THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, 



the process, by which the gutta percha covered wires within the 

 cable are strained. 



92. In laying the Calais cable it was found too short to extend 

 to the opposite coast, and it became necessary to splice a supple- 

 mentary piece to it. The joint thus formed afterwards failed, and 

 it was found necessary to splice it anew, and to insert a fresh 

 piece. Since this was done the cable appears to have continued in 

 excellent order. 



93. It is said that the Belgian cable has been subject to some im- 

 perfection arising from the position of the wires within the case. 

 The sixth wire being in the axis of the cable, surrounded by 

 the other five (see fig. 32), it was found that when the outer casing 

 of the protecting wires was laid around it, the pressure on the 

 centre wire rendered it imperfect, while the five surrounding it 

 suffered to some extent. 



Similar defects are said to exist in other cables constructed upon 

 the same principle. 



A hempen case well tarred in the centre is considered to form 

 the best safeguard for the gutta percha covered wires in the process 

 of making the cable, since it will yield to any compression itself 

 without affecting injuriously the wire. 



94. This notice of subaqueous telegraphy ought not to be 

 concluded without some mention of the project for the deposition 

 of an electric cable across the Atlantic, so as to put the Old 

 World in instantaneous communication with the New. Such a 

 scheme is regarded now pretty nearly as that for the electric 

 connection of the British islands with each other and with the 

 European continent was regarded some years ago. The sanguine 

 consider the project practicable, and its speedy realisation pro- 

 bable. The more phlegmatic notice it only with ridicule. 

 Men of science generally admit the possibility of the enterprise 

 while men of finance more than doubt the possibility of a 

 remunerative result. 



The width of the Atlantic between the nearest points of British 

 America and the west coast of Ireland is about sixteen hundred 

 miles. Twelve cables, each as long as those which have been 

 laid down between Orfordness and the Hague, would be sufficient 

 to extend from coast to coast. That cable could be spliced to 

 cable was practically proved between Calais and Dover, such a 

 splice having been successfully made in the cable near the French 

 coast. 



Lieutenant Maury, of the United States, so well known for his 



hydrographical researches, caused a series of regular soundings to 



be made with the view of determining the form and condition of 



the bed of the ocean between the coasts of British America and 



16S 



