On the Electric Telegraph between England and In dia. 55 



30,000 messages per annum through the cable would more 

 than pay the working expenses, and the 7 per cent, interest — 

 that would be proportioning 30s. as a fair charge for the Sub- 

 marine line. 



The charge for messages of ten words to England, I think, 

 might be approximately calculated at £5 5s., to be divided in the 

 following manner : — 



f United Kingdom to India ... ... ... £200 



India to Siak 10 



Java and Sumatra lines ... ... ... ... 10 



Java and Australian cable ... ... ... ... 1 10 



Sydney to Gulf of Carpentaria ... ... ... 15 



Total £5 5 



This cannot be considered too high a charge for a distance of 



13,676 miles — as under. 

 London to Berlin 

 Berlin to Vienna 

 Vienna to Constantinople 

 Constantinople to Fao 

 Fao to Kurrachee... 

 Kurrachee to Rangoon 

 Rangoon to Malacca 

 Java lines, say 

 Banjowangi to Normantown, Gulf of 



Carpentaria 

 Normantown to Car dwell 

 Cardwell to Sydney 





591 miles 





530 „ 





919 „ 



... • •• 



1,950 „ 



1176 knots, 



or 1,372 „ 





1,500 „ 



1000 knots, 



or 1,166 „ 





1,500 „ 



1900 knots, 



or 2,216 „ 





360 „ 



... 



1,572 „ 



Total number of miles ... ... 13,676 



The Government of South Australia will, I have no doubt, 

 negotiate for a station at Port Darwin, in their Northern Terri- 

 tory, and may be induced to construct a land line to the Queens- 

 land boundary, this would shorten the submarine portion very 

 considerably, but the annual charge for working expenses, and 

 maintenance of the land line, would perhaps cost more than the 

 7 per cent, on the outlay for the cable. 



It is curious to take a glance at the nature of the business 

 transacted by the telegraph, and how large consignments are dis- 

 posed of in some cases before the vessels have left the port of 

 departure. Take for instance, a shipment of cotton from India, 

 say 500 bales, consigned from Madras to a firm in London or 

 Liverpool, the shipper telegraphs to the consignee, " I have 



t Telegraphic communication with India by F. Gisborne, 1868. 



