THE VOGEL-MICHIE SCHEME OF CABLE COMMUNICATION.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1306, 27 May 1878, Page 3

THE VOGEL-MICHIE SCHEME OF CABLE COMMUNICATION.

A good deal haa lately been said of the Yogel-Michie scheme of icable communication with Eui’ope, and some particulars of the proposal were transmitted by cable. The “ Argus ” supplies the subjoined summary of its main features. The scheme has been put aside by the Cable Conference, but it will nevertheless bo interesting to readers to learn its precise nature. The Cable Conference has before it, in addition to the proposal made by Colonel Glover on behalf of the Eastern Extension Company, the memorandum prepared by Messrs Michie and Yogel on the subject of duplicating telegraphic communication with Europe. The paper prepared by these gentlemen has been printed and circulated among the delegates. Their proposal was that the Australian Governments should join and obtain a cable system of their own, as they already have a land system. The cable of the Eastern Extension Company from Port Darwin to Singapore is to be purchased for £600,000, the New Zealand cable for £290,000, and the Tasmanian cable for £70,000. The second cable they propose should be laid from Normanton to Singapore, or if laid from Singapore to Port Danvin, should bo connected by a land line with the Queensland system. This second cable would cost, it is estimated, £658,000. It would be necessary to duplicate communication with New Zealand and Tasmania, and this would be done by connecting the two islands, so that if the direct New Zealand cable was injured, messages could be sent via Tasmania, and vice versa. This connecting link would cost £200,000, making the total capital required £1,810,000, or an annual charge at 4 per cent, of £72,400. Messrs Michie and Yogel insist upon duplicating the Australian land lines in order to lower the charges. South Australia at present receives Is 5d for every word from Port Darwin, and the agents-general write —“ We do not say that the charge is unreasonable considering the expense and risk South Australia is subject to, but, clearly, it is altogether inconsistent with cheap telegraphy.” Ordinary messages, they point out, are curried to Normanton for Id per word, and the Queensland Government has always been ready to take cable messages at 4d per word. At this latter rate they propose the messages should be carried across the continent, South Australia to receive an allowance of £IO,OOO per annum for the loss in consenting to these terms. The cables from Singapore to Madras, they assume, can be hired for Australian business for £IB,OOO per annum, and they submit a table of receipts showing that with this arrangement the Australian Governments could bring out 6s per word messages, subject to a loss or subsidy of £20,000 per annum. This scheme is officially before the conference, and as we have already indicated, one leading member of the body is inclined to regard it as satisfactory in principle, though susceptible of modification in detail.