New-York tribune., 1900-04-23
THE KEY TO THE PACIFIC.
NAVY DEPARTMENTS BILL FOR A
NAVAL STATION AT PEARL
HARBOR
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE I

Washington. April 22.-Secretary Long has
sent to the Naval Affairs Committees of the Sen
ate and House of Representatives the adopted
plans for establishing a naval rendezvous, re-
pair plant and coalng station at Pearl Harbor,
Hawaiian Islands, with an urgent recommended
tion pointing out the necessity for promptly
instituting the improvements to utilize this key
TO the entire Pacific Ocean. In its present con-
dition 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
drawn at the Navy Department for this purpose.
It authorizes the Secretary of the Navy TO con-
denim under the Hawaiian civil laws Of eminent
domain, for the establishment of a naval sta
tion in Pearl Harbor island of Oahu, four tracts
Of land with an aggregate area of about 1850
acres. One of these is the island known as
"Molluumeume," Ford Island comprising
about $40 acres Another IS a nearby pennsular
tract called Waipo with an area of about 800
acres. These two will constitute the naval sta
ton proper. They arc admirably located, and pc
culiarly adapted by nature for naval uses. The
island has a deep indentatiOn. which can be
readily transformed into the greatest craving
drydocl1 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
three hundred and fifty acres each and are
situated on each side Of the narrow entrance Of
the harbor. They are required as sites for for
tifcations. and account Of their commanding
position can render the station impregnable
With few guns. An appropriation Of S150000 is
provided for the requirement of these lands
which were selected by the Board OF which Ad-
miral Barker president The second sec
tlon of the bill authorizes the Secretary of the
Navy Immediately upon the passage of the act
TO establish port warden or harbor lines in Pearl
Harbor, and to detail naval officer as Super
visor of the harbor to enforce the harbor regu-
lations and maintain the established lines
Section appropriates 100000 for the purpose
Of dredging and improving the channel to pro-
vide for the safe entrance of vessels Of 600 tons
displacement. and transfers from the Army TO
the Navy 100000, which was appropriated for
Pearl Harbor on March 3 1899 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 the result OF Ad-
miral Walkers Investigations Of the character
of the reef and upon his estimates for dredging
The bill provides that of the money for
dredging improvements shall become avail
able until the tracts Of land shall have been act
ually acquired.
The latest reports from Honolulu show that
the small harbor there Is wholly unequal to the
demands OF the great trade that has sprung up
in the last two years. Frequently as many as
twenty ships compelled to lie to off the port
waiting their turns the crowded wharves
which are limited in extent by the exceedingly
small shore line. In bad weather the condition
is extremely dangerous. With Pearl Harbor en-
trance opened. miles of wharf room would be
available and several thousand vessels could lie
in the harbor in absolute security.