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378
The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph
·
Henry M. Field
85
FOOTNOTES:
[A]
Professor
Morse
was
fond
of
the
distinction
between
the
words
practical
and
practicable.
A
thing
might
be
practicable,
that
is,
possible
of
accomplishment,
when
it
was
not
a
practical
enterprise,
that
is,
one
which
could
be
worked
to
advantage.
He
here
argues
that
the
Atlantic
Telegraph
is
both
practicable,
(or
possible,)
and
at
the
same
time
a
wise,
practical
undertaking.
[B]
On
his
return
to
America,
many
inquiries
were
addressed
to
Mr.
Field
in
regard
to
the
form
and
structure
of
the
cable,
in
answer
to
which
he
wrote
a
letter
of
explanation
in
which
he
said:
"No
particular
connected
with
this
great
project
has
been
the
subject
of
so
much
comment
through
the
press
as
the
form
and
structure
of
the
telegraph
cable.
It
may
be
well
believed
that
the
Directors
have
not
decided
upon
a
matter
so
all-important
to
success,
without
availing
themselves
of
the
most
eminent
talent
and
experience
which
could
be
commanded.
The
practical
history
of
submarine
telegraphs
dates
from
the
successful
submersion
of
the
cable
between
Dover
and
Calais
in
1851,
and
advantage
has
been
taken
of
whatever
instruction
this
history
could
furnish
or
suggest.
Of
the
submarine
cables
heretofore
laid
down,
without
enumerating
others,
the
one
between
Dover
and
Calais
weighs
six
tons
to
the
mile;
that
between
Spezzia
and
Corsica,
eight
tons
to
the
mile;
that
laid
from
Varna
to
Balaklava,
and
used
during
the
war
in
the
Crimea,
less
than
three
hundred
pounds
to
the
mile;
while
the
weight
of
the
cable
for
the
Atlantic
Telegraph
is
between
nineteen
hundred
pounds
and
one
ton
to
the
mile.
This
cable,
to
use
the
words
of
Dr.
Whitehouse,
'is
the
result
of
many
months
thought,
experiment,
and
trial.
Hundreds
of
specimens
have
been
made,
comprising
every
variety
of
form,
size,
and
structure,
and
most
severely
tested
as
to
their
powers
and
capabilities;
and
the
result
has
been
the
adoption
of
this,
which
we
know
to
possess
all
the
properties
required,
and
in
a
far
higher
degree
than
any
cable
that
has
yet
been
laid.
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