SUBMARINE COMPANIES. 



enclosed like those already described in a compound heliacal 

 armour of twelve galvanised iron wires. 



Until the cable and wires destined ultimately to connect 

 Alexandria with Sardinia can be completed, it is intended to 

 establish a special line of steamers between Malta and Sardinia, 

 so as to be enabled to transmit intelligence instantaneously from the 

 centre of the Mediterranean to London, Paris, and all parts of 

 Europe. Two mercantile houses, Messrs. Rubattino and Co., of 

 Genoa, and Messrs. Antonio Galea and Co., of Malta, have 

 undertaken conjointly to place two steamers to run between 

 Malta and Sardinia, to take the despatches coming from the East, 

 to be transmitted to Paris and London. 



It is intended, however, meanwhile, to connect Malta by a cable 

 with the nearest point of the African coast, and by this, and an 

 underground line of wires to Bona, to establish an electric com- 

 munication with Sardinia, and thence with London. 



284. In the following table, collected from the most recent 

 reports, are shown the telegraphic stations established in various 

 countries of Europe in July, 1854. Annexed to each place is the 

 charge at which a single message is transmitted between it and 

 London. Of this charge 8s. is the part applicable to the transit 

 between London and Calais or Ostend, the remainder being the 

 cost of transmission between one or other of these places, and the 

 continental station. A single message cannot exceed 20 words if 

 transmitted by Calais, or 25 words if transmitted by Ostend. 

 The charge is increased in a two-fold ratio for messages which 

 exceed this number of words, but which do not exceed 50, and 

 in a three-fold proportion for such as exceed 50, but do not 

 exceed 100. In general, messages exceeding 100 words are not 

 transmitted. 



In some cases a message may be transmitted by different routes 

 at the option of the person sending it. Thus, for example, a 

 message to Yicenza may be sent vid Baden, via Bavaria, vid 

 Switzerland, vid Sardinia, or vid Belgium. The cost of trans- 

 mission in such cases varies with the route chosen. In all such 

 cases the charge given in the Table is the lowest of those at which 

 it can be sent. 



The tariff by way of the Hague is not included in this Table. 



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