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378
The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph
·
Henry M. Field
24
"This
line
of
deep-sea
soundings
seems
to
be
decisive
of
the
question
of
the
practicability
of
a
submarine
telegraph
between
the
two
continents,
in
so
far
as
the
bottom
of
the
deep
sea
is
concerned.
From
Newfoundland
to
Ireland,
the
distance
between
the
nearest
points
is
about
sixteen
hundred
miles;[B]
and
the
bottom
of
the
sea
between
the
two
places
is
a
plateau,
which
seems
to
have
been
placed
there
especially
for
the
purpose
of
holding
the
wires
of
a
submarine
telegraph,
and
of
keeping
them
out
of
harm's
way.
It
is
neither
too
deep
nor
too
shallow;
yet
it
is
so
deep
that
the
wires
but
once
landed,
will
remain
for
ever
beyond
the
reach
of
vessels'
anchors,
icebergs,
and
drifts
of
any
kind,
and
so
shallow,
that
the
wires
may
be
readily
lodged
upon
the
bottom.
The
depth
of
this
plateau
is
quite
regular,
gradually
increasing
from
the
shores
of
Newfoundland
to
the
depth
of
from
fifteen
hundred
to
two
thousand
fathoms,
as
you
approach
the
other
side.
The
distance
between
Ireland
and
Cape
St.
Charles,
or
Cape
St.
Lewis,
in
Labrador,
is
somewhat
less
than
the
distance
from
any
point
of
Ireland
to
the
nearest
point
of
Newfoundland.
But
whether
it
would
be
better
to
lead
the
wires
from
Newfoundland
or
Labrador
is
not
now
the
question;
nor
do
I
pretend
to
consider
the
question
as
to
the
possibility
of
finding
a
time
calm
enough,
the
sea
smooth
enough,
a
wire
long
enough,
a
ship
big
enough,
to
lay
a
coil
of
wire
sixteen
hundred
miles
in
length:
though
I
have
no
fear
but
that
the
enterprise
and
ingenuity
of
the
age,
whenever
called
on
with
these
problems,
will
be
ready
with
a
satisfactory
and
practical
solution
of
them.
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