Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1901 — Two Pacific Cables. [ARTICLE]

Two Pacific Cables.

By a vote of 150 to 44 the British House of Commons has adopted a resolution authorizing the expenditure of 110,000,000 on the British Pacific cable. With the amounts pledged by the colonies this insures the success of the enterprise. Meanwhile we are still discussing the question whether the American Pacific cable, if we ever get It, shall belong to the government of the United States or shall be paid for by the government and presented to a corporation. Probably we shall still

be wrangling over that question when tbe British get their cable laid, and shall be sending our official messages over their line while the dispute goes on. Our cable project was launched long before the British one. It seemed in a fair way to success at a time when we did not own a foot of territory on the route. Since then we have acquired Hawaii and’the Philippines, and what was before a desirable convenience has become a necessity. Yet we have allowed Great Britain to go before us in providing that necessity, and our government’s orders

to its own officials will be subject to her convenience. Fortunately there Is room in the Pacific for two cables. The construction of the British line will not in the least diminish the necessity for an American one. Hawaii will still remain isolated until we link her to the contnent Secretary Gage is complaining now that he does not know what to do with the surplus. Congress can relieve him of a little of his embarrassment at its next session by making an appropriation for a government Pacific cable.—San Francisco Examiner. •