The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-18
Islands Owned br the United state.

From the Washington Post.
Distributed over the mid-Pacifc, in the
neighborhood of the equator. are quite a
lot of small islands that belong to the
United States. Most of them are from
1000 to 1900 miles to the south and south
west Of Hawaii. Some of them are near
the Gilbert archipelago, and there is a con-
siderable cluster just about the lesser dis
lance mentioned and directly south of the
Hawaiian group, including America,
Christmas, Palmyros, and other islands of
large size. Christmas Island Is about thir-
ty-five miles long. 1T got its name origin
ally from the fact that the famous Capt.
Cook stopped there on Christmas day for
the purpose of observing an eclipse. 1t is
an atoll or ring, of coral formation, en-
closing a lagoon of water that has be-
come so salty through evaporation as to
be a Veritable brine Fishes thrown over
the reef by storms are picked in 1t, and
remain perfectly preserved and good to
eat for months.
These isles of the Pacific belonging to
Uncle Sam number sixty in ALL They
have all been annexed to the United States
under an act of congress, which became
a law Aug. IS, 1856. This law, which re-
mains In force to-day, declares that when
ever any citizen of the United States shall
discover a deposit of guano or any Island,
rock, or key not within the lawful 1uris-
be at liberty TO take peaceable possession
thereof, and such island, rock, or key
may, at the discretion Of the President, be
considered as appertaining to the United
States. The discoverer is required to give
due notice to the department OF state, with
afIidavits describing the island and show
ing that possession of the same has been
taken in the name Of this country. He Is
Obliged at the same time to give a bond,
which e filed in the treasury.
The discoverer, at the pleasure OF con-
gress enjoys the exclusive right to occupy
his island for the purpose OF obtaining
guano, and for this product he Is allowed
10 charge only certain fixed price-name-
ly, s. a ton for guano delivered at the
ship's side or 81 a ton for the privilege OF
digging II where II lies. Furthermore, he
gives guarantee by his bond to deliver the
euano only to citizens Of the United
States, and to be used In the United
States. The law also provides, curlously
enough, that all offenses and crimes on
such Islands by persons who may land
thereon or In waters adjacent, shall be
deemed as committed on the high seas, on
board a merchant ship OF the United
States, and shall be punished accordingly.
The President Is authorized TO use the
land and naval forces OF the United
States 20 protect the rights OF the discoV-
erer or his heirs
But Uncle Sans ocean empire includes
a great many islands OF far greater im-
portance than the guano isles referred to.
In Bering Sea there are several very large
islands, besides the little Prbylov group
10 which the fur seals resort. This coun-
try owns the entire chain OF Aleutlan IS
lands, which separate Boring sea from the
North Pacific. The Inhabitants OF these
Islands, called Aleuts. are particularly in
telngent much more civilized than the
Eskimo, and bear a close resemblance
physically 20 the japanese. on the coast
Of Southern Alaska Is a group Of islands
OF great size, on some OF which live the
Thlinket Indians. These Indians are the
most artistic savaRes IN the world. being
skilfui wood-carvers. on the coast OF
Southern California Is the Santa Barbara
group. comprising q number or large IL.
lands.