The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-02-23
Some Light on Hawaiian Affairs.

| In 1888 President CLEVELAND was called
upon by Congress for copies of all cor
respondence between this government and
the government of the Hawaiian Islands,
and with any foreign governments or
their representatives., concerning the oc-
cupation or control Of those islands if at
tempted by any foreign government. The
President replied that he had no such cor
respondence nor had anything OF the kind
taken place, but that reports OF the
changes in the constitutional government
of the islands had been transmitted to
Congress as part of the papers pertaining
to foreign relations.
At that time, however, there were some
important papers in possession of the adj
ministration, but they were not exactly
of the character described and called for
They were the confidential reports OF two
United States officers who had been ap-
pointed on a confidential mission to the
Hawaiian Islands. Major General j. NJ.
ScHoFIELD and Colonel B. S. ALEXAN-
DER had visited the islands, examined
their commercial facilities and defense
capabilities, and obtained such informa-
ton as was likely to be of value to the
United States in case of ''war with pow
erful maratime nation,
They found that Honolulu was about
the only really good commercial harbor in
the group and that twas not adapted for
harbor OF refuge. 1t was small, lay sea-
ward from the land, could not be defended
from the shore and only protected from
the sea by outlying coral reefs. 1t was
therefore untitled for a refuge harbor, as
it could be assailed from the sea and an
enemy's feet outside the entrance could
command it fully, as well as the town.
But they had found harbor which
with some work in the removal OF OBJ
structions to its entrance would make a
harbor of defense of the character desired.
This was situated on the island of Oahu.
Pearl river extends inland about six miles
from its mouth and is a fine sheet of
water with ample depth for any vessel,
but with coral reef at the entrance about
300 yards in width with only about two or
three fathoms depth OF water at low tide.
It is dead reef and therefore does not in
island. 1t forms q bar across the entrance
to the harbor and thus interposes an eff
fectual barrier.
Outside the reef they found depth of
fifteen fathoms. And they reported that
if this reef were removed by blasting, to
open channel 200 yards wide with a
depth of % feet at low tide, a fine harbor
could be secured which could be defended
by batteries from the opposite shores.
The cost of this work they computed at
$3.50, 900.
Near the entrance to this harbor, they
stated, was an island called Rabbit Island
which was admirably adapted for naval
station to store ammunition and supplies.
1t had no good water, but plenty could be
had from the island of Oahu and also
fresh provisions, fruits, vegetables, &c.
They recommended negotiations for the
cession or purchase of the harbor and it's
approaches, and considered it Of great
value to the United States in case of war
with a maritime nation.
In the United States Senate in 1892 a
proposition was made for an appropria-
ton of $3.50, 900 TO be expended under the
direction of the President of the United
States towards the establishment OF a
foreign naval station in Hawaii. That