Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-04-19
A NATAL COaLiNG STATION.
One Of the Galapagos Islands Said to Nave
Been Secured.

WASHINGTON, April ls.--Thcrc is excel
lent authority for stating that the United
States government has concluded a treaty
with the government of Ecuador by which
the nited States is given the right 10 ac-
Quire coaliug station in the Galapagos
Isles, position of vantage in the Pacific
ocean and 50 situated AS TO be of vast inn
portance TO naval vessels.
This important concession Is the result of
negotiations that have been carried on for
some time between Mr.. Rowland Il Ma
hony, the United States minister 10 Ecua-
dor, and the Ecusdorian department of
foreign affairs, The treaty, ii is said was
signed some time last month and immed
ately forw arded TO Washington. II is be-
lieved that il was sent 10 the Senate this
week and is now in the possession of that
body awaiting ratification.
The sundry civil bill for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1898, contained general
provision for the requirements of such sta
tons, as follows "For providing naval
and coaliug stations, $3.50, 900. to be ex-
pended under the direction ot the presl-
dent. The bill became a law Aug. i, 1892.
and the state department Immediately took
the matter in hand
The vast distances to he trsversed from
port TO port in the Pacific naturally decided
the que stion of situation in favor of that
ocean, and in view Of the large American
in South America and the frequency with
which revolutionary outbreaks occur there,
it was also natural that the government
should look for n position within easy
reach of the South American coast
II IS probable that the recent trouble
with Chill was also factor in influencing
the selection of the Galapagos Isles, stu
ated As they are 90 the west const and with
in three or four days sail of any Chilian
port.
The United States has alrc ,dy acquired
rights to maintain coaling stations at Pago
'aco and Pearl river, and it has complied
with all conditions. and is now maintaining
a station at Honolulu. All of these places
are on the Pacific, but the failure to take
possession of any Of them except the last
named has made the I 'nited States navy
very weak il this connection. and has
proved neither economical nor safe.
twas finally determined by the state
department that the Galapagos Isles pos
sessed the greater number of qualifications
for coalng station, and Minister Mahoney
was accordingly directed to negotiate for
the requirement of one of them by this
government.
The Galapagos isles are II in number.
five large and 10 small, forming an arcbi-
pc'ago. They are situated about 800 OF
900 miles west of Ecuador, and have an es-
area of 225O square miles. Three
of the islands Charlcs Chatham and Albc-
marle--arc inhabited. Since 1929 they
have been used by the government OF
Ecuador as penal settlement for political
offenders.
They are situated on the equator, but are
not intensely hot. They are directly be-
tween the routes prescribed by the navy de-
partment for vessels procced ding from San
Francisco to Csllao and to Valparaiso. and
are also on the naval route between Homo
lulu and Callao and Guayaquil.