The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-10-08
~JohmstOn's IsIn nds.

The Pacific Guano Company, having received a
perfect tile to Johnston's Islands from the United
States Government, are now prosecuting the removal
of guano with great vigor. They have built a wharf
500 feet long, with II railway upon it, and at present
are at work upon the large island, where there is
said to be an unlimited supply of the very best quail
ity guano, which is found in strata, imbedded under
a layer of drift sand. There is a force of white men
now at work at Johnston's Islands, but they can only
load about 90 tons of guano per day. The schooner
Rosaiha takes down some mechanics, and has a
full cargo of building materials and cars for the rail-
way. The agents here, c, \. & II. F. Poor, are also
sending down 4 number of natives, they being
thought to be the best and most economical labor
that can be procured. We suhjoin the following pass
ages from an interesting article by Capt. Brown, of
ship Ocean Belle, relative to the anchorage at John
stOn's Islands, and addressed to Messrs. Fay & Willis,
of San Francisco:
JoHNsTox's ISLANDS, NORTH PACIFIC
July u, 1859.
MEssRs. FAY & WILLIs-Gentlemen 49, 7
arrived here on the 18th of May last, with fifteen
days passage from San Francisco, making the Island
to the w. ) W. L hauled to the South, and followed
the reef, keeping two miles distance off from it, until
the hill and flag staff upon the largest island bore
North by West: then ran direct for it, till within two
miles distance of shore, when l took n pilot and ran
into the anchorage without the least difficulty. My
snip lays one mile from snOre, IN nine f1thOmS water,
at her own anchors, as securely as she would in San
Francisco or New York harbor. The holding ground
Is good, and the entrance easy and safe. Ships COM
ing here, should make the Islands bearing W. or
W. 5. W.. and follow round the S. E.. end of the reef.
BY so doing, they will fetch their anchorage with ease.
On my arrival here, l found the ship Abby Brown,
Capt, Moody, loading. She took a full cargo, and
sailed from here July 9Th, for Hampton Roads, hav-
ing got under weigh without the least trouble. and
sailing directly to sea with the wind abeam. The
prevailing winds here are from L. by S. to y. and
blow with all the regularity of trade winds in those
ATTITUDES, in proof of which L remark that in no one
instance has my ship swung round The anchorage,
when l lay abreast of the large Island, is sufficient
for half a dozen ships, the harbor extends from nv
position, in shore, nearly half a mile, and is equally
as safe as where | am now lying. 1 am informed by
is equally good and safe anchorage abreast of the
small Island.
Since my arrival here, your wharf has been built
out from the large Island a sufficient disance to float
and bring of lighters at low tide-its length being
something over Eve hundred feet, upon which a rail-
road track has been laid, extending to the pit where
my guano is taken from. The depth of guano at the
place now open is about four feet.
| have now about 500 tons on board, and am tax
ing on so tons per day. l bring my guaDo off in
lighters of from eight TO 10 tons capacity, under sail.
with a free wind both ways: the average time required
to sail on and of does not exceed fifteen minutes each |
way. | am using the two lighters brought down from
San Francisco in the ship Radiant. They work finely, |
and carry the cargo dry and in good order. l think
you will do well to adopt their model, mainly. with
an increase, perhaps, of two tons capacity. The car
now used upon the railroad is not the thing for
permanent service: you should send down two rail cars
with iron wheels and axles, and two mules. With these
increased facilities, and two more lighters, you can,
with a force Of fifteen men, ship 100 tons of guano
per day, with ease. 1 shall take about 600 tons
more cargo, and hope to leave here within 25 days.
l am getting a good cargo. $3.50 The quantity
of guano here is large, and your natural advantages
for loading ships, are SUPERIOR to any guano island
within my knowledge. JoHS BRowN, JR.,
OF ship Ocean Belle.