How many telegraph cables cross the Atlantic, and where? How many ocean cables are there in all?
Guy Smith.
Answer.—There were in 1879 seven telegraph cables between Europe and America—five from Ireland, one from France, and one from Portugal to Brazil. Since then a new cable has been laid between New York and Flores, in the Azores, from which one extension runs off to France, England, and Holland, and another to Fayal, San Miguel, and Lisbon, embracing in all 7,300 miles. The longest line before this latter was the French cable, 2,585 nautical miles. There are now some 225 ocean cables in all parts of the world, of the aggregate length of over 68,000 miles.
“I” AND “WE” IN JOURNALISM.
Dayton, Ohio.
1. What is the rule of The Inter Ocean as to the use of the pronouns “I” and “we” in the office and in editorial correspondence? 2. What is your rule respecting a contributor’s using “we” when referring to himself?
J. W. H.
Answer.—1. The use of the word “we,” under all circumstances, is deprecated. Senator Conkling once said: “Only three classes of people are allowed to say ‘we:’ Kings, editors, and men with a tape-worm.” In this office “The Inter Ocean” is used instead of “we.” 2. Correspondents use “I,” when necessary, but are instructed to be as impersonal as possible. “Your correspondent” is preferred.