Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-09-14
SWANS ISLAND CABLE.
Government Aid Enlisted in Its Re.
establishment,

Government Aid Enlisted in Its Re-
establishment.
At a public meeting held at
Swans Island on August /, 1921,
at which Capt. William Herrick pre-
sided, the following committee on
cable was appointed: Ernest Van
Zandt, chairman; Stinson Hooper,
Orrin Milan, G.. F. Newman, Seth
Stockbridge.
This committee met in Ellsworth
Tuesday, Aug. 16, in conference
with other representatives. Inter-
ested with this committee were A.
E. Farnsworth, Senator Holt and
Sheriff Wescott of Hancock county.
The urgent necessity of having the
government reconnect the mainland
with Swans Island was presented to
Senator Frederick Hale through his
representatives.
Progress in the matter has been
reported, and it is hoped that salts
factory action will be accomplished
before the next election.
Prior to the World war, commune
cation between the mainland and
Swans Island was had by means Of
a submarine cable approximately
four and one-half miles long, con-
Meeting the telephone systems on the
island with the Western Union.
During the war the United States
government assumed control of the
cable and all the connecting tele-
phone systems, and daily reports
were had by government officials
| from the U. S. lighthouse station at
| Swans Island harbor.
Shortly after the government re-
| linquished control of the cable and
| its connections, some considerable
time after the cessation of wartime
activities, the cable ceased to func-
ton, and ever since has been who'll
| ly out of commission.
Immediate investigation showed
| that the cable was worn out and to-
tally useless. So many breaks were
found in the cable, and insulation
and armor were so worn, that engi-
neers declared the folly of attempt
| ing repairs to the old cable.
| This lack of communication has
become serious detriment to the
| fishing and business interests of all
the cities and towns, especially to
those located on the coast of Knox
and Hancock counties. Agitation
among the people in these sections
has now reached the point where
the situation can no longer be
viewed with indifference or be neg
lected.
The territory served by this cable
includes the towns of Thomaston,
Rockland, Vinalhaven, North Haven,
Stonington, Deer Isle, Camden, Bel
| fact RnpE E11cyorth
lin Sedgwick, Bluehill, fremont and
all the shore towns of eastern Pc
nobscot bay and of Hancock county,
and also interests lying more re-
mote, both east and west This ter
r1tory contains population in ex-
cess of 10000 who operate a fishing
fleet comprising 5000 fishing boats
manned and operated by 5000 fish
ermen.
The fishermen depend upon accu-
rate weather reports and informa-
ton of conditions at sea, especially
on information from the south and
! east, from which come the worst
| storms, for the successful operation
of their large fleet of boats. In ad-
dition to the large fleets in Penob-
scot and Bluehill bays which depend
upon Swans Island for information,
much shipping of the coastwise traf-
| fic, and fishermen from Boston and
Gloucester call at Swans Island in
order to communicate with owners
and with the land bases of opera
tions.
The lobster fishermen especially,
in addition to other fishing inter-
ests, and also the weirmen who fur
nish great quantities of herring and
bait, are suffering now from lack of
cable connection from the main
land to Swans Island through ina
bility to obtain market reports and
prices and instructions for disposal
of their catches.
Then, too, in the case of ship
wreck which in the past has not
been infrequent in the vicinity of
Swans Island, and in case of serious
disaster in the shipping lanes, to dis
cover too late that prompt aid and
succOr had not been rendered be-
cause of lack of cable communica-
ton between the mainland and
Swans Island, would be a public
calamity.
I. B. Gage.
Swans Island, Sept. 8, 1921.