Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Volume IV, Number 35, 2 September 1865 — The Atlantic Cable [ARTICLE]

The Atlantic Cable

Froro the London Timea.

The present Atlantic cable is just twentythree hundred nautical miies, or in rough | numbers about twenty-six hundred miles long. The central conductor is composed of seven fine copper wires, twisted into one j complete strand, whieh is insulated with Ciiaiterton's patent compound. Outside this i-ome four distinct layers of gutta percha, eaeh also insulated with the same material that encloses the conductor. Outside the gufta percha again are wound eleven stout iron wires, eaeh ol whieh, before being twisted ' on, is itself carefully wound round with ' iBtrands of hemp, soaked with tar. Thus, tlien, there are no less than twenty-five thousand miles of copper wire in the conductor, „ about thiriy-five thousand miles of iron wire iu the outside covering, and upwards of four hundred thousand miles of strands of hemp, tnore than enough in all to go tvventy-four times round the world. The cable has been made on an aveiage at the rate of seventeen iniles per day eomplele, ar.d in sorne days its outside covering of hemp and iron has been overlaid at the rate of one hundred and seventy-three miles a day, though not a fathosn or a foot has been manufactureri without every part being kept under constant test for " conductivity" and insulation, and to . this hour it is as regularly tested as it was a •year ago, when the first mile was twisted. (n strepgth thc cable is equal to bearing a stram of seven and three-quarter tons, while it«* specific gravity is so low that it ean with salety be depended on to supporteleven miles of its length in wnter. It has been'made mile by mile, joined up in long lengths ōf seven and eight hundred miles, and shipped on board the Great Eastern into three enorinons tanks. The first will hold a eoil of six hundred and thirty milea of cable, the second one of eight hundred and forty, and the third one of eight liundred and thirty. Five hundred miles have still to be stowed away on board, and it will take a 4ortnight to complete this work, though the last mile of the eoil will eome throdgh the machines of the telegraph works at three o'eloek on Monday next. AU three tanks are kept filled with water, and when eaeh is stored with cable as well, the ends of the wire will be joined op, and a constant system of signals kept through every part lrom the moment the expedition starts tilUhecable is laid. The mere cable, however, is but an item in the mass of heavy weights the Great Eastern will have to carry on the occasion. Her draught of water will be rather over than under thirty feet, and, all told, her weights, when starting from Valentia, will eome near the stupendous mass of eighteen thousand tons. They are all, however, stowed high, and so, according to previous arrangemeßts, it is believed that the Great £astern will start in the early part of July. and certainly, if possible, not later than the 10th. With her will also sail her Majesty's ship Terrible and another paddle wheel steam-frignte of great power not yet chosen, but whieh, like the Terrible will give towing aid to the Great Eastern in case of mishaps to her machinery, either screw or paddle. Every care has been taken to get these engines into the highest state of good working order ; but k cannot be deniea that the very

possibility of lheir breaking down is looked upon with something like anxiety. They will certainty not be overtasked, as it is intended, if possibie, not to let the vessel go beyond a speed of six knots, a minimum of yelocity whieh it will be difficult to keep to if steerage way is wanted quickly, and whieh will, we think, be found absolutely impossible to retain in a seaway. On this occasion, however, the middle of July is chosen as being thought evein more favorable in point of weather than the middle of June, when the last Agamemnon cruise was commenced. Capt. AnderBon,»we believe, is in favor of starting towards the early part of July, and hislong experienee in eommanā ofthe China has very'properly induced the directors to give every weight to his opinion. In addition to Capt. Anderson, aii the officers eonnected with the ship, with the exdfeption of the chief engineer, have been chosen from the Cunard service. With ordinary fair weather, and-steaming ot the rate of six knotB, it is expected that the voyage from Valentia to the Bay of Heart|s Content in Newfoundland wiill occupy from twelve to fourteen days, during every hour of whieh regular communication will be kept up with England.