For the last thirty years Congress has from time to time had under consideration the establishment of a trans-Pacific submarine cable. Until recently this plan has never been more than in embryo. But... owing to the expansion of commerce... the establishment of such a cable in the near future is now rendered imperative.
Nope, this was not written in connection with the Taiwan earthquake that caused havoc among Southeast Asia's telecommunications companies and their users last December 2007. It's from "The Projected Cable-line to the Philippines" by Chandler Hale (North American Review, July 1900). More than a century later, it looks like a lot remains to be done.
