The Government Cable was constructed in 1905 as part of the Alaska Military Cable and Telegraph System (WAMCATS.) With the help of the infantry, the signal corps of the U.S. Army constructed a telegraph system, which connected most of Alaska's major towns with the outside world. Valdez received telegraph service first. In the summer of 1905, a submarine cable was laid between Valdez and Seward. The first message, transmitted over the cable on August 7, 1905, was addressed to A.G. Frost, President of Alaska Central Railway, who was in Chicago: "This first message transmitted over Alaska Cable connects Seward from this day to the great city of Chicago."
The new C=communication service was immediately put to use by Frank Ballaine and the local newspaper, The Seward Daily Gateway. The daily Seward newspaper began to feature next day news accounts from the contiguous United States. Prior to this cable connection, news arrived by mail brought by steamer. The cable office was manned by U.S. Army personnel.
The telegraph service continued uninterrupted until 1934 when an earthquake severed the cable and it was not repaired. By this time radio communication had been put in place.