898
cable, 20 miles in length, was laid be-
tween Sassnitz and Trelleborg. and in
1899 German Southwest Africa was
connected with the international tele-
graph system by a cable 1874 miles long.
In 1900 the first German-American
cable between Emden and New York,
via the Azores-a distance of 4,Sl3
miles-was laid. At about the same
I time Germany put down the first Ger
man cables along the Chinese coast,
the cable, the cable Tsintau-Chefoo be-
ing 2S5 miles and that connecting
Tsintau and Shanghai 43S miles long.
| The year 1901 witnessed the laying OF
the fifth cable between Germany and
England. connecting Borkum and Bak-
, tou, a distance OF $50 miles. The tele'
phone cable between Fehmarn and Laa-
land was laid in 1909.
The construction Of second trans
Atlantic cable between Emden and
New York, via the Azores. has been
commenced and 1t will, 1t is expected,
be ready for service before the expira-
ton of the next year. Germany Is
also contemplating an Increase Of her
cable net in eastern Asia and the South
Sea, by constructing cables between
Alenado and Guam and the Palau
Islands and Shanghai.
1t Is said that the growth OF German
interests, both military and CONNER
cial, will in the future require the
building OF more cables by Germany.
independent OF foreign nations. Ger
many now has cable works and two
cable Steamers
1t is to be hoped that, the Pacific
cable is an evidence of the American
awakening, but It must be admitted
that good speed wrll be required in the
, future IL we are to keep the pace
which our international commercial
competitors are setting.