The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-05-14
PEARL uAnnon coMMENr.
IN Eminent American writer on III,
Coming Great Port.

The following notes about Pearl
Harbor are from the pen of VIM. r..
Curtis. assistant secretary of the Treas
ury and formerly editor of the Chicago
Inter Ocean.
Pearl harbor can be rendered abso-
lutely impregnable both by batteries at
its mouth and by Notifications in its
rear, as the land rises rapidly in the inn
mediate vicinity. Honolulu is only
seven miles from Pearl harbor by direct
water line. The banks of the lagoons
facing on deep water will furnish APP
proximately thirty miles OF docks.
There is ample room within the harbor
to accommodate all the navies of the
world, with room for maneuvering. The
lagoons are from a quarter of a mile to a
mile across, with practically no shoals
or rocks except in q few places near the
banks. The only other place in the ISL
ands at which vessel can land along
side OF wharf is at Honolulu, which,
although an extremely safe harbor, is so
small that it is already somewhat cramp-
ed for commercial needs. There is not
room in it for establishing naval sta
ton OF any size.
There is one other harbor which might
be made available for vessels toscome up
to the wharf in the port OF Hifo, in the
island of Hawaii but it would require
g nlyx f..t.
of about a mile in length to make it
safe in northerly storms and an ex-
penditure Of several millions of dollars.
Being at the head of the bay it is also
subject to tidal waves which do not
affect Pearl harbor in the slightest, for
it is entered by such long, narrow
channel that tidal waves have absolutely
no effect upon ii. There is no POSSIBLE
ity of storms from any direction having
any effect upon shipping in Pearl har-
Dor, as it is SO perfectly landlocked.
Pearl harbor is pronounced the best and
safest harbor on the Pacific by military
and naval experts of all nationalities
an abundance OF fresh water, natural
springs running out OF the surrounding
bluffs in all directions, and artesian
wells can be struck at depth OF from
300 to 400 feet, the water rising to Il
height of thirty-two feet above sea level
flowing freely, with an output OF 2, 900, 00C
gallons and upward every twenty-foul
hours from nine-inch well. Six Of
these wells have already been drilled
within hundred feet of each other, anC
each well gives out a steady flow witt
scarcely any diminution by reason o
the number.
The distance across the Pacific is 81
great, being 5000 miles from Panama
to Hong Kong, that not one of the new
fast cruisers of the United States, no
even the Columbia, can cross the Pacific
at full speed without coaling at Homo
lulu. They can do SO at "a ten-kno
speed, but if their great speed is to b'
made available when it is needed goinj
any distance from San Francisco, eithe
south or west, they will have to recoa
at Honolulu.
The islands are the only spot north q
the equator where drop OF drinkin
water, u crumb OF bread or an ounce c
coal may be obtained.
Were the islands situated in the AT
lantic ocean in the same relative posi-
ton to Europe as they are now to tn
United States, and England had tn
same inducement extended there as Ha
wall now offers this country, she coul
command the commerce OF all Europ
and America.
Nearly all the area back OF Pearl Cit
and south of the harbor is owned by tn
> land company, but to the west of it ID
McGrew, who was surgeon on GeI
John A. Logan's staff during the wa
has plantation OF several hundre
e acres.
a Mr.. S. Nj. Damon, the secretary
r the treasury under the provisional GO
: eminent, owns the very important tra
= at the right OF the entrance to the ha
n Dor, and that to the left belongs to j.
s Dowsett, resident of Honolulu, wi
e was born in the Hawaiian Islands
n English parentage. Back Of his pro
u erty is the Eva sugar plantation, ownt
It by James Campbell, a Scotchman, bl
Is leased for fifty years to the Oahu Raj
n way and Land Company.
IS Ford's Island which is entirely su
rounded by at least thirty feet
water, and on which it is suppose
Admiral Walker will locate the war
IL house of the naval station, has an ar,
u of 345 acres and is owned by c..
y Brown, an American, who offered it f
le sale to the United States several yea
10 ago when the treaty was first CO
N cluded, and il is understood is willing
SO stand by his proposition. The lol
is tongue of land which stretches dow
'e into the harbor is owned by the wife
III Mr.. Brown, who is a native half.cas
10 Hawaiian. That is also for sale, and
~ the same price that was submitted
as the United States Goverpment sol
years ago.
There is still available for the use
Ia Admiral Walker in fitting up this III
a Dor $3.50, 600 of an appropriation ma
n. several years ago.