IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 l^|28 |2.5 m m 12.2 If 110 2.0 1.8 U IIIIII.6 V] /. /A w^w o 7 r^^ w vV CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductlons 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. D D D D Coloured covers/ Couvertures de couleur Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiques en couleur Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages dAcoiories, tacheties ou piquAes Tight binding (may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin)/ Reliure serrA (peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge IntArieure) L'instltut a microfilm* le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a At* possible de se procurer. 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Tha iaat racordad frama on aach microflcha ahall contain tha symbol -^> (moaning CONTINUED"), or tha symbol ▼ (moaning "END"), whichavar applias. Las imagas suivantas ont At4 raproduitaa avac la plus grand soin. compta tanu da ia condition at da la nattati da I'axampiaira filmi, at an conformity avac las conditions du contrat da filmaga. Un doa symbolas suivants apparaftra sur la dar- nlAra Imaga da chaqua microflcha. salon la cas: la symbols — ► signifia "A 8UIVRE". ia symbols y signifia "FIN". The original copy was borrowed from, and filmed with, the kind consent of the following institution: National Library of Canada L'exemplaire fiimi fut reproduit grAce h la gAnArositA de rAtebiissement prAteur suh/ant : Bibliothique nationale du Canada I^Aaps or plates too large to be entirely included in one exposure ara filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frannes as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes ou les planches trop grandee pour Atre reproduites en un seul clichA sont fiimAes A partir de Tengie supArieure gauche, de gauche A droite et de haut en bas, en prenant la nombre d'images nAcessaire. La diagramme suivant illustra la mAthoda : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 F • ^z£,->.-^^ ^is^...*y^/. __ yf / MEMORANDUM Relatiii}; to the project of* a suh-marine telegraph between the Dominion of Canada and the continent of Asia. ReBpectfuUy submitted FOR TIJ K IN FORMATION OK THE HONORABLK THE SENATE OF CANADA I by Mr. Sandford Fleming. The practicability of connecting Canada with Asia by submarine telegraph was firist brought to public notice by the undersigned in his report on the Pacific Railway, April, 1880. In May of that year when the undersigned ceasod to be Engnieer-in- Chief ol the Pacific Railway, he submitted to the Uovernment of the Dominion his scheme for carrying out the project. It obtained the approval of the Governor in Council ; and during the past year it received the countenance and support of the Grovernment. An extended correspondence has been carried on by the undersigned with r»»gard to it ; the character of which, to some extent, is shewn by the official public documents which relate to the scheme, a list of which is appended — documents which indicate to some extent the efforts that have been made to bring the project to its present condition. Docu7nents relatiny to the scheme of Mr. Sandford Fleming for connecting Canada with Asia by Submarine Telegraph. Lottor from Mi-. Sandford Fleming lo the Minister of Railways an i Canals, 14th May, 1880. Report of tlio Chioi' Engincor of Railways in operation; 20Lh May, 1880. Minute of the Pi-ivy (Council, (^anadu. I7lh June, 1880. Memorial to His Excellency the (iovornor (renenil, 27th fn io, liSO. Memorandum referred lo in memorial to IIIh Excellency, 2Vtli June, 1880. Lottor to Secretary of State enclosing memoiial, -7tli June, iSSB. Memorandum, Minister of Public Works, 2n 1 July, 18S0. Minute of the Privy Council, Canada, 7th July, 1880. Letter to the MiniBterof Railways and Canals, 22nd October, 1880. Letter fVom Dojmitmeiit of liailways und Canals to Mr. Sniidford Fleming, 4tli Novflmhcr, 1H8(). Momonul to Jlis Kxcelloncy the Goveniov General, 4th December, 1880. Minute of the I'rivy Council, Canada, 8th Decombor, 1880. Dopartmontof Public Workn to Mr. Sundford Kleraiiig, latli .lunuary, 18S1. Karl of Kimberlcy lo His Excellency the Uovenior tionerai, 4lh December, 1880. Sir A. T. Gait, High CommiHsioner, to the Karl of Kimberley, 2nd September, 1880. Colonial Office lo Foreign Office, 2nd September, 1880. Colonial OlUce tf) Foreign' Office, Iwt December, J880. Under-Secretary of State to the Minister of Public Works, 28th Decern) m-, 1880. Dopartmonf of Public Works to Mr. Sandfbrd Fleming, 2S)th J)ecember, 1880. Sir A. T. Gait, iiigii Commissioner, to Secretary of Stale, 9th December, 1880. Telegraph to Charge d'AlVairos at Yeddo, 8th December, 1H80, Secretary of Stale to Minister of Public Works, 20th December, 1880. Sir A. T. Gait, High Commi.sbioner, to Se-retaryof State, 30th November, 1880. Sir A. T. Gait, High Commissioner, to Secretary of State, -nd December, lH8i). Colonial Office to Sir A. T. Gait, High Commissioner, Ist December, I88u. Earl of KLoaberley to His Excellency the Governor General, 18th December, 1880. The Foreign Office to the Colonial Office, 14th December, 1880. Memorandum by Sir Harry Parke.s, H.M. Minister at Yeddo, 14th Dooember, 1880. Translation of cypher telegram from Japan, lUst December, 1880. Under-Secretary of State to Minister of Public Workj, 10th January, 1881. Si)' A. T. Gait, High Commissioner to Secretary of State, 23rd December, 1880. The Colonial Office to Sir A. T. Gait, High Commissioner, 22nd December, 1880. Dcpaitment of Public Workn to Mr. Sandfbrd Fleming, 28th January, 1881. Mr. Sandford Fleming to Department of Public Works, 2Dth January, 1881. Marl of Kimberley to His Excellency the Governor General, 25th January, 1880. The Admiralty to the Colonial office, 18th January, 1881. Mr. Sandfbrd Fleming to the Minister of Public Works, 4th February, 1881. Department of Public Works to Mr. Sandford Fleming, 10th February, 1881. Mr. Sandfbrd Fleming to the Minister of Public Works, 15th February, 1881. Mr. Sandford Fleming to the Minister of Public Works, 23rd February, 1881. Mr. Sandford Fleming to the Minister of Public Works, 2nd March, 1881. Mr. Sandford Fleming to the Minister of Public Works, 10th March, 1881. \ o On the 1st March last, Hon. Minister of Public Works, Mr. Langevin, moved the House of Commons into a Committee of the Whole, to consider the following Kesolutions : 1. That it would be of great advantage to Canada that Telegraphic Communi- cation should bo established between the Pacific Coast of the Dominion and Asia, and that certain facilities and advantages should be granted to any Company willing and able to eslablish and maintain the same. 2. That with this view, it is expedient to provide that if Sandford Fleming, E-quiro, who has .submitted a plan for the formation of a Company for the said purjxjso, which has met the approval of the Governor in Council, and such persons not less than rive in number as may be associated with him in the underiaking, do bidoro the Ui day of Octoljer ne.Kt, apply for Jjetters Patent under the Act 40 vict., chap. 48, incorpoi-ating them as a Company for the purpose aforesaid, and shew to the watisfaetion of His Excellency in Council, that they ha>^e complied with the proliiniiiar}' reciuinmicnts of the said Act, and are able and ready to establish and maintain such I'elegraphic communication as aforesaid. Letters Pateat may bo issued iD.oorj)orating them for such purpose, under the said Act and the Act 38 viot., ohapi 26, with the powers nnd prl.-ilecfeH, and siiSjoot to tho obli-^ations pvnvidod I'V the Hiiid Acts, and with thoox(!lr,sivo privile two Continent-^ shall bo com- pleted within tivo yoars from the dato of tho Charter, and shall i)o thorouftor regu- larlv and elficiently maintained; (2) The ralo-t to bo oharfj^ed for mossuges shall bo moderate and subj ct to approvul b}' the Governor in Council; (3) Any further conditions which may bo inserted in the Act t » be passed in this behalf or in tho Charter granted under it. (4) Default on the part of tho Companv to perform tho said condition shall subject them to tho forfeiture of their Charter. In the discussion which ensued, Mr. Currier, M.P., -stated that there was already a Bill before the House for the purpose of incorporating a Company styled the European, Araericau and Canadian Cab;'o Company to lay a cable from Canada to China and Japan. The debate was adjourned. Next day the undersigned addressed the following letter to the lion. H. L. Lan^evin, Minister of Public Works : — Ottawa, 2nd Anarch, 1381. Tho Honorable Hrctor L, LANOEVfN, C.B,, Minister of Public Works. Sir, — Tho debate in tho Ilouao of Commons yesterday, I'olati.'o to tho Pacific Ocean Telegraph, entails upon mo tho duty oi addressing you. It was not my good fl)rtuno to hear tho discussion. I)ut I have to-day road the r )i)()rt, and its tone impel.*! mo to ask your loavo to inti-nde upon j'oiir attention tho fo lowin^i; remarks: — It is a mistake, whioh I wish to havo corrected, to suppose 'hat [ re])re80nt any organized company. I have boon in communication with vari.ms perHon;j, and tho opinion his provailo 1 that witiiout subii lies oi- vaiiitiblo pri/ilo^os no coin])any could bo formed. The ditficuUio'i to l)e ovoro-omo in spinning tlvo oiv):in hj' ;i c:iblo over 4,000 milos in length, and in forming a «',onno;tion with oxi*ii''>g telogi-aphs on tho Asiatic si Ic, aro very groat, much groatoi- indeed thin mm}' ooopi >.ip.»oa!' to imugino. .The torms I iiavo askol do not slriko my min 1 as in any w ly u'lre isonaljlo, ail tho gentlemen witli whotn I havo boon in correspondence, '.ol 1 that th? a-ss-eiit of Parlia- ment, a- ;i pi'cdimiiia; V slop fowai-(l the {()i-ni:ition of a comp.uiy is in'lispens:ible. 'Ihis condiiion e-*tahlishoil, [ have c infidont hopes that tho fonuali m of a company would follow, and arrangements be spoolily ni.ido, iiiidor ;iiy own direction, to carry the work into execution. The supposition that it was my intiintion to dispose of any concessions granted, in London or New York, is pjrfuitly gratuitotn. Thoro i^ no gi'ound for this opinion, [fthe pivileges askcl f >!• l)o g;':intel. T an propar.'il jtiriouaily to engage in the undorl dtii^, :> do'.'ote to it wh it o.Kporioneo an 1 talents \ oosscs, and t > exert my utmost powers to bring the line into use at as oarly a day as nny I»o practi(ra!)lo. Whatever may be tho merit or (lomorit of tho scheme, I claim that it has origi* nated entirely witli myself; others may have conceived .similar projiM'ts, but the conce[)lion of tho enterprise under consideration aroso in my own mi'ul. I have discussed it with many ptofosfiional friends and others, and the steps which havo boon taken to bi'ing it b;^foro tho public; in iis present condition havo boon effeUcd by ine, and at my instigation and expense. It was my earnest desire to continue my labor and be associated with the enterprise until its complete fulfilment. When 1 fii'Bt sugi^estod tho connection of Ciinadii wilh Asia by Hiibinnrino tele- graph by the I'ncific Ocoun, my views were tli()ii<;ht vinionaiy. A year airo, however. I vontui(!(l to piopoiunl tho Hchcmo. I'l my last printed report on the Pacific Eailway, I sot forth tho pni'ticabilityot'oxtondin^ tho telegraph system of the Dominion by a connection with iho tele^'raph HyHtom of Asia, and I enumerated the advantageH which I conceived might bo looko • tor as the certain result. But my opinions wore then regarded as the fanciful views of a sanguine man and I venture tho remark that it was 0!ily after many intorviows, and with not a little difficulty, that I obtained the permission of the Minister of Railways and Canals to include the observations 1 had writlon in my published report. But I had faith in the Hchemo, boiioving it to bo one oveir.ually to ]> rove of iii' iilculablo benefit to Canada, and as soon as I ceasofi to act as Kngineor in-Chief of tho Canadian Pacific Railway, I took active steps to promote the undortaking, and since that date I have advanced it by all the moans in my liinitel power. Having time and leisure at my disposal, and believing that in tho early stages of a work of th's magnitude, individual effort was necessary to ensure success I determined to make an effort U> cai'ry out the scheme. Accordingly, in May last, I stated my views to tho Govornraont and submiitod a pro|).)Hiiioti which mot with favorable con- sideration. This proposition asked tho Govcrnrnont to countoininco the etforts which I proposed to make and to confer certain fac-lities and advantages which would not in any way commit the country to outlay. Subject to tlio approval of Pailiamont these advantages wei-e conceded. Since this concession a great deal of correspon- dence has passed. With the a.ssistance of tho Imperial Government tho requisite landing privileges have been sought and obtained from tho Governmorit of Japan. Other valuable privileges have al.so been secured. Capitalists, Klectric Cable Manu- facturing Companies and others have been communicated with. Exj.enditure and liability have been incurred by me. It was stated in the House of Common.s yesterday that a company seeking an Act of Incoi"poration is prepared to lay the cable across the Pacific Ocean without the advantages I have asked for. My aim tvom tho first has been to see tho Pacific Cable established and had tho proposed "ompany or any other intorvenod, when my sugges- tions were first made, I should not occupy the prominent position with regard to it in which I now appear to-day. As I have ro desire to cause the least impediment to carrying out of the project, I have to ask the Govern monl in no way to coisider me in the matter if ihey see the way clear ,ind certain to tho successful carrying out of the enterprise by this now company or a^'sociation, on tho terms which they now propose. I am porfojtiy willing to furnish i).ll the information I have obtained and to hand over the i-ights f have acquired, and to assist in oviM-y way in my power the consummation of a work, fraught with so many advantages to Canada, to the fCmpire, and to the woild. I therefbie beg re-ipectfully leave to suggest that the further consideration of the resolutions be deferred so that the Governnioni. can estimate the baud fides of the proposed liJuropean, American anl Canadian Company, and its ability and determi- nation to carry ont the enterprise, withoui endangering Canadian interests. And I have to express my willingue^is to acquiesce ;ii any urrangjniont whirh tho Govern- ment may con/idiu' expedient to suljmit to Parliaiaent wiliiout the least regard to the privileges they have seen fit to confer en me. 1 have the honor to ije. Sir, Your obtKiient servant. K y SANDFORD FLEMING* On a subsequent examination into the character of the proposed Com- pany referred to by Mr. Currier, as set forth in their bill, it was found that there was nothini^ whatsoever either in " the Notice " " the Petition " or in the "Bill" itself to shew that before the Minister of Public Works introduced his resolutions, the European, American and Canadian Company, had any intention of including in their operations, a cable in the Pacinu Ocean. On the contrary the powers asked for in the bill were confined to the Atlantic Ocean. The inference is plain that the establishment of telegraphic communication by the Pacific to Asia, was an after-thought on the part of the Company seeking incorporation The undersigned consequently addressed the following letter to the Minister of Public Works :- Ott.vwa, lOtli March, 1881. Sir, — I have fmbmllted a copy of fbc Bill of the proposed Euro| eiin American and Canadian Cable Company (liim:to>l) to ^ontlomon woll (jUuIiHcd to jiidne. iind I am advined tliaf a submarine teU'crrapli to Asia in cntiielv l)o\oi!d tht» scopo of iho propo od company's powers, and that th«M-o is nothing whatever in tho Hill to indicate that its promoters had or have tho least intention of undertakin;^ any works beyond the limits of the Atianlic It cannot be doubted that the projei-t has been conceived, and has up to this time been promoted in tho interests ol'CJanalu, and it has received the cordial support and countenance of the Dominion and Imperial Govocnmonts. Objections were raised during the discussion on the 1st iuHtant, but they have reference solely to the proposal to grant exclusive landing privileges on the Pacific Coast for twenty yoai-s. In my letter of the \ind instant, and in previous loiters, my position and views are clearly set forth. I did not think tho nrivi leges asked in any way unreasonable, and I fplt confident that the ditticiilties to be overcome in forming a company tocai-ry out the enterprise would be lessened, if the concx'ssion was granted for a limited number of yearH, or so long as moderate rates approved by the Govoviunont were charged and while the service< would be otflciontly performed. If, however, Parlia- ment is not willinij to assent to a concession of this kind. I trust there may be some other means ot carrying out the scheme of a Pacific Cattle, and, as [ havo talcon an active part in bringir)g tho project step by step to its present conilition and still tuko a deep interest in it and ilesii'o its early con-unim'ition, I am willing to continue my effortH in that behalf. I have, therefore, respectfully to request that, whatever form the will of Parlia- ment may assume wiih respect to the i-e.-oliilions intw bef-re the Iloii-e, ati Act miy be ))asse(l to give power t(> "iicorporate a uomp v to establish the lino of telegraph to which I have lincted public attention, ai>. di.ill gladly continue to do my utmost to have tho ufdertaking carried out. I have tho ' '»nor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) SANDFORl) FLKMING. Tho Honorable Hectou L. Lanqevin, C.B., Minister of Public Works. On tho nth instant, the resolution with the exclusive right of landing a cable in British Columbia omitted, wore again brought forward ana pasHed by the House of Comraous, and a bill [No. 1)7| to provide for the establishm'iit ot telegraphic comrauuication bfttw powerful Company properly organized and sustained may and probably will succeed in attaining the end design- ed ; but nothing will be so likely to defeat the project as the incorporation of a second Company at the same moment. If there bo any capitalists asso- ciated with the proposed new Company desirous of sinking their money in the Pacific Ocean, they may rest assured that th<\v will have the fullest opportunity of doing so, on equal terms with all others, under the one Com- pany. Even if there wore no other difficulties in fhp wo^r «p *u j cUbishment „fagr..at line of .HeRrl,™ b:tV:^n CanTdT . .d'^A-W assent ol Parliament to the additional now,™ asked bvthLpnr American and Canadian Company would I liar cre.to L ,*.f i '^T' very grave .haracter. Capitalists e«, "carcely be Muced to h,vt. t " irj .; f .K 'his nndeataking, and investois will not run th°s rfskTf tt^^^mtro^tt's'sUL^"^''*""""'""''"^ '"« -"- f^J- d'b;^ ,-.«* ^rf .^"'JJ^^^J^e *^ff«ct would be to retard and possibly destroy tho nrn }orbvth«V^'''^"'''AP''^''^^y "^^'^«^^« ^^^t the additioLl powL a^^^^^^^^ for by the European, American and Canadian Cable Company to [nt«rf7r. with the effort to connect Canada and Asia telographica^rrLt in fur^^^^^^^^ ance of public interests, and, accordingly, it should not be grated Respectfully submitted SANDFORD FLEMING-. Ottawa, March 17, 1881.