THE FOES OF THE CABLES.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1939, 22 March 1875, Page 4

THE FOES OF THE CABLES.

Robert Stephenson ig on record as saying giat the life of a submarine cable would, not be more than eight years. The cable, between Dover and Calais is, however, 23 years old. The cable from Spezzia to Corsica, lasted from 1854 to 1866,12 years, and then made no further sign. The cable in the Persian Gulf is already 10 years old, and several minor cables have likewise existed for from 10 toillS'yearsli table's have been less fortunate. The wire laid in 1865 has been broken-since March the 11, 1873. An unsuccessful attempt to repair it last fall cost the Company £70,000. A paper on Engineering remarks that there are few cases of cables which, after being submerged safely in the deep water and lasting for years, have then failed and been repaired. -The Falmouth and Gibraltar'laid in 1870, and repaired this year, was found chafed through. at a distance of a 1000 fathoms. The teredo is now the great foe of the submerged line. His inveterate curiosity leads this animal to bore through the gutta percha or other covering, and so destroy the insulation. Cables in the Mediterranean and in the Irish Channel have suffered from the

same cause. Two wires ii* the Dublin and Holyhead cable, laid in 1871, have already been, rendered useless by these bores. Should this ship-worm take it into his head to go down among the deepgea lines a revision of all present patterns of cables will be necessary. Mr Stephenson, incorrect as some of his professional opinions wferiei is not yery far out of the way in his statement in regard to the life of the submarine cables.