Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-03
OF STRATEGIC VALUE
The Proposed o. s Naval Stations in
the Province. of Ghiriqui.
'WO MAGNIFICENT HARBORS
The Effect of Fixing the Bound
airy of Colombia and Costa RIGA.
OUR GOVERNMENTS ACTIONS

The government Of the United States is
greatly and peculiarly interested in the i'm
portant and very significant decision re-
Gently rendered by President Loubet Of
France, as arbitrator, In settlement of the
lcng-pending and irritating international
boundary dispute between Colombia and
Costa Rica. This government has for
years consistently testified its lively in
terest in the controversy and its earnest
desire that settlement be reached" The
dispute related to the proper definition Of
the boundary between these two American
republics, the settlement of which would
clear up all contentious in relation to the
ownership Of a large slice of territory
within which are located important land,
harbor and other valuable rights on both
the Atlantic and the Pacific sides of the
American isthmus. These latter interests
alone are of particular interest to the
United States government, on account Of
the fact that these lands and harborS are
claimed to be within the Colombian prov
ince of Chiriqui pronounced Che-re-kee),
in which the United States government has
for nearly a half century contemplated the
establishment of military and naval and
coaling stations for the accommodation of
it's ships of war
OF still greater Importance, however, this
decision, fixing the boundary line between
the two American republics, enables the
United States government to know exactly
the limits of the guarantee Of the neutral
ity of the Isthmus of Panama and Of the
sovereignty Of Colombia which the United
States assumed by the existing treaty Of
1915 with new Granada Cnow Colombia). :,
U. s. Naval Station to BE Established.
Now, there seems to be no serious obsta-
Gle in the way of the accomplishment Of
ha Of n h
stations in Chirfqui province. one on the
Atlantic side Of the isthmus, in Chiriqui
lagoon, and the other on the Pacific side,
in the harbor of Golfito, these two magnifi-
cent harbors being exactly opposite each
other, on the east and west sides of the
isthmus, and susceptible of easy connection
by railroad across the iSthmuS
During nearly half century past the
projects Of the United States government
in Chiriqui province have been favorites in
the minds of the leading men Of our gov
eminent Evidence of this is in the fact
that several positive distinct attempts have
been made by the United States to accom-
plish these particular purposes. and in the
official congressional, diplomatic and naval
history of our government, since 1859 at
least, Chiriqui matters have occupied con-
siderable space and demanded earnest at
tention. The administrations of President
Buchanan, President Lincoln and President
Hayes each performed important official
acts, with congressional sanction and sup
port, looking to the acquisition by the
United States government of naval stations
and depots for coal in Chiriqui province
President Lincoln enlarged the SCOPE Of
alton in Chiriqui of the freedmen oil the
United States, for which purpose Congress
made preliminary appropriation Of
| 5000, 900.
The Importance Of Chfriqui.
Because Of It's remarkable material value
and political Importance. its varied nat
ural characteristics. its peculiar situation
as part OF the American isthmus to
which the government Of the United States
by solemn treaty occupies such exception
al extraordinary. absolutely original and
singular relations as guarantor-because Of
these and other distinguishing character
1stics, Chiriqui must in fairness be given
considerable space in American history.
Well-defined evidence exists that CEN
turtles ago Chfrfquf was a place of promi-
nence and Importance. Our National Mu-
scum in Washington contains many Chiri-
qui antiquities, and in a late annual
port Of the Smithsonian Institution the
secretary remarks upon recent additions
to our already rich collection of aborigi-
nal pottery from The province of Chirqui."
and in this connection he announced forth
coming papers, by the curator of the Ma
tional Museum, on 1.-The remarkable collec-
lions from the province Of ChirfQuf.' the
geography, peoples. cemeteries and other
general TOPICS and especial attention Is
given Ito the decorative system Of the 18TH
mus peoples and study Of lffe-forms In
vase painting"
Early in the past century the attention
of European governments was drawn to
Chfrfqui lagoon because of it's commercial
and strategic Importance. Extensive sur
veys were made by distinguished officers
sent out for that purpose by European
governments The strategic importance OF
Chiriqui lagoon has been repeatedly test
ed and proved by the United States govern
ment. Notably this was done by order OF
Secretary Toucey, In 1857, on the occasion
of the Walker fiibustering expedition
against Nicaragua. when the commander
in chief of the United States naval forces
in the Caribbean sea was directed. for good
reasons stated, to make Chiriaui lagoon
the base Of naval operations and the prin-
cipal rendezvous for his ships.
Natural Advantages of Chfriqui.
Singular and remarkable characteristics
give to the province Of Chiriquf extraor-
binary Importance and wonderful adyan-
tages. politically, geographically and COM
mercially. It's situation, about midway be-
| tween the Nicaragua and the Panama in
teroceanic routes. and its vast inexhaustt-
BILE supply of coal, would In themselves be
special advantages Of high order of i'm
portance; but In addition to those adyan-
tages are these: The province of Chiriqui
constitutes what has been described as a
wide belt about forty miles in breadth) ex-
tending across the isthmus from ocean to
ocean, and nature has given to this prov
tnce what no other section OF the isthmus
possesses, namely. grand. deep, safe har-
borS on both oceans. located directly OPP
posite each other, and these harbors may
be connected by railroad only 100 miles
in length. The harbor on the Atlantic side
of Chiriqui province is Chiriqui lagoon; the
harbor on the Pacific, side Is Golfito. in the
Gulf Of Dulce. ~ Vi
Golfto.d
With reference to- the Golfito. Lieut..
(afterward Commodore)a. LETTERS of the
United States navy, In "a special report.
said: u
This beautiful karbor, situated twenty
miles from the Punta dol Blanco. on the,
eastern side. and midway between the en-
trance and bottom 81 the Colo DuIce. Is
unsurpassed in natural facilities Favor
ably situated for entering with the sea
breezes. and leaving with those from the
land. both OF whichy are Irregular. there is
no bar or other Obstruction at the en-
trance, which Is upward Of half a mile
Q,2OO yards) wide. and, about a mile TN
depth. with excellent anchorage. on good
holding ground. in fHe,E seven and twelve
fathoms. Having the chart, no other guide
h q hl1 QUO Ia