The Atlantic Telegraph Part 5

20. The iron earth of the Cable will be used both on board and on sh.o.r.e--other earths, however, to be in readiness for use, if necessary.

21. Full particulars of every test and every occurrence in the testing-room to be entered in journal, together with the name of the electricians on duty, and the time of their coming on and going off duty.

22. After the end is landed, should signals fail, the paying-out system to be resumed until signals are re-established.

23. In case of a minute fault appearing, such as will partially affect the signalling, but which will not stop the communication entirely, notice will be given to sh.o.r.e to reduce battery power.

Such notice will be given at the 50 minutes, by sending 5 reversals of 1 minute each, commencing Z to E, and 1 current of 5 minutes'

duration.

24. A proper supply of lamps, gla.s.ses, oil, and wicks; instrument ink and instrument paper, in sufficient quant.i.ties; paraffin, wicks, and spare lamp-gla.s.ses for the instrument lamps; lamp-brushes, tools, sulphate of copper, stationery, &c., to be always ready for use.

25. No person except those on duty, and the engineers and the officers authorised by the Atlantic Telegraph Company, to be allowed in the instrument room on any pretence.

26. The batteries to be kept in an efficient state, especially those for sending reversals--their force taken periodically, and if any variety occur, they must be renewed, or brought up to the original force.

27. Supplies of every material needful for such purpose to be in constant readiness.

28. The actual end of the Cable to be brought to the instrument tables, and well insulated.

SHIP'S SIGNALS.

29. Ordinary.--5 reversals, commencing C to E, each 2 minutes.

To open communication.--8 reversals, commencing Z to E, each minute.

50 nauts. payed out.--10 reversals, commencing Z to E, each 1 minute.

50 nauts. distance run, signal will be, 2 reversals, each 2 minutes, commencing Z to E.

" " " 2 " " 1 " " "

" " " 2 " " 2 " " "

Defective signals.--2 reversals, commencing Z to E, each 5 minutes.

In soundings.--1 current of 10 minutes, Z to E.

Land in sight.--1 " " " "

Notice to increase power.--1 current of 5 minutes, commencing Z to E, and 5 reversals of 1 minute's duration.

Notice to reduce power.--5 reversals of 1 minute, commencing Z to E, and 1 current of 5 minutes.

Sh.o.r.e.

1. During the paying-out of the Cable, from the moment of starting until the end is landed at Newfoundland, a system of testing will be applied without intermission.

2. The tests will be for insulation, for continuity, and to determine the copper resistance of the conductor.

3. Each series of tests will commence at the hour (Greenwich time), and will last 1 hour. Both the insulation and C R tests will be made on board.

4. The insulation test will be made on board, and to enable that to be done, the end of the Cable must be insulated on sh.o.r.e for 30 minutes, commencing at the hour.

5. At the 30 minutes past the hour, signals will be sent to the ship for 10 minutes. Should ship at this time desire to open communication, ship will put on a current so as to oppose sh.o.r.e's current on his galvanometer, to arrest sh.o.r.e's attention, and will, when gained, give the call as in paragraph 10.

6. The ordinary signal will be 5 reversals of 2 minutes' duration, commencing C to E.

7. At the 40 minutes, Cable to be put to earth direct, without any instrument being in circuit.

8. At the 50 minutes, signals will be received from the ship. The ordinary signal will be 5 reversals, each 2 minutes' duration.

9. Then a repet.i.tion of the same series to be made and continued.

10. Should ship desire to open communication by special speaking instruments, notice will be received by a signal of 8 reversals (giving a deflection the opposite to the ordinary signals) of minute's duration.

11. After returning the same signal to the ship as an acknowledgment, the speaking instruments to be put in circuit, and the message from the ship received, and when acknowledgment of message, or reply, is given, the regular system of signals to be resumed as if no interruption had occurred.

12. Every 50 nauts. of the Cable payed-out will be signalled to the sh.o.r.e by signal (instead of the ordinary signals). This signal will be 10 reversals of 1 minute each--the first current giving a deflection the opposite side to the first current of the ordinary signals.

13. Every 50 nauts. distance run will be signalled to the sh.o.r.e: the signal will be 2 reversals of 2 minutes' duration, 2 reversals of 1 minute's duration, and 2 reversals of 2 minutes' duration--the first current giving a deflection opposite to the first deflection of the first current of the ordinary signal.

14. Should ship receive weak or defective signals, or bad time kept, notice will be given by sending 2 reversals of 5 minutes each, commencing the opposite side to the ordinary signals.

15. When the ship gets into soundings, notice will be given by sending one current of 10 minutes' duration, the opposite side to the first current of the ordinary signals.

16. When land is in sight, notice will be given by the same signal.

17. Greenwich time to be kept, but a column to be devoted to local time in the journals and sheets.

18. No change in instruments, wires, or connections (other than the batteries, if necessary), to be made on any account, unless such instruments become defective, and any necessary change to be made as quickly as possible.

19. Should the rolling of the ship generate a magnetic current of sufficient strength to embarra.s.s the signals, a stronger current for the signals must be put on by sh.o.r.e on receiving notice from the ship; the notice will be given by 1 current of 5 minutes', and 5 reversals of 1 minute's duration.

20. The iron earth of the Cable to be used both on board and on sh.o.r.e: copper earths, however, will be in readiness for use if necessary.

21. Full particulars of every occurrence in the testing-room will be entered in journals, together with the names of the electricians on duty, and the time of their coming on and going off duty.

22. When the end is landed at Newfoundland, should signals fail at any time, the paying-out system to be resumed until signals pa.s.s again freely.

23. On receiving a signal of 5 reversals of 1 minute's, and a current of 5 minutes' duration, sh.o.r.e must reduce the battery power used for sending reversals by one-half, and on a repet.i.tion of the same signal again reduce the power one-half, until (should notice continue to be given to that effect) the minimum of power be reached.

24. Sh.o.r.e must not have the privilege of opening a conversation, or to use or call for the use of the special speaking instruments, under any circ.u.mstances, except to give notice of any accident that may cause an interruption of signals, or that may affect the safety of the Cable or signals.

25. Should any interruption of signals from the ship occur by reason of an accident on board, sh.o.r.e will continue to free the Cable at the usual time, and to put to earth direct at the usual time, and in the intervals to put into circuit with the Cable a galvanometer, and watch the same for signals, and continue doing so until communication with the ship is restored, or information is received by other means from the ship.

26. On re-establishment of communication, sh.o.r.e must not ask any questions, but take the resumption of signals as an indication of all being well again, and will continue to follow the series of tests as if nothing had happened.