PROPOSED SOUTH ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 199, 8 January 1866, Page 2

PROPOSED SOUTH ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.

The following relates to a proposed route for a telegraphic cable to connect Europe with North, South, and Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies : — " Langham Hotel, Portland Place, October 20. " Sir, — A letter has lately been published about ! telegraphic communication between Europe and I America, in which it was stated that the British j public had comparatively less interest in whiat is called " the Southern Lihe.' I " I hope in British interest you will allow me to point out that this: idea is unfounded, and that England would be speedily benefited by this line of telegraphic communication. " The Southern line is not a new and ill-con- ! sidered scheme. So long ago as 1854 I projected this line, and from that time to the present I have brought the scheme before persons immediately interested it it, and it has met with universal approval. I have obtained concessions from several Governments,. and all along the route important local co-operation is freely and earnestly offered. Both economically and politically the proposed line is of the utmost importance to this country. "Is it not important that England should be in telegraphic communication with her colonies ? Is it not important that the merchants and manufacturers of England should be brought into the quickest possible communication - -n-itb. .A-me-rica, Australia, and the East and West Indies ? Both of these invaluable results will be attained by the Southern Line.. " The object of my enterprise is to establish telegraphic communication between Europe, North, South, and Central America, between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, to bring the East and West Indies in direct communication with America, Austraha, and Europe. A very grand scheme, you will say. So it is. But it is in all respects feasible. It involves no scientific problems, and presents no engineering difficulty. Moreover,, it is a scheme that will pay. . " The South Atlantic cable would start from the most westerly point of the old world, and would cross the ocean to the new world at itsnarrowest point. The route would be from Cape St. Vincent to the Madeira and Canary Islands,, to Cape Blanco (African coast), to Cape Verde Islands, to Penedo de San Pedro, Fernando Noronha, Cape St. Rogue, Guiana, Trinidad, and the other West India Islands, to Key West, and thence with two branches to Mexico and the Isthmus of Panama, to be merged into the North, South, and Central American telegraph system. Every West India island wiil join in the universal telegraphic communication. " I presume I need not dilate on the advantages thafc would accrue from such a scheme. Every merchant knows that the Southern Line would pass though the centres of the largest commerce, besides effecting the great purpose of joining the old world to the new. "The following are the lengths of the sections of the South Atlantic cable crossing the ocean, in English statute miles : — Cape Blanco (African coast) to Brava of Cape Verde Islands 682 Brava to Penedo de San Pedro ... 1,000 Penedo to Fernando Noronha 392 Fernando Noronha to Cape St. Rogue (Brazil) — ... 226 " Thus by far tho longest section is 1000 miles, and I hope this can be shortened. But, assuming that it cannot be divided, we know that 1000 miles do not form an engineering difficulty, for that length is 200 miles shorter than the length of cable that was lately successfully laid in the Atlantic by the Great Eastern. " From a scientific point of view, the scheme is manifestly feasible. I may, however, remark that ifc is practicable and easy to lay the cable all the year round, and it is nofc necessary to wait for a special season to lay or repair it. "Now, as to the commercial prospects. Will the South Atlantic cable pay? Irrespective of the large business there wili be a hundred feeders for the Southern Line- from every quarter of the earth, and this local business will not interfere with the main line, additional wires can be added whenever and wherever they are wanted. I thinkthat any one who considers the project in all its bearings will be convinced that aa enormous business will accrue to the Southern Line, and thafc this scheme is in all respects thoroughly productive. "About being able to make this line there is no more, doubt than about being able to make a railway inEngland. No accident can- > stop the business for a year; no accident can stop the entire business for an hour,-- |. though if any section depends on one ! cable, a portion of the business might be f interrupted for a short time. "The Governments of France, Spain, Denmark, and the several Governments of America have offered their support and to do all they can to forward the enterprise. The Legislature of the West Indies have voted subsidies, and theSpanish Government has promised to me a subvention. Nor can I doubt that England will uphold the enterprise, for she is most interested in it. Look at her trade with America, the East andthe West Indies, and Australia? The Southern - Lines will connect with these depots. Consider the vast amount of British shipping which by the Southern lines will be pufc into prompt communication with its owners. ■ - . I " The Southern Lines, by bringing the exchange ] of Europe telegraphically near to the gold-pro*

ducing countries, will prevent those violent fluctuations in exchange which are now so frequent and so injurious to the commercial community. "The countries most directly interested hi the establishment of these submarine lines are — " Great Britain — for her possessions hi British Guiana, Trinidad, Granada, St. Vincent, Antigua, Nevis, St. Cristobal, Jamaica, and Bahama, and for her trade in America, Australia, and the East and West Indies ; " France — for her possessions in French Guiana, Martinique, and Guadaloupe ; " Spain — for her possessions in Canary Islands, Porto Rico, and Cuba ; " Portugal — for her possessions in Madeira and Cape Verde Islands ; " Brazil — for her trade with Europe and North America ; "Holland — for her possessions in Guayanne, Island of Saba, ancl Dutch Antilles ; " Denmark — for Santa Cruz and St. Thomas ; " Mexico — for her trade with Europe. "In concluding this letter, wliich I hope will direct the attention of the English pubhc to the advantages of the South Atlantic cable, I will quote a paragraph from a pamphlet I published ih 1863 on TelegrapJiic Submarine Lines between Europe and America : — " ' If the sums winch might have been saved, since 1858 alone, by a telegraphic line between Europe and America, to nations and individuals — if the services which would have been rendered to Government, and to manufacturing, shipping, and commercial interests — if the lives which would have been spared, both in wars and on the seas — if all these could be estimated, the world would be astonished at the figures in thousands of millions of dollars wliich have been lost to the pubhc wealth ; and would be convinced that in the present age there is no enterprise more economical, more useful, and more humane than the universal submarine telegraph.' " I am, sb?, your obedient servant, " Artubo de Maecoabttt, M. Inst. CE. Grantee of the South Atlantic Cable."