The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-26

and up to date. The war Department VIII
fortify these two Alaskan coaling depots.
and the Navy Department proposes to To-
cate more such stations within our Arctic
dominions.
Our northernmost naval station proper
on the Pacific coast is at Puget sound.
Washington. and below that IL another at
Mare island, California
We will shortly have two new coal de-
pots in California-at Mission rock. San
Francisco bay. and at San Diego. Law
yers have lately been haggling over the
title OF the Mission rock site. At San
Diego the War Department recently trans
ferred the necessary land, but az about
the same time Congress designated the
most valuable part of it as the site for
marine hospital The washington authori-
ties have been lately endeavoring to un-
tangle the snarl.
Coaling depots OF large capacity are es-
peciany needed upon the Pacific coast.
where oil and the very poor qualities OF
Western coal are the only available fuels.
Fair coal is obtained from Australia and
New Zealand. but not even this is suffi-
GENTLY good for ships OF war, and Uncle
Sam will soon see to It that his feet Of
golfers keep a goodly supply OF Atlantic
along the Pacific
Our first established foreign coaling sta
ton Is that at Pichilinque, in the Gulf Of
California
1t derives its name from the adjacent
Pichilinque harbor, but occupies the south
eastern end of San Juan Nepomuncino
island, off the inner shore of Lower Cali
fornia. This island Is one and one-half
miles long. and near our coal depot Is a
small hill seventy-fve feet high. sloping to
a salt lagoon, yielding large quantities of
salt.
A large hoard OF treasure Is hidden In the
neighbornood OF the station, according to
tradition OF the natives. Whether this Is
true or not, the sea thereabouts abounds
with treasure. The nearby town Of La Paz,
the capital OF Lower California, is the GEN.
ter Of the pearl trade of this region. and
was once leading port for the export Of
silver. The pearl divers, all Yaqui Indians,
commonly bring UP shells from depth of
eight fathoms. La Paz is town OF some
400 population. Cortes landed there in
1885. and 1t was during his stay on the bay
that he received the news OF his disgrace.
The climate OF this Mexican depot is very
healthy, though red hot in summer. Snakes
are very numerous and venomous. and ter
ribble hurricanes are feared in the autumn
months. The small harbor of Pichilinque
Is one Of the best on the Pacific coast. being
protected on all sides. Vessels obliged to
remain in the neighborhood during the bad
season-June to Nov. 5-lie up there. Our
coaling station is now complete, the equip
ment having cost about $4,000. Last year
Uncle Sam deposited 5000 tons OF coal there
1t being admitted by the Mexican authori-
ties without port or customs dues Of any
kind.
MIDPACIFIC STATIONS.
We now have three midpacifc naval sta
tons in the course OF construction or pro-
jected. The most important OF these will
be at Pearl Harbor. adjacent to Honolulu
1t will cover TO acres. The War Depart.
ment will protect it with most complete
harbor and channel defenses; but it will
be some years before this great station will
be completed, and meanwhile Uncle San
will maintain a coal depot at Honolulu, In
whose harbor he already owns very valu
able land. buildings, ships and piers de-
voted to that purpose.
Tutuila, Samoa, has advanced from 6
mere naval coal depot to a naval station
The port OF Page Page. where this Samoan
/, station is located. is to the South Pacific
what Pearl Harbor will be TO the Norti
Pacific. 1t Is already port OF call for tn,
line steamers plying between Australia anC
San Francisco and is rapidly increasing
in Importance.
Our Guam station win be very valuable
The port of San Louis d'Apra has been Sc
lected as the site. Congress set the bal
rolling by giving $4,000 for the acquisition
of land. After its capture Uncle Sam re
tanned Guam for the express purpose o
establishing a naval coal depot there anc
q was later that its value a full-hedget
naval station was seen. It will be a valu
able port OF call for coal and other sup
plies to ships plying between our Pacif,
coast and the Philippines.
Eight Philippine stations have been estab
lished by the Navy Department Cavite
near Manila. will be a naval station proper
Besides this there are seven coaling de
pots In the archipelago-at POLICE, Min
danao: Port Isabella. Basilan; Port Cebu
Cebu; Iloilo. Panay; Olongapo, Saul, an,
Port Salomanguc, Luzon.
The worlds largest floating steel dr.
dock Ia to be erected at the Cavite nava
station. 1t will cost over a million dollar
and viii be 500 feet long by 100 feet wide
1t will lift ship OF 1900 tons and will b
taR1oAc Va ACAiofdA AiOAl place 10 pace
Uncle Sam Is In sore need OF a dry doc
I'm the Orient. Now he has to send his BIZ
fighting ships OF the Asiatic fleet to Hong
Kong or Shanghai. and even as far a
Nagasaki. Japan. when they want repair
or cleaning.
ACQUIRING FOREIGN SITES.
To scatter naval coal depots all over tn
world Is now our policy. AS stated, th
negotiations are perfected by diplomatic a,
rangerrent and are confidential At Yoke
hama q depot has already been established
and 1900 tons OF coal were stored there las
year.
Golito harbor. on the Pacific side of til
lstnmus OF Panama. has been sought b
Uncle Sam since before the civil war. TIL
harbor and Chiriqui lagoon. on the opposit
side OF the isthmus. have both the subjec
OF long diplomatic correspondence, but III
titles to these points have been hanging
the balance pending a boundary dispute b.
tween Colombia and Costa Rico. In vie
OF new phases OF the interoceanic cans
problem We need these points more tina
ever as military and naval bases. They IL
respectively. west and east OF the bour
dairy between Colombia and Costa Ric
Just after the civil war Congress made