New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-08-17
Pearl River HarbOr.

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letter to the Hartford lConnecticut)
Conr0,.:. concerning the acquisition OF a
harbor IN the Sandwich Islands. The letter
is dated Honolulu. judy s:
The question OF questions nov. with the
business men and land owners and planters
of these islands, is the treaty OF reciprocity
withe the United States. I am able to give
YOU some informal On this subject, which
will doubtless considerably interes. the
people OF the United States.
yesterday King Lunaii!O and lis Cab
met decided upon treaty OF reciprocity
upon the basis Of a cessIon Of Pearl rlver 10
the United States.
"Of course all the Americans. and pretty
much all the property hoiders. the plan ters
of sugar especially. are warmly in favor OF
the treaty. Nest Of the land OF the islands
nearly az! that which is valuable-is
owned bv forei gners. Three-fourths of the
sugar interests are in the hand. of Amec:-
cans.
The americans would go in for annexa-
ton, if it would do any good, but as tina: is
hopeless, they favor q reciprocity Of trade
with what they re gard as the mother coun-
try as the next best thing. The native
population are dead against annexation,
and would vote down the proposition over
whelmins!y. suppose i: is, ca your side,
as little favored.
General schoie,d and General Alexan-
der. lieutenant colonel Of the United States
engineers, arrived in Honolulu last Jan
uary III the steamship California, Admiral
Pennock II command. The steamer Benz
cia came about the same time, which was
Just after the ascension of the new King.
The party remained there three months,
visiting and exploring and making them
selves conversant with the resources and
advantages of the islands. General Scho-
field talked with everybody freely, but was
exceedingly reticent of his own opinions
about reciprocity, which was the only topic
on which those who interviewed him cared
much for his opinion.
The important thing. however. accom-
plished by General Schofield was the com
plete survey of Pearl river. Surveying
parties went cut from the ships day after
day for weeks. and if your government is
not informed of the exact value of Pearl
river for harhor and naval station. it is
not the fault OF the engineers.
Pearl river is large harbor. about six
miles west Of Honolulu. 1t opens to the
south. and is not so much river as it is a
narrow bay or lagoon, extending into the
land some six or eight miles, with abundant
depth OF water. The shores are low near
the ocean. but rise into high ground at the
head Of the river. Near the head is an
island a half mile in length by quarter of
a mile wide, which is considered to be well
adapted ter navy yard. The country
about the lagoon is rather dreary 10 the
sight. having no trees. 1t is used as pas.
ture for stock.
The entrance to tn. harbor of Pearl river
is comparatively narrow-about the same
as that 20 the harbor of Honoiulu-at which
most of the entrances OF sailing vessels are
made by the aid of steamtugs. The en-.
trance to the harbor is al present partially
barred by coral reef, perhaps hundred
feet broad. upon which there is depth ni
eight feet Of water. This reef would have
TO be blasted away. out that is an easy job,
for the coral reef is not hard, and can be
removed without great expense.
'Of course, Il would cost the government
something 20 make d coaling and naval sta
ton of Pearl river. But it has become a
necessity TO You to have station in these
waters. This one. established and stocked
and equipped at Pearl river, would not only
command ali the Sandwich islands. bu, all
the Pacific islands. in fact. l suppose it is
only q question of time when the United
States shall have station here somewhere
''Although General Schoteld was. as
said. very retlcent about his errand here
vet / am able to tell you, on authority that
| do not doubt, that he has expressed him
self in favor OF reciprocity with the United
States on the basis Of the cessiou OF Pearl
river.
And may add that it is well believed
here. upon reports direct enough for us to
credit, that General Grant and his Cabinet
also favor the treaty, and the acquisition OF
this Pacific harbor."