The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-04
TINY ISLAND, BUT THE RICHEST.

Far away In the Southern seas. some
POO miles from the coast OF the ancient
land OF gold" and almost 1000 miles
from the sunny country OF the Golden
Fleece there may be deserted little
speck OF land. Scientists regard IL Is an
appraised coral atoll. and take a peculiar
interest in IL from the fact that IL is the
only known tropical island OF any large
extent which up 10 the last few years had
never been inhabited by a savage or a
civilized race.
IT is called Christmas island. Why, no
man living can tell. AS TO the date OF its
first discovery the past is equally OBJ
livious: yet IL has been an object OF spas
modlc attention on the part of voyagers
on the high seas for at least two and a
half centuries. In 1856 the wandering
Dampier OF Holland sighted this small
woody island" and since that date "
has appeared in Dutch maps. but II was
not until 1886 that British surveying
vessel succeeded I'm finding anchorage and
In landing and partially exploring the
island.
The following year III. NJ. s. Egeria
made further explorations, and the con-
clusion OF the commander I'm the light OF
what has since happened is interesting:
Man has never lived on Christmas ISL
u
as, apart from the fact that there is
no water-the rains sinking into the lime
stone rock the extreme discomfort OF
locomotion, and the absence of any har-
Dor whence the product could be conven-
iently shipped, Will deter any settler from
seeking home there until other more
favorable spots are occupied
Within ten years or after this pro-
phecy the island had a population living
and thriving on II OF some GOO souls, and
from the phosphate deposits found on IL
a Pactolean stream Of gold is flowing into
the pockets OF British shippers, commits
sion agents, agriculturists. insurance
agents. and stockholders OF the company
working n.
STORY OF THE ISLAND.
The story OF the island which is situated
In south latitude 10 degrees % minutes,
east longitude l05 degrees ~ minutes--is
romantic and Of more than passing inter-
est Its discovery in the commercial
sense dates rom the days or the Chal-
lenger expedition.
That expedition cost England G30o. 900,
and there have been many who have
carped AT the expenditure OF so large n
sum for results which apparently were OF
little value in an ordinary unitarian
sense.
The expedition has, however. been the
and 10 the British crown, and In years TO
come Singapore and the mother country
also, are likely to receive from IL alone
much more than the cost of the expe-
dition
Christmas island was formally annexed
by the British government i'm the follow
ing year, a lease extending over hun
dred years was granted TO Dr. John Muir
ray and Mr.. Clunies Ross Of the Cocos-
Keeling islands, Jointly, at a yearly rental
OF also. The prospecting OF the island
covered fully n decade. and finally a
small private company was formed.
What was previously only a haunt OF
bats and rats and a resting place for
sea birds has become a basis for the
output OF one Of the most valuable ferti-
lizers known 90 modern aRriculturists.
Within single year after the COM
mencement of operations England, Ger
many. Australia and Japan were absorb
ing it's manurial treasure and calling for
increased supplies.
This iipraised top OF a submarine noun
tain round which seas run down almost
perpendicularly from its shores TO n
depth OF three English miles. is but ten
miles long and seven broad, with an area
OF forty TO fifty square miles. As already
Indicated IL rises out OF waters deeper
than those which surround any other
tropical island
Moreover. from a scientific point of
view IL n the most interesting island on
tho face of the earth. When the pioneer
inhabi,ant pitched his tent on the virgin
Shorthand on the isle he could only dis
cover two species of bats, two species or
rats and y shrewmouse These were the
only mammals
GREAT RICHES IN rHosPHA- Es.
Down 10 the very waters eoge the sur
face OF the island is covered with veget-
alton slopes. clad with trees. tall az
Norwegian pines through which Moth
ing ls visible but glints of the sky. lead
to "A great central plateau. some 500 10 900
feet above the sea level, and the highest
peak in the island. called Murray point. IL
100 feet above the level of tho Indian
ocean
The plateau rs covered with excellent
soil. 80 rich that all tropical fruits and
plants grow iuxuriantiy and special
form of sage may yet md its way 10 the
markets of the world from Christmas
ISLAND. The plateau Is one long succes-
sion ~ blocks of phosphate NarNinE in
depth down go forty feet
AZ prcseui these blocks arc picked ~
from the Toots VI the trees aad exported