^/A' WIUJAM SIEMENS, P.R.S. 87 



/// the discussion of tfw Paper 



"ON SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHY," 

 By Mr. THOMAS WEBSTER, 



.Mit. C. W. SIEMENS* said he was of opinion that discussions 

 like these did a great deal to spread a perfect knowledge of matters 

 connected with so vast an undertaking as the Atlantic cable. 

 There was no doubt that a light cable could be made to speak. 

 It was a question for the shareholders how quick they wished it to 

 speak, and then it was a question what quantity of material could 

 speak the best. With regard to the outer coating of the cable, he 

 thought that most important. Electricians knew pretty well what 

 could be done with a given material, and there might be different 

 plans of putting it on. Some might be in favour of one material 

 and some of another ; and they knew that with a given quantity 

 of gutta-percha or india-rubber they could obtain insulation, but 

 in deep-sea cables the quantity of outer covering was of great con- 

 sequence. It was most generally admitted that a heavy cable was 

 not suited for deep waters ; and it was also admitted that a 

 sheathing of some sort was necessary in order to protect the 

 insulated conductor, not only in trans-shipment and paying out 

 the cable, but afterwards in protecting it against the inroads of 

 marine animals, or the accidental strains to which it might be 

 exposed in lying on a rough bottom. As to what the best form 

 of covering might be, he supposed the meeting would not agree, 

 because, like most problems, after it had been plainly stated it 

 might be solved in various ways, and most of those who were 

 professionally engaged in those matters would form a rather strong 

 opinion in favour of one form or another. But in meetings like 

 this opinions were brought together, and he hoped to see the great 

 enterprise of the Atlantic cable accomplished by one or various modes. 

 He thought there was plenty of room for two Atlantic cables at least, 

 probably for more. Before he sat down he would only remark 

 that there seemed to be much misapprehension respecting the 



* Excerpt Journal of the Society of Arte, Vol. XI. 1862-63, p. 224. 



