New-York tribune., 1868-07-30
NEW ISLANDS IN TIE PACIFIC.

INPORTAET DISCONERl-MORE TERRITORY FOB
THE UNITED STATES.
On the 9th of july 1859, Capt NJ c. Brooks
Of the Hawaiian bark Gambia while cruising to tho west
northwest OF the Sandwich Islands, discovered GROUP
of islands and shoals latitude 25o IL north and longt
tude f7o 2 west from Greenwich not hitherto given Oh
any chart on % aks ie dS aosUSe ecced EPd S
STAFF and took possession OF them IN the name OF ths
United States, leaving notice TO that eject In MS 90
scrpOn Of the islands he states that tue group So1sw
OF two islands from four TO ye miles long TWO ana haH
barren while tho other covered with vegetation. Be-
sides these there Is small island The whole u ehclrceo
bTeakert outside Of winch there is good anchorage In
from niue 70 twelve fathOms water Inside the reef
wibn Mains dissnce Of the beach with perfect safey
but the best anchorage about half mile from shore
fathOBs The entrance to the lagoon
is the west but the reef may be approached bold
y from any direction there being no danger beyond te
north and south sides, aud about cables
wall -four feet high perfectly level and wide enough
fora carrageway There were also seen the remains OF
what probably raft. winch must have drifted TO tho
island years there being indication OF any per son
having been there before An extensive deposlt OF
we'll water found at the depth Of 10 feet The waters
OF the Lagoon abound with bsh and turtle and birds ara
On the 18th OF May 1867 Allan McLane, esq President
OF the Pacific Mail steamship Company addressed let
ter to the secretary of the Navy calling the attention OF
the Navy Department TO the great Importance: in
OF obtaining, at the earliest pTacncaOe moment iu ano
reliable information touching tho chain OF small Islands
group general westnOrth- westerly direction" Mr.
McIno particularly mentioned Of these which
pro Of cary Importance as coaing station for that
cOmpanys China steamships and for United states vessels
cruising those waters and requested that fu survey
might be made Of these Islands by trustworthy vessel
the 2sh Of May 1887 the Department issued All order,
with the requisite instructions. to Rear Admiral IL X.
Thatcher commanding the North Pacific Squadron 70 de-
search for the and above referred TO- and having found
it, to take possession Of 1t IN the pane OF the Unto9
states and TO make as accurate ana complete survey
OF it practicable Accordingly the LaeKawanna, Capt.
William Reynolds was sent Oh the expeditions and undei
date OF the g0tiI OF september 1851 Cap keyhoias 70
ported hat he took formal possession OF BROOKS isiana
and reefs for the United states on the h OF august pre-
yous The report OF the surveys made ny capt Keynoas
substantially confirms Capt BrOOks5 original statement
He describes the two Islands as BrooAs lana
as being long ana low ana chley formed Oh coral sheI.
aud sand. They lie IN lagoon surrounded Dy
"a reef except pon5aG q Sae spPds gPdG' ~ers en
trance of three fathoms in depth. The North Island
South Island larger and higher but has lea:
| soil and scantier vegetaton beach consisting OK
the lagoon distance OF from 50 70 100 yards all around
the North Island On the south side OF the island there
slight depression, embracing about i've acres, extend
ing from n n f. TO s s. W This area has superficial
feet IN depth, mixed with small per centsge Of
| guano The vegetation OF the island consists
shrubs are re oVer three to ve feet Sg6 on both stands
several wells were dug and water found at depths OF
from four to seven feet Surgeon Kennedy tested the
water taken from these far the materials he had
at hand permitted. When first collected the speci-
of suspension that it necessary TO filter them.
After ltratiOn tested by different reagents they were
found 10 be hard free from organic impurities IN solution,
TO contain earbOnic acid carbonate OF lime and per
centage Of chordes becOmes better adapted for drink
ing after standing time Capt Burdett Of the Pa
eihc Mail steamship Company was reported TO haye
found fresh water There evidence that wells,
properly sunk to good depth would afford good sup
ply OF potable water Immense numbers OF sea Dirds
constantly lowering and alightng upon these
islands The bushes and surface OF the ground are
hcky covered with their nests while the young BIRDS,
unable TO fly, so numerous as TO make difficult 10
walk any distance without ramplng upon them. From
such vast numbers there should be large amount OF
the oOseess and pOrousness Of the soil allowing TO be
washed away filtered through It, The lagoon Is full OF
fish, seal aud turtle The seal Is the common hair SEAL
and is not OF much commercial Importance The FISH be-
long principally TO the mulet perch, and mackere fam
Capt Reynolds describes the harbor formed very
much like that OF Honolulu as rather more roony and as
safe but with not quite the depth OF water on Its
bar which, however appeared TO be available FOR vessels
drawing less than Is feet Like Honolulu, the entrance
il is from the west through narrow opening IN the
coral reef where most contracted IL
be entered readily Honolulu az all seasons OF tho
wear Depth of water for anchorng is five to faith
oms white sandy bottom The harbOr Is cut OF from the
lagoon by shoa mile In width and careful sur
yey failed 10 disclose any ships the lagoon
10 would be possible ghtdraught vessel to get into
the lagoon by passing TO the nOrthward OF the middle
ground" and threading her way IN among the ROCKS bus
that the Jackawanna renamed at the slands the lowest
point which the thermometer reached was 72 while the
highest S9o The greatest rise and fall OF the tide
observed during the ncap tides is inches the lowest
Is inches. Ebb six and One-hah hours Hood runa
i've and One-hah hours. From the appearance OF the
beach il would seem the rise of the Spring tides Is
much as three feet which would allow deeper draught
10 be carried over the bar those periods The bar swell
within the entrance aud there is swell II during
the trade winds The circumference OF the reef ncong
the islands is AZ miles Its shape Is IRREGULAR It's diam
etev from North South, "a miles from East TO West,
10 miles. The Midway Islands" has been adopted
by the Navy Department for this group partly in view OF
naiiy ON tbe unofficial suggestion OF the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company, in recognition OF the geographical
position Of these islands on the route from the sandwich