^ ^ ^ ^^y^.^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 11.25 lti|21 125 M V /: '/ 4^ 4^' CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical IVIicroreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 1980 Technical Notes / Notes techniques The institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Physical features of this copy which may alter any of the images in the reproduction are checked below. L'Instltut a microfilm^ le mellleur exemplaire qu'll lui a AtA possible de se procurer. Certains dAfauts susceptibles de nuire A la qualit* de la reproduction sont notAs ci-dessous. D Coloured covers/ Couvertures de couleur D Coloured pages/ Peges de couleur D Coloured maps/ Cartes gAographiques en couleur D Coloured plates/ Planches en couleur D Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages dicoiorAes, tachet^es ou piquAes D Show through/ Transparence D Tight binding (may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin)/ Reliure serr6 (peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intirieure) D Pages damaged/ Pages endommagies D Additional comments/ Commentaires supplAmentaires Bibliographic Notes / Notes bibliographiques D Only edition available/ Seule Mition disponible D Pagination incorrect/ Erreurs de pagination D Bound with other material/ Re\\6 avac d'autres documents D Pages missing/ Des pages manquent D Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque D Maps missing/ Des cartes g^ographiques manquent D Plates missing/ Des planches manquent D Additional comments/ Commentaires supplimentaires T"' Th« imagM appearing hare ara tha bast quality possibia considaring tha condition and lagibility off tha original copy and in keeping with the filming contract •pacifications. The last recorded fframa on each microfiche shrill contain the symbol -^^ (meaning CONTINUED"), or the symbol y (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Les images suivantae ont At* raproduites avac le plus grand soin, compta tenu de la condition at da la nattet* de rexemplaira filmA, et en confformit* avac les conditions du contrat de ffilmage. Un des symboles suivants apparattra sur la dar- nlAra image de cheque microfiche, selon le caa: la aymbola — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols y signifie "FIN". The original copy was borrowed from, and filmed with, the kind consent of tha ffollowing institution: Library of the Public Archives off Canada Maps or plates too large to be entirely included in one exposure are ffilmed beginning in the upper lefft hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaire filmA ffut reproduit grice k la gAnArosit* de i'Atablissament prAteur suivant : La biblioth^nua des Archives publiques du Canada Las cartas ou las planches trop grandee pour Atre reproduites en un seul clich6 sont ffilm6es A partir da I'angle supArieure gauche, de gauchoi A droite et de haut en bas, an prenant la nombre d'imsges nAcessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustra la mAthode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 -'^-'•t^A,. ' ' ; *V.'i LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF HOPETOUN GOVERNOR GENERAL OF TBE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALJA ON A COMPLETE SYSTEM OP STATE-OWNED CABLES AND TELEGRAPHS WITHIN THE BRITISH EMPIRE BY SIR SANDFORD FLEMING TO WHICH IS APPENDED A LETTER ON THE SAME BY THE SAME ADDRESSED TO THE RT. HON. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN Feoretary of State for the Colonies > STATE-OWNED TELEGRAPHS FOR THE EMPIRE. Ottawa, December 3, 1900. To His Excellency The Right Honourable The Earl of Hopetoun, Governor General, Commonwealth of Australia. My Lord, — I had the honour, in October, 1898, to address the Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of a state- owned system of cables for the British Empire. My letter was made public and the records of the press show that much interest was awakened and that a singular unani- mity of opinion was evinced in favour of the proposal. Since that date events have occurred, which while they have had the effect of diverting attention from the subject, have at the same time in a remarkable degree emphasized its importance, especially to Australasia. I venture to think, therefore, that no time could be more opportune for its consideration than on the occurrence of the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia. In asking Your Excellency to bf^ good enough to bring the remarks which follow before the Government of the Commonwealth, I am unable to claim that I hold any official position. It is merely as a Canadian subject of Her Majesty that I make the request, and, as such, I feel we in Canada desire to think that we enjoy privileges, and have interests and rights, in common with our fellow-subjects in Australia. While 1 venture to speak for my countrymen on the subject of this communication, and there are substantial reasons why I should' do so, it is not without hesitation that I assume the self-imposed duty ; but all hesitation must be set aside in view of the words of Your Excellency in bidding farewell a few weeks back at Hopetoun House in Scotland: * This is no time for any one to hang back when he can serve the Empire. Some can serve as soldiers, and right well have many done so during the past twelvej mouths, others can serve in other capacities.' I appeal then to Your Excellency in this spirit, satisfied that there are none so humble who cannot do faithful service. I appeal to Your Excellency under the firm conviction which has been forced on me that the subject of this communication demands immediate and earnest attention. I venture strenuously and respectfully to urge that it be one of the first matters brought to the consideration of your Govern- ment. li In Cnnuda not less than in Australia wo havo an abi con- trary to practice it i> 10 It was early discovered by every country in Europe that so efficient a servant ta trade and commerce, so important an aid to the State itseK, should become a national institution. France, Austria, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Belgium each established a State telegraph system, and, as in Great Britain, experi- ence has shown that they have done this, not only with advantage to the various administrative necessities, but with benefit to the public at large. Such being the unanimous conclusion, is not the application of the principle of State ownership on a larger scale than hitherto attempted a fit subject for inquiry ? Is it not desirable and expedient that the whole British Empire should have a State- controlled cable system? The conditions of the Empire are totally different to what they were some years back. When Her Majesty ascended the throne there was not a single mile of electric telegraph anywhere. There was not an iron ship of any class afloat, and mail steam- ships were practically unknown. From that period the conditions have been continu- ally changing and the process of growth and dtevelopment still goes on. True, change has met with resistance from individuals and companies and classes, but resist it who may, the law of development follows its steady course and continually makes demands on science and skill to meet the ever-clianging conditions. We are living in an age of transformation; the spirit of discovery and enterprise, of invention and achievement, has extended and expanded the British Empire from the small islands on the coast of Europe to new territories, continental in extent, in both hemispheres. The develop- ment of the mercantile marine has carried the flag of our country over every mile of sea to meridians far distant from the motherland. In these distant territories, com- munities have established themselves under the protection of that fla^. They hav^ drawn riches from the forest, the soil and the mine. They have caused noble cities to spring up, rivalling in the splendour of their streets and buildings the finest cities of the Old World. These young nations, full of hope and vigour, have made progress in every di.i'ection; they are imbued with lofty aspirations, and their most ardent desire is to give their energy and strength to the building up of a greater British Empire, on the finn foundation of conunon interest and common sentiment. At an earlier period of the world's history it would have been difficult to conceive the possibility of any lasting political union between countries so widely separated by intervening seas. The problem is, however, being solved, not by old methods, but by the application of wise principles of government, aided in a wonderful way by the highest resources of modern science. Steam has made the separating oceans no longer barriers, but the general medium of union. Electricity has furnished the means by which the British people in all parts of the globe may exchange thought as freely as those within speaking distance. These twin agencies of civilization are pregnant with stupendous possibilities. Already the one, as the prime factor in sea-carriage, has ren- dered luiiversal penny postage possible. The other has made it equally possible to bring the British i)eople, so widely sundered geographically, within the same neigh- bourhood telegraphically. Imperial penny postage will have far-reaching consequences; it is tmdoubtedly a great onward movement in the career of civilization, and in the development of wider national sympathy and sentiment. But great as are the benefits to follow the adoption 11 jervant to I national tugal and n, experi- le various inciple of inquiry ? } a State- >me years )f electric ail steam- L continu- le, change ist it who 1 demands an age of lievement, e coast of } develop- •y mile of riea, com- 'hey havxi 5 cities to t cities of regress in 3nt desire mpire, on > conceive arated by hods, but ay by the no longer means by freely as lant with , has ren- ossible to ae neigh- ubtedly a of wider adoption of universal cheap postage, the first result, and not the least, will be to make plain that a postal service, however cheap and comprehensive, is in itself insufficient for the increasing daily needs of the now widely-distributed British peoples. It will be Been tliat in addition to an ocean penny postal service, the circumstances of our world- wide empire demand a cheap ocean cable service, extending to every possession of Her Majesty. The carriage of letters at any known speed consumes time, and the length of time consumed depends on the distance traversed. The telegraph, on the other hand, practically annihilates space, and in this one respect has immeasurably the advantage over the ordinary postal service, especially in the case of correspondents who are separated by the greatest distances. We can as yet but) faintly appreciate the extent to which the telegraph may be employed, because its use heretofore has bec, and nine pence per word. In 1890, the year before the rates were lowered, the gross business consisted of 827,278 words. Last year (1897) it had increased to 2,349,901 wcrds. In 1890, with high charges, the revenue was £331,468. In 1897, with reduced charges, the revenue was £507,852, or £236,384 in excess of 1890, when the highest rates were exacted. The utility of the telegraph may be measured by the time gained over the post, and the success of the telegraph service of the United Kingdom must be accepted as convincing evidence of its utility and value, for the gain in time is, in this case, measured by hours only. Its striking success in this instance may be largely owing to State control, but whatever the cause, it is obvious that if, under similar conditions, weeks were gained instead of hours, the utility of the telegraph would be proportion- ately increased and its value as a means of communication correspondingly enhanced. There is another immense advantage, not generally kown to the public, which can be claimed for telegraphy : It is the fact, that within certain limitations the actual cost of transmission is but little aflFected by distance. While the cost of carrying letters is in proportion to the distance traversed, the same rule does not apply to the electric wire. With a properly equipped telegraph system, the actual expenditure incurred in transmitting a message thousands of miles is practically no greater than in sending it ten miles. Obviously, therefore, the principle of ' penny postage,' that is to say, a low uiiiform charge for all distances, is applicable even more fully to ocean telegraphy than to the Imperial postal service. With these considerations before us, a moment's re- flection leads to the conviction that this wonderful agency — the electric wire — places within our reach, if we have the wisdom to accept it, an ideal means of communication for the world-wide British Empire. Thirty years ago the British Parliament for reasons, the soundness of which experience has fully confirmed, determined that the State should assume control of the inland telegraph system of the United Kingdom. To-day there are incomparably stronger reasons for State control being exercised over a cable system for the whole Empire. The proposal is not altogether new. If the proceedings of the Colonial Conference of 1887 be referred to, it will be found that an Imperial telegraph service was fore- shadowed in the discussions. To these I would refer, and especially pages 225 to 228, 339 to 341, and 513 to 520. In these discussions the delegates from the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland and Canada took part. Again, at the Colonial Conference of 1894 the proposal was set forth in some detail, and the advantages of an all-British system of telegraphy aroun 1 the globe pointed out. On that point I beg leave to direct attention to the proceedings of the Ottawa Conference, and more particularly to pages 88 to 90, inclusive. Likewise to the proceedings of the second Congress of the Chambers of Commerce of the Empire, and more especially to a letter from the Ottawa delegate (July 1, 18( 2) to the President, Sirl John Lubbock. The proposal to complete the telegraphic curcuit of the globe has no doubt sug- gested itself to many persons. Among tho&a who have written on the subject may be mentioned. Sir Julius Vogel, at one time Postmaster General of New Zealand ; the late Mr. F. N. Gisbome, Superintendent of Telegraphs for the Canadian government ; Sir George Baden-Powell, M.P., London ; Mr, J. C. Lockley, of Nhill, Australia ; and T1I»'»'"T*T'T*^ the veteran postal reformer, Mr. Henniker Heaton. At the Cape, Mr. Jan Hendrich Hofmeyer has given the matter his strongest support. PROJECTED CABLE SYSTEM. It may be laid down as an essential condition of an Imperial cable service, that Qonf, of the lines should touch foreign soil, and that they should bi' placed so as to avoid shallow seas, more especially those seas in proximity to any country likely at any time to prove unfriendly. In describing generally the route which would best comply with these conditions, I shall commence at Vancouver, for the reason that up to this point* telecrraphic connection with the Imperial centre in London is already assured, without being dependent on any foreign power. First, we have directed telegraphic connection across the Atlantic by a number of cables, and it is a mere question of cost to lay additional trans-Atlantic cables to be state-controlled, whenever they are wanted. Secondly, we have a transcontinental telegraph from tlu; Atlantic coast to Vancouver, extending along the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and all practical telegraphers will recognize the great advantage of this position. By having the wires hung within sight of passing trains, the telegraph can be frequently inspected with the greatest possible ease, and faults when they occur, can speedily be repaired. Commencing at Vancouver the cable would cross the Pacific to New Zealand and Australia, from Australia the main line would cross the Indian Ocean to South Africa, from South Africa it would traverse the Atlantic to Canada, where it would connect with the trans-Atlantic lines. Such a system of cables would complete the telegraphic circuit of the globe, and would constitute a base for connecting every one of Her Majesty's possessions and naval coaling stations (Gibraltar and Malta excepted) by the most perfect means of conveying intelligence at our disposal. Moreover, the connection would be formed by a system of all-British deep-sea cables in the position where they would be least vulnerable. This Imperial cable system may be considered in three divisions. (1.) Cables in the Pacific Ocean. The cable from Vancouver would first find a mid-ocean station at Fanning Island, second at Fiji Islands, third at Norfolk Island ; at Norfolk Island it would bifurcate, one branch extending to New Zealand, the other to the eastern coast of Australia. There are many islands in the Pacific, some under British, others under foreign flags ; in course of time these islands could be served by branches as circumstances may require. The land lines of Australia would complete telegraphic connection with the western coast, or it may be deemed expedient to substitute a cable for the land lines over that portion of the interior between Adelaide and King George's Sound. (2.) Cables in the Indian Ocean. From King George's Sound, or other point in Western Australia, the cable would extend to Cocos Island, thence to Mauritius, and thence to Natal or Capetown, as may be found expedient. Cocos would become an important telegraphic centre ; it would u be a conveiiieiit point for connecting Singapore by a branch cable. Singapore is already in connection with Hong Kong by an all-British cable via Labuan, and Her Majesty's gOTernment Oan take possession by giving 12 months' notice. India could be reached by a branch from Cocos to Ooloiubo or Trincomalee in Ceylon. At Mauritius a connec- tion would be formed with the existing cable to Seychelles, Aden and Bombay. (8.) Cables in the Atlantic Ocean. In order to avoid the shallow seas along the west coast of Africa, Spain, Portugal *and France, it is proposed that the cable should extend from Capetown to Bermuda, touching at St. Helena, Ascension and Barbados as mid-ocean stations. At Bermuda \ a connection would be formed with the existing cable to Halifax, and at that point with the Canadian and trans-Atlantic lines, or a cable could be laid from Bermuda derect to England. Much prominence has been given to a proposal to connect England with the Cape by a line of cable touching at Gibraltar, Sierre Leone or Bathurst, Ascension and St. Helena. I pointed out in my letter of last December to Sir Wilfrid Lnurier, that there are grave objections to the northern half of that route, as " the cable, of necessity, would be laid for some distance in shallow seas where it would be exposed to injury from various causes, and where, too, the agent of an iinf riendly nation or, indeed, an evil-disposed fisherman, would have it in his power to destroy the cable with ease, totally unobserved. For hundreds of miles it would be exposed to such risks." The route now proposed from Ascension to Great Britain is certainly less direct, but the cables would be much less in jeopardy, and to this may be added, the advantage which would result in brinigng the West Indian poisessions within the Imperial telegraphic circle. In order that some estimate may be formed of the cost of such an undertaking, I submit the following approximate distances which each group of cables would require to cover : — (1.) In the Pacific Ocean, from Vancouver to Australia and New Zealand 7,150 knots. (2.) In the Indian Ocean, from Western Australia to South Africa — Maine line 6,500 Branch to Singapore 1,100 " Colombo 1,500 9,100 knots. (8.) In the Atlantic Ocean, from South Africa to Bermuda. . 6,600 " 18^: 22,850 i.i'.Fi^^'vyrT' ' is already Majesty's 6 reached a connec- ay. Portugal Bermuda, Bermuda hat point Bermuda the Cape n and St. that there necessity, to injury ndeed, an vith ease, 2SS direct, idvantage Imperial rtaking, I Id require :nots. nots. « 15 The total distance for which new cables would be required (of which 20,250 knots would bo in the| main line, and 2,600 knots in branches) may be roughly placed at 23,000 knots, and the cost (including the branch to Hong Kong) between £5,000,000 and £6,000,000 sterling. I have long advocated the first division of the proposal, — the establishment of a cable from Canada to Australasia as a state work. I have felt that it would be the forerunner of an all-British telegraph system embracing the whole empire. As a state undertaking I am satisfied that the Pacific cable would be a complete commercial success, and that so soon as it so proved, the cable extension to South Africa and India would follow. ■ • One advantage peculiar to a globe-encircling system of cables will be apparent, each point touched would be in connection with every other point by two routes extending in opposite directions. This feature is of special value, as it practically constitutes a double connection in each case. The projected system of all-British cables with itai branches would thus doubly connect the following fortified and garrisoned c(»aling stations, namely : — Hong Kong, Singapore, Trincomalee, Colombo, Aden, Cape- town, Simons Bay, St. Helena, Ascension, St. Lucia, Jamaica, Bermuda, Halifax, Esquimalt, King George's Sound and Thursday Island. The following " defended ports " would likewise be connected, viz. : — Durban, Karachi, Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, Eangoon, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Townsville, Auckland, Wellington, Lyttletown and Dunedin. Would it not be in the interest of a great commercial people to have these and all such points in the outer Empire connected by a means of communication so perfect as the electric telegraph ? Is it not u matter which vitally concerns every British com- munity around the globe ? Is it not in their common interest that they all should be placed in possession of the speediest means of conveying intelligence the one to the other, free from the burden of high charges ? That a State owned Pacific cable is the key to the situation, I am firmly convinced. Exhaustive examinations have proved its entire practicability. Its financial aspect has been minutely investigated by business men of the highest rank. The Canadian gov- ernment appointed Lord Strathcona and the Honourable A. G. Jones for the purpose, than whom there are no men with stronger business insight. Their report is in the pos- session of the government, and it takes the most favourable view of the project. As a State undertaking it would be self-supporting from the first year of its establishment, and would admit of charges being lowered year by year. That the final outcome of the laying of this cable would be an Imperial telegraph service there can be little doubt. I am satisfied that the Pacific cable would prove to be the entering wedge to remove for ever all monopoly in ocean telegraphy, and free the public from excessive charges ; that it would be the initial link in a chain of State cables encircling the globe, with branches ramifying wherever the British Empire extends, and that it would be the means* of bringing into momentary electric touch every possession of Her Majesty. In 1837, Rowland Hill, in advocating uniform penny postage for the United King- dom, pointed out how desirable it would be to have the same low rates as on inland 16 letters charged on letters passing to and from the colonies. This remarkable man con- cluded with the memorable words : " There is perhaps scarcely any measure which would tend so effectually to remove the obstacles to emigration, and maintain that sympathy between the cclouies and the mother country which is the only sure bond of connection, as the proposed reduction on the postage of colonial letters." Had Sir Eowland E^llknownof themeauflof instantaneous communication which, since his day, has been placed at our comman i, ho assuredly would have viewed it as the most civilizing agency of the century. He would have seen that while promoting the activities of trade and commerce and improving the well-being of the human race, nothing would more tend to deepen the sympathies of om* people and make firm the foimdationa of the Empire, than the adding to a universal penny postage, the incalcul- able advantage of a State-controlled ocean telegraph system encircling the globe. Holding the views which I have ventured to submit, I feel that in the public interest I should greatly err if I failed to "eek an opportunity of giving expression to them. I have the honour to be, sir. Your obedient servant, SANDFORD FLEMING. .ti; -e:^;;^^ nan con- ch would ymputhy iinection, >n which, ived it as romotinK aan race, firm the incalcul- obe. le public 'ession to [NG.