History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications
from the first submarine cable of 1850 to the worldwide fiber optic network

The Commercial Pacific Cable Company

The Commercial Pacific Cable Company was formed by a collaboration of the Commercial Cable Company, the Great Northern Telegraph Company, and the Eastern Telegraph Company, with the goal of laying a cable across the Pacific Ocean from America's west coast.

Founded in 1901, the company provided the first direct telegraph route from America to the Philippines, China, and Japan.  Prior to this, messages had to travel across the Atlantic to the Far East via Capetown and the Indian Ocean, or via London to Russia, then across the Russian landline to Vladivostock, then by submarine cable to Japan and the Philippines.

Although it was an American company, its first ships were British: CS Scotia and CS Restorer.

The first section of the cable was made by the India Rubber, Gutta Percha and Telegraph Works Company and was laid in 1902 by the cableship Silvertown from San Francisco to Honolulu. The landing of the cable at Ocean Beach, San Francisco, adjacent to the Cliff House, was apparently quite an event, with a large crowd, numerous dignitaries, and a brass band. The three views below were made by an amateur photographer:

The cable landing was just north of the ramp shown in the 1902 postcard, where the crowd is gathered. The ramp is believed to have been used by the Lifesaving Station located near the foot of Fulton Street - the lifesavers had to drag their boats to the surf on wheeled cars, and this ramp would have helped them avoid the steep bluff and soft sand dunes. The original ramp has been replaced by a modern concrete ramp in the same area. [Thanks to John Martini for information on the ramp's location and probable use.]

Gary Stark, who manages the Cliff House Project website, has an archive of photographs by J.B. Monaco, which give a good overview of the cable landing area. The ramp can clearly be seen in several of Monaco's images. See also the chart and map below.

The landing of the cable at San Francisco was reported by the New York Times in its issue of 15 December 1902:

PACIFIC CABLE IS LANDED

Christened by the Little Daughter of the Governor of California.

The Steamship Silvertown Starts for Honolulu at Seven-Knot Speed, Laying Down the Ocean Section.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 14.-"In memory of John W. Mackay, I christen thee Pacific Cable. May it always carry messages of happiness."

With these words Lucille Gage, the eleven-year-old daughter of Henry T. Gage. Governor of California, to-day christened the trans-Pacific cable and, breaking a bottle of champagne over the shore end, inaugurated a new era in the commercial development of the Pacific Coast.

The landing and splicing of the shore end, which is to connect the mainland with Honolulu, was accomplished without hitch and was witnessed by about 40,000 persons. Ideal weather prevailed, there being hardy any surf.

The steamer Newsboy, carrying six miles of cable, steamed close in shore early this morning and by a life-saving boat's crew sent ashore a rope to which the cable was attached. Word was sent to President Clarence W. Mackay and the cable and Postal Telegraph officials that all was in readiness. The work of hauling in the cable was done so expeditiously that the officials arrived on the beach only two minutes before the cable, which touched the beach and was christened at 9:55 A.M.

While the cable was being spliced to the land end, Mayor Schmitz delivered a short speech, congratulating Mr. Mackay on the successful beginning of the work. He also spoke of the importance of the undertaking and the benefit to the world at large that would result from its completion.

Clarence W. Mackay, President of the Pacific Commercial Cable Company, thanked the Mayor and those present.

Gov. Gage, on behalf of the State of California, paid a warm tribute to the late John W. Mackay. The formal exercises closed with cheers for the cable and all those taking part in its landing.

Refreshment tents were erected on the beach. and while the cable was being spliced Mr. Mackay served champagne and other refreshments to a large number of invited guests. Mr. Mackay also sent the following telegram to President Roosevelt:

I have the honor to inform you that the end of the Honolulu cable was successfully brought to shore this morning.

When the splicing was completed, late in the afternoon, horses were hitched to the end and the cable was drawn through a conduit to the cable station. At the same time the steamer Newsboy steamed out to sea five miles and anchored the cable with balloon buoys. It was picked up by the cable steamer Silvertown and taken aboard.

The splicing to the main body was completed to-night, and the Silvertown headed for Honolulu at a seven-knot speed.

The first message over the cable was sent from shore to Chief Engineer Benest on the Silvertown, congratulating him on the successful landing. Several tests were made as the cable was being paid out by the Newsboy, and it was found to be in perfect condition.

A portion of the cable was cut up into small pieces for souvenirs and distributed by President Mackay among his guests. During the ceremonies an artillery band from the Presidio played. President Mackay tendered a banquet to-night to the officials of the Cable and Postal Telegraph Companies.

The section of the cable from San Francisco to Honolulu was opened to traffic on January 1st, 1903. Later that year cables made by Telcon were laid from Honolulu to Midway, Midway to Guam, and Guam to Manila.

Bill Glover adds this detailed history of the Commercial Pacific Cable Company and its cableships:

Before the Pacific cable was laid in 1902 the only way to send a telegram from the west coast of America to China or Japan was across America, then to England, and then either via the Great Northern route through Russia or via the Eastern and Eastern Extension network to India and beyond.

In 1901, to overcome this problem, three of the existing cable companies formed the Commercial Pacific Cable Company. Those involved and their share were the Commercial Cable Company (25%); the Great Northern Telegraph Company (25%) and the Eastern Telegraph Company (50%). Though the Eastern was the majority shareholder the company was registered in the USA.

The India Rubber, Gutta Percha and Telegraph Works Company was contracted to manufacture and lay a cable from San Francisco to Honolulu. CS Silvertown laid the 2277 nm cable in 1902. In 1903 Telcon manufactured and laid three cables, Honolulu - Midway Island 1336 nm; Midway Island - Guam 2656 nm; and Guam - Manila, Philippines, 1642 nm. CS's Anglia and Colonia carried out the work.

In 1905 the German-Netherland Telegraph Company laid a cable from Menado, Celebes, Dutch East Indies, to Yap and then Guam, and from Guam to Shanghai, with CS Store Nordiske (1) carrying out the laying in the Yangtse river. After the end of the first world war these cables were divided between the three cable companies.

Reproductions of postcards published on the opening of the link from Guam to Bonin Island (Japan). Detail of map

In 1906 Siemens Bros manufactured and laid a 909 nm cable between Guam and Bonin Island in the Japanese archipelago, chartering CS Silvertown to carry out the work. In the same year the India Rubber, Gutta Percha and Telegraph Works Company manufactured and laid a cable between Manila and Shanghai using CS Silvertown and CS Store Nordiske (1). The latter vessel carrying out the shallow water cable laying.

Postcard embossed with:- C.S.S. “SILVERTOWN” MANILA - SHANGHAI CABLE EXPEDITION. Posted Shanghai 18 April 1906, received Nottingham 23 May 1906

The network remained in use until 1941 when the service beyond Midway Island was abandoned due to the advance of Japanese forces. Following the end of the second world war only the Midway Island - Guam - Manila cables were repaired, and in the period up to 1950 the company spent $1.5 million on repairs. CS Restorer, now 50 years old, was in need of an extensive refit or replacement, the latter costing a further $1.5 million. In 1950 less than 1000 messages passed between the USA and Midway Island and only 11% of traffic between the USA and Manila passed along the cables. Without the links to China and Japan the network was no longer viable and the company applied to the American Federal Communications Commission to cease operations. The FCC approved and the service was closed down in October 1951. The cables were sold to Cable & Wireless who recovered a considerable amount using CS Recorder (3). A large part of the recovered cable was used elsewhere.

1947 cablegram and envelope

SCOTIA

Built 1861, R. Napier & Co,. Glasgow

Length 379.0 ft Breadth 47.8 ft Depth 20.0 ft Gross tonnage 3871

Built originally for Samuel Cunard for the Atlantic service. Held the Blue Riband for five years. Purchased in 1879 by the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company and converted for cable laying. Sold in 1903 to the Commercial Pacific Cable Co. Broke her back on a reef at Catalan Island, Guam in 1904.

RESTORER

Built in 1903 by Armstrong Whitworth and Company, Newcastle upon Tyne

Length 358.4 ft. Breadth 44.0 ft. Depth 20.8 ft. Gross tonnage 3180

Built for the Eastern Extension, Australasia and China Telegraph Company CS Restorer was sister ship to CS Patrol, the two being launched within a few days of each other. The ships left England loaded with cable, part stock for Singapore, and the remaining 650 nm to be laid for the Dutch East Indies Government between Balikpapen and Kwandang. CS Restorer was supposed to have remained at Adelaide as repair ship for the area but was sold to the Commercial Pacific Cable Company to replace CS Scotia.

FLAURENCE WARD

Built in1907 by Bendixsen Ship Building Company, Eureka, California

Length 105.9 ft. Breadth 24.4 ft. Depth 14.3 ft. Gross tonnage 207

A wooden sailing vessel fitted which was fitted with a screw and compound engine in 1908. Used for small repair jobs until 1924 when sold to the Inter Island Steam Navigation Company and renamed Molokai. Broken up in 1943

DICKENSON

Built in 1923 by Sun S.B. and D.D. Co., Chester, Pa.

Length 174.3 ft. Breadth 30.1 ft. Depth 21. 8 ft. Gross tonnage 831.

CS Dickenson acted as both a cable repair ship and also a supply ship, used to supply the cable stations on the various islands and to transport staff to and from the stations. Fitted out with accommodation for twelve passengers, two cargo holds and a single cable tank, 20 ft diameter and 8 ft high. Two 18 inch bow sheaves were fitted with very basic cable handling equipment being installed. Stern paying out gear was not fitted. Sold to a Pacific island trading company and renamed Kailua. Sank in January 1946.

Chartered by the Pacific Cable Board in 1941 to evacuate the families of the cable station staff and plantation staff because of the Japanese advances. The vessel arrived in Honolulu just as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began.

Credits: The first two Ocean Beach images and the Cliff House postcard images were supplied by Gary Stark, who manages the Cliff House Project website, a comprehensive and well-illustrated history of this famous California landmark, which was built in 1896 and destroyed by fire in 1907.

References:

Haigh, K.R.: Cableships and Submarine Cables, London, 1968, Adlard Coles.

For a detailed history of CS Restorer, and much additional information on the Commercial Pacific Cable Company, see Dirk van Oudenol's pages .

The Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge site has a page on the cable operations on the island.