The miracle never happened. Although mirror galvanometers were installed at both ends of the cable, no signal from New York was detected. Of course, New York did not receive the signal from London.
In an instant, public opinion in Britain and the United States was in an uproar.
…
"Then what?"
Looking at the frowning Field and Buffett, Zhu Xianhai asked calmly.
"Then?"
"Yes, I mean what is the situation now?"
"Now, the Atlantic Telegraph Company's stock has fallen into ruins, and no one anymore believes that this telegram has practical value,"
Buffett let out a long sigh.
"When we left London, we heard that the British government was ready to abandon that line..."
Field sighed, "Only he knows how difficult it was to lobby the two governments to support the "Atlantic Cable". But now, the news of failure has become the straw that breaks the camel's back.
Facing the dejected two people, Zhu Xianhai smiled.
"this is a good news!"
"What?"
The two looked at Zhu Xianhai in confusion, what was he talking about?
"In any case, this is good news."
Zhu Xianhai smiled.
"The British and American governments abandoning this line means that we can sell this line to other people at a high price!"
"Sell it to other people? Who, who can possibly buy this pile of scrap metal?"
At this moment, Buffett even felt that Zhu Xianhai was a little unreasonable. Did he know what he was talking about?
"Who said he is useless?"
Looking at Buffett, Zhu Xinghai smiled.
"The reason why the outside world makes such a judgment now is simply because even if a mirror galvanometer is used to detect and amplify the signal passing through the cable, it cannot amplify the weak signal."
"Yes, sir, because its signal is too weak, probably because of the cable."
Field has lost many friends and investors over the past few years, but he has never lost his optimism, but this time, he lost all confidence.
"The fact that the signal is too weak does not mean that there is no signal. In the final analysis, it is because the performance of the mirror galvanometer is limited. What if we change to a mirror galvanometer with better performance?"
The mirror galvanometer is one of several instruments used to measure weak currents. It uses a beam projected on a scale to act as a pointer in a traditional ammeter. The small changes caused by the current are amplified by the deflection of the mirror beam to achieve measurement.
.However, the performance of the current mirror galvanometer is still very primitive. After all, William Thomson just completed its improvement a few years ago.
"Have we?"
Buffett asked rhetorically.
"What we use in London is the most advanced mirror galvanometer in the world."
"That's London."
Zhu Xianhai pretended to smile mysteriously.
"I have a reflector galvanometer here too!"
In fact, Zhu Xianhai had already expected the failure. The quality of the submarine cables that Field had worked so hard to lay was actually very poor. For example, the lack of purity of copper was a problem. This directly hindered the transmission of current signals. Historically,
, when this cable was lifted out during the construction of a second cable in Field, a similar problem was encountered. How was it solved later?
It's nothing more than a further improvement of the "reflector galvanometer", and then what? That line has been in use for decades.
"We have a mirror galvanometer here?"
Facing the surprise of both of them, Zhu Xianhai smiled.
"Yes, otherwise, why do you think I would invest in the Atlantic Telegraph Company? Moreover, the performance of the new galvanometer is better, and the speed of sending and receiving messages is at least 50 times faster."
In fact, even when the first Atlantic cable was operational, its performance was mediocre. On August 16, 1858, Queen Victoria sent a message to the President of the United States in Morse code, which he did very slowly - 99 words.
It took 16 and a half hours to send the congratulatory message - but the success was celebrated by New Yorkers all over the city.
However, the emergence of new mirror galvanometers will change everything.
"Really, really?"
Field looked at Zhu Xianhai nervously. For him whose reputation had been disgraced, Zhu Xianhai's words were undoubtedly the last straw.
"certainly!"
Zhu Xianhai nodded and said.
"I have manufactured two finished products. Compared with William Thomson's improved reflector galvanometer, its performance has been improved by more than 5 times. It can perfectly solve the problem of the Atlantic cable. Believe me, it is now ridiculed.
And irony, in a month, will become a joke!"
Looking at the confident Zhu Xianhai, Buffett suddenly said.
"My friend, did you expect all this?"
"Are you saying the transmission failed?"
Picking up the wine glass, Zhu Xianhai took a sip and then said.
"Of course, Cyrus, you should know very well that this telegraph line is invested by the US government and the British government. Now we only hold 50% of the stock. Although the US government is willing to sell the stocks they hold, the British government
The government seems to have been very optimistic about the potential of Atlantic Cable, and they have no intention of selling shares at all, right?"
Cyrus Field certainly knew this all too well.
"Yes sir, four years ago the British government gave orders by telegram to two regiments in Canada. The regiments were on their way to India, but when the British government learned that the Indian rebellion had been suppressed, they sent new orders by cable.
By not sending troops, the Treasury saved about £60,000, probably more, and recouped about a seventh of their investment in the cable with a single military order, so the British were very optimistic about its potential."
Historically, it was the support of the British government that allowed Field to re-lay the second Atlantic cable a few years later.
"So the British are optimistic and are unwilling to sell the stocks they hold. This is not good news for us."
"What?"
Field's face was full of doubts.
“Isn’t British support a good thing?”
Without the support of the British government, he would never have been able to roll out the cable.
Glancing at Field, Zhu Xianhai sighed.
"At least for businessmen, this is definitely not a good thing. What we are pursuing is maximizing profits. The British government... is definitely an obstacle, because the potential of this telegraph line is endless, if we want to realize its value
, we must make it a place where rare things can be found!”
"A rare thing to live in? What does that mean?"
"It means that after the British sell its shares, when it is successfully tested again, and its stock price soars, the British and the United States will all be willing to pay a high price to acquire this line. Well, maybe France will also
!The third emperor will definitely be interested in this route, if it succeeds!"
Putting down his wine glass, Zhu Xianhai said proudly.
"If you want to cut leeks, you must use some means. This time, I plan to use this cable to cut the British, American and French people severely!"
Ignoring the stunned two people, Zhu Xianhai just tasted the wine quietly. At this moment, he felt proud in his heart. Everything was as he expected. It was within the plan to use the technical differences to make money from the three countries of Britain, the United States and France.
This is Zhu Xianhai's original intention of investing in Atlantic Cable.
"Field, how much do you think the Atlantic Telegraph will be worth by the time it gets a signal again? Two million pounds? Five million pounds, or more?"
"Sir, why can't we run it ourselves? It's very profitable! This cable has great potential. When it first started running, the price of sending a telegram was very expensive, 10 dollars a word, and each telegram had at least 10 words.
.If the telegraph is expensive, it means that its profit potential is very large."
Field looked at Zhu Xianhai in confusion.
"Then it must be worth more!"
Zhu Xianhai knew a little bit.
"This can be sold at a good price!"
Zhu Xianhai knew very well that this cable could not be defended. The best option was to use it to make a quick buck before others took action!
Like selling it to the French!
This chapter has been completed!