The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-03
OPEN FOR BUSINESS.


OpcratlOns
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 2-San Fran
cisco and Honolulu are now connected by
cable The first words passed under the
ocean few moments after IL o'clock last
n. yht. The wire worked perfectly.
The silvertown. just before splicing the
ends.s some thirty miles or shore from
Honolulu, telegraphed both ways for the
land stations to wait until lilo o'clock San
Francisco time before trying the cable
That time was desired to insure the per-
feet hardening of the gutta percha in the
splice after the joint should be lowered
overheard from the ship in about $500 feet
OF water.
Operators sat anxiousy and eagerly
about the instruments in King street, at
Honolulu. and in the cable office on Market
street. In San Francisco. waiting for the
time limit to expire. San Francisco was
watching for Honolulu to signal first.
A few moments after IL o'clock before
the time limit was up, signal went from
this end to Honolulu. The first little re-
esco al trem e1acty m:os ocIocR '0 1t Was eH
actly Sal o'clock In Honolulu, the time
difference being two hours and twenty-five
minutes and a few seconds. The first mes
sage received was from Governor Dole.
through Secretary Cooper, to President
Roosevelt. 1t was transmitted at the Mar
ket-street Office TO wire leading directly
TO the executive mansion at Washington,
and receipt was acknowledged at 11:25
O'clock When the message reached the
White House President Roosevelt was
him.
Right after the Dole signature on the
first message came a second through from
pie of Hawaii to Clarence H. Mackay,
president OF the cable company, congratu-
lating him upon the completion Of the cable
and expressing sorrow that John w
Maciay had not survived to see the in
stantaneous bond between the islands and
the American continent. This message was
' the territory ri % Of Hawaii p Then fesa came "a
message from the Associated Press corre-
spondent on the Silvertown. telling of the
celebration of the event i'm Honolulu. The
paper ribbon containing the record of the
first experimental work between San Fran
cisco and Honolulu was cut into little sec
tions OF a few phrases each and divided
among the score of spectators who were
assembled about the instruments when San
Francisco and Honolulu first spoke to each
other under the Pacific ocean.
The line was opened for business to-day
The merchants of San Francisco sent greet
tngs to the merchants Of Hawaii
Clarence H. Mackay sent the following
to Henry E Cooper, secretary of Hawaii
at Honolulu: please accept our sincere
thanks for your kind message of congratu-
lation upon the completion of the Com
mercial Pacific Cable Company's cable to
Honolulu. 1t personally affords me much
qualification that the project undertaken
by my father has been so far accomplished
The work of continuing the cable from your
island to Manila is being vigorously prose-
cuted. and IL is expected that the cable
will be laid and in operation by next Fourth
of July. and that shortly thereafter the
further extension to Shanghai will be COM
pleted.''
To Chief Engineer Benast and staff. of
the cable ship Mr.. Mackay sent the fol-
lowing: Accept our sincere congra tula-
tions upon the successful completion of the
cable to Honolulu. With hearty good wishes
for happy and prosperous new year to
you ALL"