Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/238

ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH. interested not only in this scheme, but also in a project of a trans-Atlantic cable, which he pushed with vigor. The Government of Newfoundland conferred on the company exclusive rights of landing a cable upon its coast, and privileges were also obtained from the governments of Prince Edward's Island, Canada, and the State of Maine. An unsuccessful attempt to lay a cable across the Gulf of Saint Lawrence was made in 1855. but in the following year this work was accomplished satisfactorily, and one link in the chain completed. The next question was that of the main cable from Newfoundland to Ireland along a route which had previously been surveyed by American and British war vessels, and which, on account of its comparatively shallow depth, was called the Telegraphic Plateau. Extensive tests meanwhile were made to determine the character of the cable, and the many problems involved were discussed with interest by eminent engineers and electricians, many of whom declared the laying and operation of the cable to be impossible.

Through the efforts of Mr. Field, and with the aid of Liverpool and London capitalists, the Atlantic Telegraph Company was formed, with a capital of £350,000, and assistance in the form of subsidies (£14.000 per annum during the operation of the cable was promised by Great Britain); and ships for laying the cable were secured from the governments of Great Britain and the United States. In the first board of directors were William Thomson, who was the electrical engineer of the company, and John Pender; the former, afterwards Lord Kelvin, becoming widely known in the scientific world, while the latter was subsequently interested in the construction and laying of many ocean cables. The conductor, which was prepared under certain specifications, consisted of seven fine copper wires, each of No. 22 gauge, twisted together so as to form a cord which was one-twelfth inch in thickness, and weighed 107 pounds per nautical mile. This was covered with three layers of gutta-percha, over which was a coating of hempen yarn saturated with pitch, tar, beeswax, and boiled linseed oil. The sheathing consisted of 18 strands, each formed by seven No. 22 iron wires, making the entire cable about six-tenths inch in diameter, and its weight one ton to the mile.

This cable, when completed, was divided in two equal portions, and loaded on the U.S.S. Niagara and H.M.S. Agamemnon, which were loaned for this purpose by the respective governments, and suitably equipped. A start was made from Valentia, a port on the west coast of Ireland, on August 6, 1857, and the cable was paid out from the Niagara until a break occurred and the end was lost. At this early stage of cable-laying, such a misfortune served to put an end to the attempt, and the vessels returned to Plymouth, where the cable was stored and protected. Additional capital was raised by the company, 700 miles of new cable constructed, and another attempt was essayed in the following year. Instead of laying the cal)le directly from the Irish coast, the Niagara and Agamemnon proceeded to mid-ocean, where they joined the ends of their respective cables and then steamed in opposite directions. Again misfortune attended the expedition, and owing to a double break 144 miles of cable were lost. Notwithstanding these mishaps, another start was made July 17, and on July 29, 1858, the two vessels separated, as a result of good fortune and careful management, they succeeded in landing safely the ends of the cable on the Irish and Newfoundland shores. On August 17 complete connections of the cable with the receiving instruments and land wires were made and the following message w-as sent over the wire: "Europe and America are united by telegraph. Glory to God in the highest; on earth, peace and good-will toward men." Messages and replies from Queen to President, and between other officials followed, and the event was celebrated enthusiastically on both sides of the Atlantic. The station at Newfoundland was connected with the general telegraphic system of America, and that at Valentia with the British and European lines.

The commercial success of the Atlantic cable was early demonstrated, as an order for the departure of two regiments from Canada was countermanded, saving the British Government about $250,000, while the intelligence received by cable of the collision of the steamers Europa and Arabia saved the commercial world at least $250,000 that otherwise would have been spent in extra insurance. Owing to the use of currents of too high potential, the cable soon became impaired, and after September 1st it was found impossible to transmit messages; while after October 20 no signals whatsoever passed over the cable. For several years there were no further attempts at laying an Atlantic cable; but Mr. Field was still active in furthering the enterprise and enlisting new capital. During this time a number of cables were laid in Europe and Asia, and improved methods of construction, testing, and operation were being developed. As a result of Mr. Field's efforts, which during these years were unremitting, more capital was subscribed, the company reorganized, and an improved cable, heavier and of greater conductivity, was manufactured. To lay this cable the steamer Great Eastern (q.v.), then and for many years the largest vessel afloat, was secured and special cable-tanks and machinery fitted to it. On July 23, 1805, the Great Eastern sailed from Valentia and successfully laid over a thousand miles of the cable, which was under test for the entire trip. At this point, however, a break occurred and the cable parted. Various attempts were made to pick up the cable with grappling appliances, which, though demonstrating the possibility of being able to find and raise to the surface a submerged cable, were not attended with success. For another attempt further capital was necessary, and the Atlantic Telegraph Company was practically amalgamated with the newly formed Anglo-American Telegraph Company. Again the Great Eastern set forth from Valentia, carrying not only a new cable of improved design, but also a sufficient length to complete the 1865 cable, which was to be discovered and a new length laid from the splice. In both attempts the engineers on the Great Eastern were successful, and on .July 27, Heart's Content Harbor, Newfoundland, was entered, and the cable was soon landed and connected with the shore. The Great Eastern then returned to mid-ocean, and after a series of trials found the broken cable and completed the circuit to Newfoundland. With two working cables, the success of the enterprise was assured, and they were soon in steady use, the rate of transmission of messages