Milestone-Proposal talk:French Transatlantic Telegraph Cable of 1898

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Revised text for Milestone -- Pisrael (talk) 14:56, 14 November 2016 (CST)

This is a very good proposal. I would like to suggest the following rewriting of the Milestone text:

The submarine telegraph cable known as Le Direct provided communication between Europe and North America without intermediate relaying. In a remarkable feat of oceanic engineering, the cable was laid in the deepest waters of the Atlantic Ocean between Brest, France, and Orleans, Massachusetts. When completed in 1898 by La Compagnie Francaise des Cables Telegraphiques, it spanned 3174 nautical miles, making it the longest and heaviest cable in service.

Paul Israel Milestone Advocate


I think it looks good. I won't even complain about the passive voice! -Allison

I fully support this Milestone. This was a major achievement in the evolution of cable technology. - Dave Bart

Re: Revised text for Milestone -- Administrator5 (talk) 14:30, 8 December 2016 (UTC)

Note from martin: Fix French accent marks

Wrong location of the plaque -- Juancarlos (talk) 10:49, 2 December 2016 (UTC)

This Cable is undoubtedly a very significant feat of engineering and deserves to be an IEEE Milestone. And the presentation is in fact an excellent essay on the subject.

The location of the plaque worries me. The equipment was designed and built in France by french engineers and it was installed and set in operation (laid) by a french company.

The Milestone really belongs to french engineering. Why is the plaque not in France ? The proposed location is just the far end of the cable, a small part of teh project. We may face a problem from the french section in the near future.

A few months ago a Milestone for a big display system in California was approved with the plaque’s location in Japan, where it was designed (and its part were probably built) but it was installed and set in operation in California. We can discuss for hours which was more significant, the design, the building of its parts, the construction itself. All this is really much dependent on each project. Sometimes there is a lot of engineering done “on site” – as in case of dams, some times “just mounting” as it was probably the case in California.

Now we have the opposite case. The achievement lies in the design, construction and installation of the cable, and all of them are well outside the proposed location for the plaque.

Re: Wrong location of the plaque -- Ggcooke (talk) 17:32, 7 December 2016 (UTC)

HERE IS MY RESPONSE TO THIS INTERESTING COMMENT: TWO PLAQUES ARE INTENDED TO PROPERLY COMMEMORATE THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT BECAUSE BOTH ENDS OF THE CABLE WERE INVOLVED. MUCH OF THE INSTALLATION WORK, FOR EXAMPLE, LANDING RIGHTS, ELECTRICAL TESTS, LANDING OF CABLE FROM BOTH ENDS, WERE IN FACT CARRIED OUT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF FRENCH NATIONALS HERE IN THE US.

THE PROVIDENCE SECTION AND THE FRENCH OES SECTION ( attention Rene Garello) HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING ON THIS AND OUR INTENTION IS TO HAVE TWO PLAQUE, ONE AT EACH END OF THE LANDMARK CABLE. THE CONFIRMING MEMO AUTHORIZING THE MOUNTING OF THE PLAQUE AT A FRENCH LOCATION IS STILL OUTSTANDING. RENE HAS ALREADY LOOKED INTO THIS AND HAS DEEMED IT FEASIBLE.

From: René GARELLO <rene.garello@telecom-bretagne.eu> Subject: Re: Proposed IEEE Milestone Date: March 7, 2016 at 5:21:58 AM EST

Hi all,

The Oceanic Engineering Society can support the initiative financially. That is not a problem.

I have also started some contacts with rep from a local initiative about the same subject (an "association" as we say in French). They are in he process of issuing a book (well, in French ...). Let me know if I can be of more support by providing further information on the site itself. This association (Locmaria-Patrimoine) has gathered maps, pictures (new and old), etc... Even though we are referring to the Brest transatlantic cable, the cable and the associated house and facilities of the "Compagnie des câbles" are on the territory of the town of Locmaria-Plouzané. The paper from Salvadore has already many good illustrations as well.

And finally, I can bring in the local authorities in (mayors of cities of Brest, Plouzané and Locmaria-Plouzané). I know all of them quite well (the privilege of being a bit older ...)

Cheers,

René


Prof. René Garello, Fellow IEEE President of the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society

CAN THE NOMINATION BE ACCEPTED AND APPROVED BY THE IEEE PROVIDING THAT A LOCATION IN FRANCE IS FINALIZED ?

getcooke@comcast.net