THE INTERNET GOES TRANS-ATLANTIC

As discussed in a previous section, E H Beardie's original vision had always been that the Internet be a global network. However, for several decades the technologies to make this a reality were not available, and the costs simply prohibitive.

However, in 1920, after a lengthy Congressional review, President Harding, by Executive Order, created the Trans-Atlantic Internet Authority and tasked it with building the first Internet connection between New York City and Liverpool, England, by 1925. The Authority's initial budget was $200 million; an unimaginable sum in 1920. However, by 1923, the project was running behind schedule and the cost had spiraled to over $400 million, raising alarm in both houses and prompting dark mutterings that the project had become "Harding's Folly".

A flotilla of boats works together to lower sections of the
Trans-Atlantic Connector pipeline to the bottom of the ocean

Constructing the Trans-Atlantic Connector entailed lowering over 3,000 miles of 16 inch diameter steam pipe to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, often at depths of up to 6 miles. Each section had to be bolted to the next and the continuous length lowered smoothly, like a rope. This required the careful coordination of many lowering ships working simultaneously at different points along the pipeline to ensure that the stress on the pipeline did not exceed critical levels and cause a catastrophic crack.

The work was incredibly dangerous, and due to the project's tight schedule had to continue in all but the roughest weather conditions. In total, over 200 sailors from 28 different vessels lost their lives over the 7 years it took to complete the Trans-Atlantic Connector. These brave young men gave their lives to allow our current generation of young men to enjoy fast download speeds when accessing European Internet content.

A ship laden with sections of the Trans-Atlantic Connector leaves New York, 1922

UNDER PRESSURE

Another engineering challenge that the Trans-Atlantic Connector presented was that of providing sufficient pressure. In order to transmit the required amount of data through the relatively narrow 16 inch pipeline, huge steam pressure was required. Using lower pressure would have necessitated a wider diameter pipeline which was impractical on the grounds of cost and complexity of construction.

To create the tremendous pressure necessary to transmit information reliably through the trans-Atlantic pipe, the Trans-Atlantic Internet Authority enlisted the help of the Army Corps of Engineers to build two enormous steam boilers at the New York end of the pipe in the Bronx. Measuring 27 storeys high, with a capacity of 400 million gallon each, these boilers were by far the largest boilers in the world at the time and were affectionately known by New Yorkers as "Bertha" and "Betty" on account of their feminine curves.

These boilers were ultimately decommissioned in 1952 but many older residents of the Bronx still remember them to this day.

A ROYAL OPENING

King Edward VI of England

The Trans-Atlantic Connector was eventually completed in the winter of 1927, long after President Harding left office and almost 3 years late.

On a crisp winter's morning, a cheering crowd of many thousands gathered on Liverpool's dockside to watch the official state opening.
Using a specially made keyboard featuring ivory keys inlaid with rubies, and a carriage return incorporating the Star of Basingstoke (the second largest diamond in the world at the time), King Edward VI sent the first message through the Trans-Atlantic Connector to President Coolidge in the Oval Office. In addition to conveying his best wishes to the American people, and all the usual platitudes, the message contained some Bridge tips and instructions on how to make the perfect Gin Sour, his Royal Majesty's favorite drink.

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