60 TlMEHRI. 
difficulties in the way of the proposal, as also the fa£t 
that its adoption meant the extinction of the existing 
Telegraph Company. 
In the result the Government declined to sanction it, 
notwithstanding that they recognized the need of better 
communication. Even if it had been adopted there 
would still be the gap across the Atlantic not in the 
hands of either the Colonies, or Great Britain ; and thus 
one of the vital points now sought for by the Imperial 
Government would be lost, viz : to have the Telegraph 
Cables as much as possible in the hands of the Govern- 
ment, by the shortest routes. Five thousand miles of 
cable was proposed to be obtained, and laid, 
and a large supply of new instruments were to 
be provided for all the new stations. With the 
modest proposal now put forward only some two 
thousand miles of cable is asked for, and in- 
stead of a solid million the sum required would be 
about a quarter of that amount, viz., two hundred and 
fifty thousand pounds. The up-keep, or maintenance, 
would be of the cheapest possible kind, as there would 
be an absence of heavy shore ends — the cable to Cape de 
Verdes being in one se6tion and without any inter- 
mediate instruments. On the same grounds it is to be 
assumed that the cost of working would be less, a matter 
of economy not to be lost sight of. ' As to the probable 
price of messages over the proposed route, let us take 
the rate now in force between London and Spain. The 
length of cable is eight hundred and eighty six knots, 
and the cost per word is only fourpence-halfpenny. 
From Lisbon to Cape de Verdes is one thousand eight 
hundred and nine knots which would be the point of 
