Year: 1870

worse perils than Austrian invasion


The Pacific Submarine Telegraph Project.
We are so accustomed to hear Of grand pro-
jects for connecting continents thousands of
miles apart by the telegraph, for spanning con-
tinents by railroads thousands of miles in
length and of cutting magnificent water ways
through the solid earth from one great ocean
to another that we are no longer surprised at
any project, however stupendous 1t may be.
Had any one proposed few years ago to have
connected Asia with America by telegraph
cable under the Pacific Ocean he would have
been ridiculed or shut up in an asylum as
insane. The project for laying the Atlantic
cable was long deemed visionary and imprac-
ticable one, and when it was accomplished
| the world opened its eyes with astonishment:
yet the distance between the two points of Ire
land and America where the cable terminates
is less than two thousand miles. Now il is
| proposed to lay cable or cables six th ousand
miles or thereabout under the vast Pacific
Ocean. We have no doubt the scheme is prac-
ticable and believe it will be carried out.
Hardly anything is impossible in this wonder
full age of science and enterprise.


| A bill ito incorporate the Pacific Submarine
Telegraph Company and to facilitate tele-
| graphic communication between America and
Asia" is already before Congress, and it is
favorably regarded by both houses. This bill
will be passed, probably, at an early day, and,
looking at its provisions, we see no reason why
| it should not No subsidy or loan of money
from the government is asked There is to
be grant Of public lands to the COM
pany if it carries out and when it has
carried out the project. In the abstract of
the bill before us the quantity of public lands
is left blank. We suppose, however, pretty
large slice will be demanded and granted.
Nor can it be expected that the projectors of
the Pacific Submarine Telegraph and their as
sociates are not going to make money if they
can out of the government. II is a great en-
terprise, and requires vast capital, and Of
course people will not run risks in such a
matter without some tempting considerations.
Still, there is no necessity for Congress to be
too lavish with the public lands. We are
parting with this precious inheritance of the
people very rapidly to railroad and other cor
porations. In fact, Congress has been far too
lavish, and has not had in view the wants and
welfare of the people in the future. In any
grant of lands to the Pacific Submarine Tele-
graph Company, or to any company hereaf-
ter, provision should be made to prevent set
tiers being charged high price for these
! of -
the hands of few.


The whole policy of the government should
be to create as many landed proprietors
with small or moderate sized farms among
the working classes as possible, and to SEE
that the lands can be had at reasonable rate


The bill incorporating the company provides
also that the government shall lend the aid OF


vessels of the navy for sounding and exploring
the Pacific and for laying the cables. This il


proper. Our naval ships have to be cruising
somewhere, and they could be put to no bette


or more usefu! purpose.


Mr.. Cyrus W. Field seems to be the prime
mover in the project, and by this bill he il


made, with all other persons who shall or ma.
be associated with him, body polite ant
corporate under the title of the Pacific Subma


rine Telegraph Company. Mr.. Field has beer


very successful in large telegraph and cabl'
enterprises, and understands well what he il


about. We have no doubt, therefore, that b


can raise the means and will carry ou


the work. When accomplished it will


prove of great Importance in developin,
and increasing our trade and intercourse wit


Asia. It will be one Of the most eficen
steps to revive our depressed mercantil


marine and foreign commerce, and will ten,
more than anything else to make this country


what it ought to be, the first in commercia
business with China, Japan, and other part


of Asia. Since the war we have lost many
the commercial advantages, particularly wit


regard to the carrying trade, which we he'll


with Europe, and it will not be easy to recove
them But from our geographical positio
this loss and increase our commerce and carry
.. ing trade with Asia, with the West Indie


and with the Continent of America, if we seiz


the opportunities within our reach. One
the first things to do is to establish by telt
) graphs instant and constant communicate
with Asia and those other countries, for th


telegraph is the great stimulant to and pre-
moter of trade. We say to Congress, the1
let us have the Pacific telegraph without delay
The Wrath of Tammany.


Mr.. Pope begins his English rendering
sHomer's Iliad' with these two suggestiv