Russian-American Telegraph (Russian America)



The Russian-American Telegraph, also known as the Western Union Telegraph and the Collins Overland Telegraph, was a which ran across modern day Alaska:0:0 and Russia:0:0, and was constructed to connected  to  (via the shallow  and across ). Proposed in 1861 by United States:American:0 as an alternative to a, the project gained backing by the Russian Empire:0:0, the United Kingdom:0:0, and the United States:0:0.

Surveying the proposed rout took place in 1864, with construction beginning the following year. The route would expand upon the already existing telegraph communication lines in southern American Krai:Russian America:0 and by constructing new lines across British-controlled Columbia:0:0 and an undersea cable across the shallow. Along with connecting the Russian Empire, the connection was hoped to be the first reliable transcontinental connection between Europe and North America.

The project was nearly abandoned in 1867 with the completion of a successful transatlantic undersea cable by. Despite loosing backing from the United Kingdom, the Russian Empire agreed to fund Western Union to complete the connection. The project was completed in 1872 following the laying of the undersea cable across the Bering Sea.

While a failure in being the transatlantic connection it was hoped for, the Russian-American Telegraph helped keep both halves of the Russian Empire connected and together. The project also lead to the Columbia Purchase:0:0 in 1872, thereby expanding the Empire in the process.