'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎680v] (1362/1386)

8
namely, 3 total breaks and 4 partial earth faults. Of these 10 faults one sea ed
up and have been cut out, leaving for repair on 31st March 1890, four faults ,
namely one in the Fao-Bushire Cable and three in the Bushire-Jask India Rubber
Cable" The three total breaks were due to the corrosion of the iron guards.
Of the 2 partial faults repaired, one was due to the same cause, and one to manu
facture, the iron sheathing having been pressed into the core leaving Qny
a thin film of Gutta Percha between the conductor and earth. It is a matter
for surprise that this film was not pierced by the current during the 25
years the Cable has been down, and it is probable that there was some local
cause for its rupture in October 1889, when the fault first developed.
42. One circuit between Karachi and Bushire was in working order through
out the year, while a second circuit was available for 346 days, the India Rubber
Cable between Jask and Bushire being interrupted for 19 days on account of
breaks, repairs and renewals.
33 The Cable between Karachi and Jask was interrupted for 1292 days
owing to a fault off the Malan which could not be repaired on account of the
monsoon swell having set in. Both the land line wires however, worked well
during this time, the rupture of the cable thus causing no delay to traffic.
Maintenance, Repairs and Renewals of the Cables.
34. During the past official year the Telegraph steamer ‘ Patrick Stewart
made 4 trips, during which she steamed upwards of 7,000 knots, the Engineering
Establishment being absent from Head Quarters 11 7 days.
35. The work of renewal of the Karachi-Bushire cable* was proceeded with
satisfactorily during the year. Up to the end of the working season of 1890, and
since the 1st September 1888, 428 knots of Cable have been renewed, leaving 337
knots to be renewed.
. 36. In addition to this, 501 knots of new Cable were laid down on account of
faults and diversions.
37. Whilst carrying out the repairs and renewals (including the. diversion
off Gwadur whereby that station was cut out of the cable system) 280’88 knots of
Cable were disturbed, of which—
23-2 per cent, had to be left on the ground, being too weak to bear lifting.
25-5 per cent, was found only fit to be stripped for the core.
43-7 per cent, was fit for relaying after repair.
76 per cent, in short pieces was kept for sale for fencing purposes.
Expenditure of Cable and Cable in stock.
38. The total amount of Cable expended during the past year, including re
pairs and diversions of the Karachi-Manora Harbour cables, amounted to 277-81
knots, leaving on the 1st April 1890 a balance in stock of 54’04 knots, made up as
follows :—
Gutta Percha.
Shore end •
New cable
Repaired cable
Thin cable thin core
Thin cable thin core
. ... 293
33’82
.. ... ... ... 10 0
4’88
... ... ... 241
39. The Estimate sanctioned by
t Sanction No. 282-T., dated 1st December 1888.
tory against 267 knots, the length estimated.
40. The Gutta Percha cable core recovered from stripped cable was re-manu
factured into cable, if the length exceeded a quarter knot, shorter pieces being
sent to the India Store Department, London, for sale in returned cable core tanks.
All stripped India Rubber core was also forwarded for sale as it was found too
full of faults to re-sheathe any lengths of it.
• Sanctioned by the Government of India, Public Works Department, in letter No. 282-T., dated 1st Decem
ber 1888.
the Government of Indiat has again been
worked up to, 272*94 knots of cable having
been manufactured or retaped in the fac-