Year: 1865




The present Atlantic cable is just tweGty-
three hundred nautical miles, OF in rough
numbers about twenty-sx hundred miles
long. The central conductor ia composed of
seven fine copper wires, twisted into one
complete strand, which is insulated with Chat
terton's compound. Outside this come four
distinct layer of gutta percba, each also in.
sulated with the same material that incloses
the conductor. Outside the gutta percha
again are wound seven stout iron wires, each
Of which, before being twisted on, is itself
carefully wound round with strands of hemp
soaked with tar. Thus, then, there are no
less than twenty-five thousand miles of cop
per wire in the conductor, about thirty-Hye
thousand miles Of iron wire in the outside
covering, and upward Of four hundred thou
sapd miles Of strands of hemp-more than
enough 10 all to go twenty times round the
world.


The cable has been made on an average at
the rate Of seventeen miles per day complete,
and in some days its outside covering of
hemp and iron has been overlaid at the rate
of one hundred and seventy-three miles a day
though not tathom or foot has been man-
ufactured without every part being kept under
constant test for "eonductivity" and insula.
tion, and to this hour it is regularly tested as
it was year ago, when the first mile was
twisted. In strength the cable is equal to
bearing strain of seven and thre e.d arters
tons, while its specific gravity is 80 low that
It can with safety be depended on to support
eleven miles OF its length in water II has
been made mile by mile, Joined up in long
lengths of seven and eight hundred miles and
shipped on board the Crest Eastern 10 10 three
enormous tanks


The first will hold coil of six hundred
and thirty miles OF cable, the second one Of
eight hundred and forty, and the third, one
OF eight hundred and thirty. Five hundred
miles have still to be slowed away on board,
and it will take fortnight to complete this
work, though the last mile of the coil will
come through the machines of the telegraph
works at three clock on Monday next All
three tanks are kept filled with water, aud
when each is stored with cable as well, the
ends of the wire will be Joined up, and a con.
slant system of signals kept through every
part from the momert the expedition starts
till the cable is laid. The mere cable, how.
ever is but an item in the mass of heavy
weights the great Eastern will have to carry
on this occasion. Her draught OF water will
be rather over than under thirty feet, and, all
told, her weights, when starting from Valeu.
tia, will come near the stupeudons mass of
eighteen thousand tons. They are alt, how.
ever, slowed high, and So according to
present arrangements, it is believed that the
Great Eastern will start in the very early part
of July, and certainly If possible, not later
than the 10Th.


! With her will also sail Her Majestys ship
Terrible, and another paddle wheel steam
frigate Of great power not yet chosen, but
which, like the Terrible, will give towing aid
to the Great Eastern in case of mishaps to her
machinery, either screw or paddle. Every
care has been taken to get these engines into
the highest state of good working order but
it cannot be denied that the very possibility
OF their breaking down s looked upon With
something like anxiety They will certainly
not be overtasked, as it 10 intended, if posi-
Bile, not to let the vessel go beyond speed oI
six knots minimum of velocity which il
will be difficult to keep to if steerage way is
wanted quickly, and which will, we think, be
found absolutely impossible to retain in sea
way. s.ns tl