The Topeka state journal., 1900-04-23
IMPROVE PEARL HARBOR.
Secretary Long Urges Congress to
Take Prompt Action.

New York, April pa special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
Secretary Long has sent to the naval
affairs committee of the senate and
house of representatives the adopted
plans for establishing a naval rendez-
VOuS, repair plant and coa1ing station
at Pearl HarbOr, Hawaiian islands, with
an urgent recommendation pointing out
the necessity for promptly instituting
the improvements to utilize this key to
the entire Pacific ocean. In its present
condition the harbor is worthless to the
United States or to commerce, but by a
comparatively Insignificant expenditure
will become one of the most valuable of
national possessions
Senator Hale has promptly introduced
the bill for this purpose. 1t authorizes
the secretary of the navy to condemn
under the Hawaiian civil laws of emf
nent domain for the establishment of a
naval station in Pearl harbor, island of
Oahu, four tracts of land with an ag-
gregate area of about 1850 acres. One
of these is the island known as MO
kuumeume" or Ford island, comprising
about $40 acres. Another is a near by
peninsular tract called Waipo, with an
area of about $50 acres. These two will
constitute the naval station proper.
They are admirably located, and pecu-
liarly adapted by nature for naval uses.
Inc island has deep indentation which
can be readily transformed into the
greatest craving dry dock in the world,
and there is sufficient shore line to moor
the entire navy of the United States
within the station limits.
! The other two plots of land average
about $50 acres each, and are situated on
/ each side of the narrow entrance of the
! harbor. They are required as sites for
foruhcadons, and on account of their
/ commanding position can render the sta
| t1on lmpregnable with few guns. An ap-
! preparation of $50 coo is provided for the
| requirement of these lands, which were
selected by the board of which Admiral
| Barker was president. The second section
| of the bill authorizes the secretary of the
navy Immediately upon the passage of
| the act to establish port warden or har-
! Dor lines in Pearl harbor, and to detail a
naval officer as supervisor of the harbor
1 to enforce the harbor regulations and
maintain the established lines.
| Section three appropriates S4000 900 for the
| purpose of dredging and improving the
| channel to provide for the safe entrance
of vessels of 5000 tons displacement, and
transfers from the army to the navy
100000, which was appropriated for Pearl
| harbor on March 8, 1893, but which, up to
this time, the army engineers have shown
no disposition to utilize This sum was
| intended particularly for cutting through
the coral reef that blocks the entrance
| of the harbor, and was appropriated by
| congress as the result of Admiral Walk
er's Investigations of the character of the
reef and upon his estimates for dredging.
The Dill provides that none OF the
| money for dredging or improvements shall
become available until the tracts of land
shall have been actually acquired.
The latest reports from Honolulu show
that the small harbOr there is wholly un-
equal to the demands OF the great trade
that has sprung up in the last two years
Frequently as many as twenty ships are
compelled to lie to off the port waiting
their turns at the crowded WharveS,
which are limited in extent by the ex-
ceedingiv small 81 a line In bad wealth
er the condition is extremely dangerous
With Pearl harbor entrances opened
and several thousand vessels could lie il
the harbor IN absolute security.