Our Cable Communications. 57 
of wonder and thankfulness, that, as a rule, messages 
arrive with so few serious errors in them. This proves 
that the fault is not with the staff, but rather with the sys- 
tem which is wedded to so roundabout a route between 
Demerara and London. London is in a far better position 
to supply us with American news, plus its own, and Euro- 
pean news generally, than^he United States ever could be 
with regard to London, &c. ; and therefore, as the best 
market for news is the Metropolis of Great Britain, 
towards that spot should our cable steamers point when 
laying any new cables from Demerara, rather than in the 
opposite direction. Further the British Government is 
now engaged in taking over, and working, the cables 
that touch its shores, and a scheme has also been hinted 
at of direct communication by cable between the Colonies 
and the Mother Country. 
But a protest against things as they are is not sufficient. 
It is necessary to go a step further, and to boldly answer 
the question arising to every one's lips, " Can a better 
route be suggested ? " Having given this matter con- 
siderable attention and thought, I am convinced that 
such a route is feasible. 
In the skeleton map attached there is shewn the present 
cable connections, and also the suggested new route 
(with dotted line) for communication with Great Britain. 
It will be seen that there already exist duplicate lines 
of cables from Great Britain to Pernambuco, touching 
at Madeira, and the Cape de Verdes. In 1874 there was 
actually laid, and, for six months, worked, a cable between 
Demerara and Para, with a connection into Cayenne 
(French Guiana). It gave out at the end of the time 
named, and has never since been repaired. Now instead 
H 
