Year: 1873

TRIP OF THE UNITED STATES STEAMER IUSCAR0RA


TO TEST HER NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF


VARIOUS APPLIANCES FOR soUNDING-RoUTE OF


TIE vEssEL-FINAL DEPARTURE


SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 2.-AbOut year since,


bill was passed by Congress favorable TO the laying OF


deep-sea cable from western coast 70 Japan the
most favorable route to be determined by sounding.
The Navy partent selected for the purpose the United
States steamer TuscsrOra then engaged in duty con-
nected with the Darien Survey for an Ineroceanic
Canal. That duty being performed, in obedience to
orders she proceeded with all dispatch Mare Island
Nayy-Yard reaching that place on the 25h OF June.
Work was Immediately begun upon her. and she has
been thoroughly oyerhauled inside aud out Her bat
tery with exception OF two pinch guns was placed
ON shore In store a house scientific purposes was
constructed upon her quarterback, old rigging &c. re-
placed and In fact everything done that would make
her in every respect fully equipped.


Although II Is difficult to explain clearly without dia-
grams the apparatus used for this work. will endeayor
IN give an description of IT, The attachments
70 the sounding lines constructed that upon reach
ing the bottom they will collect some two or three
ounces OF the sediment This brought up in the case
of the Sands cup" by cylindrical sleeve held by
spra spring, over small orlfce In hollow cylindrical
case which the sleeve fits snugly This case Is about
IS inches in length. Upon striking tho bottom the
sleeve is forced up permitting the sand or other sub
stances 10 enter the orace This Is forced into the sand
OF the bottom by weight secured just above the spiral
spring. which is in this two hemspheres OF iron
These are detached aud fall OFF Immediately upon
the lines slackening when the attachment reaches
the bottom. Then. upon running in the line, the
spiral spring the cylindrical sleeve down. cover
ing the orince On the 25th OF july the steam engine
for running in the line received and placed IN posi-


on on the forecastle. Prof ThOmpsons apparatus
also received, a simple but very efficient machine
worked entirely by hand. With this is used 1ne piano
wre capable Of resisting test OF 200 pounds strain
This is wound upon galvanized iron drum with the
axle OF which is connected registering indicator, mark
ing the fahoms the wire on An endless rope Is
passed around the drum to regulate its moton, also
around small Wheel which directly connected with


dynamonleter and the opposite side OF the dee ls
placed small movable block by which the rope may be
tautened slackened As the line Is run out the rope
is tautened that the wire will show strain OF cer-
tain number OF pounds by the dynamometer, aud upon
the attachment striking the bottom this strain will be
suddenly decreased, OF course, by It's weight The
dredging apparatus designed by Commander Geo. f.
Belknap is simply rectangle OF iron The short sides
are round the others wedge shaped around which
are small iron rings, TO which bag or net OF different
S xS or s Ons Sesy
spiral springs so as TO give m some play wheh heces-


On the 9th ut ship reported ready for her trial
trip and for upon the arrival OF the soundinglne
now due from New York. On the llth she steamed down


La Pablo Bay San Francisco, and on the afternoon OF
the 18th took pilot board and went 10 sea- On the
sth about i've miles s. w. from Far Allones, got


frat cast In M fathoms OF water The greatest depth
which bottom was found was lei9 fathoms' over Two


miles, and the temperature OF water at thar depth was
500 F. and the surface 800 At the seventh cast,
line out 10 2ioo fathoms aoont y miles; no
bottom was reached and the line broke On the 18th,
having satisfactorily experlmented with all the different
attachments and apparatus the snip was beaded Tor Ban
Francisco which port she reached that evening


To-day she took her final departure She will proceed
10 Cape Fattery, ard begin her work OF sounding In
great circle passing through that point the AleutaD
islands and Yokohama 1t is doubtful whether she can
proceed unnteruptedy after Oct by that time the
fogs gales and thics weather set iu Still the attempt
will be made The ship has on board about S2Ooo faith
oms OF line, OF which 2i,Ooo fahoms is Itinch car
bonized sounding line.


II the ship Obliged 10 retnrn 70 San Francisco. line
OF sounding will probably be run 10 the Sandwich ISL
apds and thence 10 some point further south this
coast II no insurmountabe obstacle arise the vessel
will Winter In Japan and In the Spring run line OF
soundngs back by way OF the Sandwich Islands TO this
port Then the question 70 the most praecaole route
for q submarine cable will undoubtedly be solved