Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-03-10

Sir:-In obedience to the Depart
ment's instructions, dated March 10,
1899, in transmitting the results of
the work recorded upon the forms and
plotting sheets at the conclusion of the
Pacific submarine telegraph survey, /
have to make the following report:
AS / believed my first duty was to
run the line to Yokohama as soon as
possible, before the noreast monsoon
set in, did not delay at Guam to take
coal.
At daylight, September 9th, pro-
ceeded on the direct line to Yokohama.
j took 400 tons Of coal on board at
Yokohama, which took us back to
Guam, with about forty tons over.
outside the breakwater, on October 18th
we experienced perfect type Of fast
travelling typhoon.
On October 10th l proceeded from
Yokohama to traverse the direct line
back to Guam. | believe 1t is sufficient
ly developed to make 1t an eminently
satisfactory practical route. l arrived
at Guam the afternoon of November I'd
leaving the last few casts to be taken
on coming out, In order to get in be-
fore night.
/ was informed by Commander Bel
KNAPP the last time he was at Guam
that he was satisfied that Tarafofc
was the best place for landing a cable
on the island. am of the same opin-
ion, after what | have seen of the
tt,hn nd ti,, 81
ties on the island. II Tarafofo is not
accepted, the cable would have to be
taken around and landed on the south
ern side of the harbor of San Louis
d'Apra.
took on board 200 tons Of coal al
Guam, and on the morning of Novem-
Der 18th proceeded to finish the sound
ings around the island. The 20-fathom
and 100-fathom marks have been es-
tablished at Tarafofo and San Louis
d'Apra. The drop-off at the mouth OF
the harbor Of San Louis d'Apra is so
abrupt that, though l took a sounding
as close IN as was prudent in this ship,
1t fell to pa fathoms.
I then proceeded to find southern
route to connect with our direct line to
Midway, but struck the Nero deep
again and am convinced that II cannot
be gotten around with the cable. Here
the two deepest casts and the two deep
est temperatures ever taken were re-
corded. The depths are 5.160 and $3.50
fathoms, and the temperatures are 35.9
at 500 fathoms and SO at 5,101 faith
oms.
then proceeded back to the vicinity
Of Tarafofo and began to traverse and
develop the direct route to Midway.
believe 1t to be sufficiently developed to
make q satisfactory and practical
route.
Our landing at Midway. outward
bound, developed all that could be
seen. 1t was found as described in the
Sailing Directions. Sand Island may
have changed some in dimensions and
form, but 1t is not noticeable to the
eye. That n light frame building is
still standing about the middle of the
northern side, which was apparently
built some years ago. goes to show
that the elements do not treat II very
severely. 1t seems as though the ISL
and could certainly accommodate a
sufficient plant for relay station.
The traverse was continued from
to Waimea Bay, Oahu Island,
Hawaiian Islands. About IL p. m,
January 9Th, a southwest gale was en-
1t looks like fine beach
and as though 1t would be a good land
Ing station. then proceeded to sound
around to Honolulu, discovering
bank with 500 to 600 fathoms of water
on 1t, extending between Oahu and
Kauai and arrived Off Honolulu the
Of January 22d. The currents
Df the Pacific are very variable and &C.
centric and would seem to be subject
10 tidal influence, especially In the
OF reefs and islands. In the
.rade belt between Midway and Guam
he current Is generally westerly. but
very variable in strength: and in light
winds and Gains Is frequently observ-
I'd to change from strong current of
me to two knots an hour to nothing in
he course OF single day, the tidal
wave apparently killing the natural
One important thing for any vessel
o know making Dingala bay, on the
'ast coast Of LuZon, is that while there
s usually strong northerly and west
'rly set along the coast. well off shore.
lfter getting beyond the end of Polil-
island, there Is a strong eddy maxi
ng to the south and west, down
through the passage between Polillo
nd Luzon.
From the date Of sailing from San
francisco, April %, 1899, to date OF
rival at same, February II, 1900, a
otal OF 2SS days, 10 hours, the ship |
ad steamed 29,263 knots. She has |
een at sea 40 days, 8 hours, and at |
nchor 4S days, IA hours.
Two reels were crushed in the course |
4 the whole work Of the survey.
Most all OF the positions OF the |
are practically definite from