The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-26
THE MIDWAY ISLANDS.
A Small But Important InsuIar Pos
 session.

Washington Correspondence New York Tribune.
 With the opening of the Pacific cable, which directly connects the government at Washington with the insular possessions of the United States to the westfof the national capital, attention is called to the important part which the first and small est 'lnsular possession" of the country, the Midway Islands, Is to plaF in bringing Manila within few minutePfof the White House. Without this little<group of coral, which pokes it's nose out of the brine to the north and west of the Hawaiian Is- lands, the engineering features of the Pa- cifc cable would Nave been entirely dif- ferent, and negotiations for a cable sta- ton on the Pacific possession of some other government would have been neces- sary.
 { The value to the government which this first colonial possession has now become can readily be realized when it Is said that without the Midway as a landing place for the cable it's long stretch from Honolulu to Guam could not be broken, and instead of being able to send twenty words minute the speed would be re- duced to six words, and the service made proportionately less satisfactory.
 What benefit this isolated cable station in the center of the Pacific may prove from a strategic point of view may be demonstrated some day by timely orders to a fleet of battleships. That the station is considered valuable from this point of view and many others Is shown by the de- termination of the navy department to fortify the islands in the future for the protection of the cable station. The is- lands also afford a snug harbor, and in an emergency might be used as a base of naval operations.
 Since their discovery in 1859 by Capt. N. C. Brooks, an American sailing from Hon olulu on sealing voyage under the Ha- waian flag. and their rediscovery and pos session In the name of the United States in 1867. The islands have been more or less neglected, but never to the extent of being allowed to pass into the hands of any other government although Japan has on several occasions made inquiry of the Hawaiian monarchy regarding their title. with propositions to annex or lease them. They were used for time thirty years ago by the Pacific Mail Steamship con- pany to the extent of storing there huge pile of coal. The company left a single man in charge of the coal After years lonesome sojourn on the islands this in- diyidual got tired of albatrosses as his only companions and abandoned the coal Tor passing craft. Later, when coal was high in San Francisco, an enterprisine Norwegian, who knew of the unguarded coal pile, set sail in a bark and secured a full cargo which he sold to advantage in San Francisco. The steamship companS afterwards learned of the theft, ane brought suit and secured damages.
 The islands are both of coral formation One of them, Sand island. contains S5t acres, while the other. Eastern island has BPS acres. A quantity of rich soil is to be carried to the islands in order that the forces who will have to take their turn in manning the guns of the fortifica. lions may have some occupation to divert their attention from sea and rock.
 Naval officers who have visited the Is. lands say that the Midway harbor con. stltutes the finest fishing ground in tho Pacific. The coral formation incloses $ lagoon of depth enough for anchorage but more shallow than the surrounding wa ters, and makes an attractive feedins ground for fish, seal and turtle The fisi belong to the mullet. perch and mackere families Many of them of brilliant color, seem to belong to the dolphin family. Tn, fish attract the birds, and the islands ar, covered with plumed tenants Some year, ago small band of Japanese were left or