Year: 1868




From the London Times, oct. Is.


The manufacture Of the new Allan
tic telegraph, which is to be submerged
between Brest and a suitable terminus
on the shores Of the State Of New York,
is progressing satisfactorily. The new
cable IS almost identical in eOnstrue-
ton with those which were completed
IN 1868, the only difference being that
the diameter of the conducting copper
core ssiightly greater, and the outside
wires are Of homogeneous Bessemer
steel, galvanized, having a breaking
strain OF about 1000 pounds, while the
wires outside the existing Atlantic
lines having breaking strain of about
500 pounds. The new cable will be
laid in two lengths-One from Brest to
st. Pierre, in deep sea, Of 2,325 miles,
not including slack, and the other
from st. Pierrs, to the terminus Of 122
miles in length, not including slack.
The latter section will be similar TO
the Persian Gulf cable, as it will have
to be laid in comparatively shallow
water, and its exterior wires will be
protected with Bright and Clark's
patent siliceous compound, which
consists principally of powdered flint
and pitch. The construction of the
shore ends will be similar to that of
the existing Atlantic lines, and will
gradually become thinner until they
assume the deep sea dimensions. Du-
ring the summer her Majesty's ship
Gannet took sounding along the pro-
posed route, and from the results of
the operations it is understood that
the bottom of the ocean is nearly the
same in character as the bed in which
the existing cables are laid, and of
about the same depth. Little but
mud and Ooze were found along the
route. In order to avoid the dangers
of injury from rocks and icebergs, the
new line will be laid to the south of
the present cables, below the southern
edge of the Great Bank, so that it may
be laid in deep water. Sir James An
dersOn who will command the great
Eastern during the expedition organ
lied for the submergence of the line,
has made the following observations
regarding the Newfoundland Banks
''By keeping in the 500 fathom line
upon the Milne Bank, and around
the southern edge of the Grand Bank,
there is no possibility of ice or any 9TH
er agency that can be suggested inju-
ring the cable. The northern edge of
the Grand Bank was avoided because
it is uncertain at what depths the ice
bergs ground. They are said upon
good authority, to ground at times in
ninety fathOms. 1t is not certain at
what depth the vessels employed in
the seal trade may sometimes choose
to drop an anchor for the purpose of
keeping in the track ofice-fOes. These
dangers are avoided by the track cho-
sen for the proposed cables, and am
justified by my own experience in
saying that the track from the south
ern edge of the Grand Bank to st.
Pierre, and thence to the place OF Ian
ding in America, is entirely free from
any danger from ice, and does not
cross any anchorage resOrted to by the
fleet of fishing vessels" The breaking
strain of the new steel cable will be "a
tons, and the strain. required for sub
mersiOn need not be more than four.
teen cwt. Even if it at any time be
necessary to haul up any portion Oft
already laid, the strain need not eX-
ceed a ton and half in the deepest
water. The weight of copper forming
the conductor of the existing Atlantic
cables is 800 pounds per knot; in the
new cable it will be about 400 pounds.
The Great Eastern has arrived al
Sheerness, whence she will proceed
with the cable probably in the end oi
next June. After leaving the Midway
she will go to Brest to finish cOaling
and will thence start on the telegraph,
ic expedition.