New-York tribune., 1904-10-10
THE ALASKA CABLE.

The completion Of the telegraphic cable from
Valdez 10 Sitka, giving all settled parts OF
Alaska direct communication with the United
States, Is an interesting incident from several
points Of view. 1t is well, Of course, to have
Alaska and all our outlying possessions tele-
graphically connected with this country in en-
tire independence OF other lands. Sixty years
ago we were cut of from ali hope Of having
Alaska contiguous part Of our territory. We
may never be able 10 reach il overland save by
crossing alien soil. But access viii always be
open by way of the high seas, and now there is
telegFephic connection by the same inviolable
route.
The incident is also rich in remlniscence. 1t
miRht-or might nOt-be too much 10 say that
20 a telegraphic enterprise we owed our acqui-
Eition Of Alaska. Assuredly such an enterprise,
though an unsuccessful one. contributed much
70 she faclltation and expedition Of that achieve
ment II was in the middle 60s that the West
ern Union Telegraph Company. lacking faith I'm
or patience FOR a Transatlantic cable set out
20 build an overland telegraph line 10 Europe
by way Of Alaska and Siberia. and sent ont
parties Of engineers 10 survey the route. Incl
dentally il may be recalled that Mr.. George
KEENAN, was among those sent, and thus the
way was opened and the inspiration was given
FOR his revelations Of Russian affairs. The COM
lt-A8 81 w AAe AAet lptt AZ kHySS IfsADlS ni
January /. 1867, and is said 10 have spent some
millions of dollars, after which it abandoned the
undertaking. But its plans attracted attention
20 Alaska The American Russian Ice Com
pany was formed, aud presently made hand
some offer 10 Russia for & transfer Of the char
Ter OF the old and mOribund Russian-American
Company. Finally. William II. Stewards atten-
ton was attracted. he concluded that If a COM
pany could afford 10 lease Alaska the United
States would find it a profitable purchase. and
the result was thar early morning treaty Of
March 30, 1861. authorized fsom ST Petersburg
over the Atlantic cable which had defeated in
advance the proposed Alaska telegraph line.
The failure of that telegraph project might
well have served as n warning against later
schemes Of a railroad over the same route. nut
did not II Is. Of course. possible that some day
such railroad may be built, but il must be re-
Garded as most improbable. II direct connec-
tion could be made between the western termi-
nus Of one Of our Pacific railroads and the
Russo-Siberian road at Dalny or Nladfvostol,
there might be some utility and profit in it.
though even then il is obvious that in going from
New-Nork 10 any point in Russia or 10 anv point
west Of mid-Siberia tiase would he saved hv
crossing the Atlantic. But we must remember
that from the terminus OF our Pacific road st
Seattle there are two thousand miles 10 be
traverSed, through nineteen degrees Of latitude
and forty-ive OF longitude. before Behring Strait
is reached Then On the Asian side of the strait
fhere are more than another two thousand miles
70 oe fTaVersed before the nearest point on the
siberian railroad is reached. Then there are
Your or I'VE thousand miles more before the Eu-
ropean goal Is reached. Not over such weary.
oreary route win travel go from New-YorR 10
Paris or from New-York TO ST. Petersburg; not
until the building and navigating of ocean
STEAMSHIPS become lost arts
-" DAal AlahhaD Telegraph scheme was for
a. otsliano me as a substitute for an Atlani!c
N1ssN' ~ was abandoned. and the Atlantic
cable was successfully laid. The second scheme
vas for cable lOOped from point 20 point along
me Alaskan and Siberian coasts as substitute
-pF one straight acrnss the Pacific That. 100.
was abandoned. and the Pacific cabIe was sue.