THE WORLD'S ADVANCE 



199 



the teredo are repulsed with a thin 

 sheathing of brass. A more inert but 

 none the less virulent enemy is the chem- 

 ical iodine, which is a by-product formed 

 in the maturation of sea-weed. Iodine 

 rapidly corrodes the armoring wires of 

 the cable. 



In the Pacific, where the sea bottom 

 occasionally displays the acrobatic abil- 

 ity of rising and falling a few miles over- 

 night, a submarine cable leads a life of 

 extreme uncertainty. Volcanic eruptions, 

 which will burn a cable completely in 

 two, although not frequent, are a con- 

 stant potential danger. 



The shore ends of all cables are regu- 

 larly subjected to the strain of surging 

 water; tides, storms and the general 

 restlessness of the sea the "ground 

 swell," as it is called all contribute. 

 Anchors of vessels, wrecks and icebergs 

 are a constant menace. 



The Trouble-Shooters of the Deep 



The exact location of a puncture in a 

 cable is found with delicate electrical 

 testing instruments which are connected 



at either end. The latitude and longi- 

 tude are immediately given to the com- 

 mander of the cable ship, and he steams 

 post haste to the zone of trouble. The 

 bottom of the sea is dragged, the cable 

 pulled to the surface, and the repair 

 quickly made. Unfortunately, cables 

 usually break during the heaviest storms 

 of the year, and the task of the trouble- 

 shooters demands the highest qualities 

 of fearlessness and skill. The Mackay- 

 Bennett, during one spell of bad weather 

 not long ago, remained at sea three 

 months in the endeavor to make a single 

 repair. She was repeatedly blown hun- 

 dreds of miles away from the ground of 

 operations. 



In conclusion, the fact may be again 

 emphasized that putting a submarine 

 cable under the sea is by no means a 

 haphazard proceeding. Every step is 

 the result of years of experience, of the 

 tireless planning of scientists, of the 

 rigid guidance of skilled engineers to 

 insure the millions of dollars that are 

 staked on the ability of the slim line of 

 copper to carry the voices of the nations 

 to the ends of the world. 



South America. But the car did over 

 turn, despite the slant of the wheels 

 which was intended to overcome the 

 tendency of an automobile to fall over 

 when taking curves at high speeds. 



THE WORLD'S OLDEST RACING 

 CAR 



In the accompanying view may be seen 

 the oldest racing automobile in the world. 

 It is the Fiat Tornado last used 

 by Louis Meneghetti, and the 

 illustration shows the car as it 

 was picked up from a short, 

 circular dirt track in a western 

 state. A Richmond (Va.) 

 capitalist now owns the car, 

 which has undergone extensive 

 repairs, and it will be seen on 

 some of the well-known tracks 

 during the next season. 



Meneghetti, before he was 

 killed, said this car could not 

 over-turn on a short track if it 

 were properly controlled. He 

 gave that reason for his trium- 



it_ ' A i The Slanting Wheels of This Early Racine Car Were In- 



SUCCeSS With the Car 111 tended to Prevent Overturning-But They Did Not. 



