The evening times., 1901-03-30
1 Chain OF COAL DEPOTO
This Government Wants Stations
in All Parts of the " WOrid.
Negotiations With Portugal, Hoi-
land, and other Countries in Prog
ress The Old Rights at YOkO-
hama and Pitcher Lake Revived.

hama and PITCHER tIat& Revived.
The state and Navy Departments have
been engaged for some time preparing to
carry out a policy under consideration for
a number of years, but not entirely en-
tered on until after the Spanish-American
war. for the establishment Of a chain of
Tn ted States coaling stations around the
world 1t is understood that negotiations
are in progress for the requirement of a
station IN the Azores, from Portugal, and
OF one of the islands of Curacao, just off
the coast of Venezuela, from Holland.
How far these negotiations have pro
gressed it is impossible to learn, as the
officials decline to give any details.
There is reason 10 believe also that com
municatiOnS have been exchanged with
other Governments. with n view of SecuT-
ing available places, strategically dfstrib-
Uted, to be used by the American Navy
for coaiing depots-
The negotiations with Ecuador looking
to the transfer Of the GaIlapago Islands
TO the United States have not been drop
ped. but apparently there have been no
active exchanges on the subject between
the two Governments recently. In all in
dividuaI cases the State Department is
endeaToring to acquire sovereignty over
and not the mere right to occupy the ter
rjJory. knowledge has come to the Gov
ernmeut that Germany is also after a sta
ton in the Azores, and it is probable that
the efforts Of the United States TO induce
Portugal to part with small portion of
one Of the islands have been redouble7 on
that account.
Meanwhile. the tEo- DEPARTMENTS baEe
been successful il. securing UndISpnraI
title 10 tWO coal depots in foreign coun-
tries, but without the right OF sovereign
ity- These are at Yokohama, Japan, and
Pitcher Lake near La Paz. Mexico. Pitch
er Lake IS ia the Lower California Pen
insula, and IS considered an excellent To-
cation for coaIing station Not long
ago It came TO the knowledge of the au-
thortIes in Washington that, back in the
sixties, the right to store coal at defined
points at Yokohama and Pitcher Lake
| had been given 10 the United States. The
Pitcher Lake depot was used however by
permission only Of the local authorities al
La Paz-
In 1863 about seveuty-five tons of coal
were left there TO establish possession BY
TINS country and after a time the fact
that the United States Navy had the right
to use the place was practically forgotten
Recently the matter was recalled and after
enquiries which resulted ia information
mat the privilege 70 store coal at Pitcher
Lake had not been Cancelled. oYertures
we're made 70 the Federal Government OF
Mexico 20 confirm the right granted 70
this Government by the local authorities
at La PdZ more than thirty years ago
Mexico was willing to do this and Wh.n
the necessary papers had been obtained BY
the State DeUpaFtment arrangements were
Inade 10 erect coal sheds and other build
IhsS tnere This work Is now In progress
The Yokohama case was practica IN,
similar Ia IS56 the United States acuufr-
ed the right TO use water front property
IN okohama for the storage of coal but
the privilege was never exercised For a
great many years the Pacific Mail Com
pany has been in possession of this prom
eftE- hot long ago this crmpany were
notified 10 withdraw and the NAVY De-
p4cIInent VIII shortly have sheds and IA
cillues Tor coaIiug War vessels esta blish-
ID there
Work is IN progress at the naval sta
tonS at Honolulu and at Tutuila Samoa
ana VIII soon De started at Pearl Har-
Dor ~Eerc there VIII be an extensive coal
depot An appropriation IS also avaiIa-
DE Tor establishing a naval staEica at
Ludm- 1t IS intended TO make C.,yite a
very important depot EotWithsta n,iins
the establishment Of a naval station al
olcEgapo, on Sua.g Bay. On account of
its cioseness to Manila, Cavite IS CON
Sldered the place of first impoFt2 nee to
the navy In the Philippines
The Government. II IS contended, would
Ike to secure a site for a coal deD0t ON
the north coast Of China. but is restrain
Cd iron taking any active steps in that
direction on account OF the suspicion with
"hleR the Powers view attempts by any
nfli'ns to acquire privileges IL that
gBsIrFx- N-'"~~