Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-07-10

This hrst colonial possession has now
become can readily be realized wheh I"
Is said that without the Midway as
landing place for the cable Its long
stretch from Honolulu TO Guam e'um
not be broken, and instead OF being
able TO send twenty words minute
the speed would be reduced 10 sih
words and the service made proportion
ately less satisfactory.
What benefit this isolated cable s'a-
ton In the center Of the PACING may
prove from a strategic point OF we"
NAV be demonstrated some day oy
timely orders 10 a fleet OF battle ships
That the station is considered valuable
from this point OF view and many oth-
ers is shown by the determination OF
the navy department TO fortify the Is
lands in the future for the protection OF
the cable station. The islands also at
ford n snug harbor and In an emer-
gency might be used as base OF naval
operations.
Since their discovery in 1853 by Cap
tain n. c. Brooks. an American sailing
from Honolulu ON a sealing voyage
under the Hawaiian dag, and their re-
discovery and possession In the name
of the United States In 1857 the MID
way islands have been more or less
neglected by this government, put
never 10 the extent of being allowed
TO pass into the hands Of any other
government, although Japan on sew
eral 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 Pacihc
Mail Steamship company to the extent
of storing there huge pile Of coal.
1t is to Rear Admiral X. B. Bradford
that credit is due for discovering the
utility of the Midway islands as ca
BILE station and to his representations
that the two tiny specks on the map OF
the Pacific were transferred from the
jurisdiction of the interior department.
to a possession Of the navy Of the
United States. The Pacific Cable com
pany secured the right to break Its
long stretch of cable and land on one
of the two islands. The United States
will fortify this island sufficiently to
protect the cable station, and hereafter
there will never be question "a to
who is the rightful owner.
The islands are both of coral forma-
ton. One of them, Sand island, con,
tains $50 acres, while the other. East
ern island, has 1913 acres. A quantity
of rich soil Is to be carried to the ID
lands In order that the forces who Will
have to take their turn In manning the
guns of the Notifications may have
some occupation to divert their atten
ton from sea and rock.
Naval officers who have visited tbs
islands say that the Midway harboI
constitutes the finest fishing ground II
the Pacific. The coral formation In
closes lagoon Of depth enough fol
anchorage, but more shallow than thu
surrounding waters, and makes an at
tractive feeding ground for fish, sea
and turtle. The fish belong to the mul
let, perch and mackerel families. MANI
of them Of brilliant colors seem t
belong to the dolphin family. The 6sl
attract the birds, and the islands ar
covered with plumed tenants.
Under the new order Of things tn
islands will be made to bloom witt
fruit trees, vegetables will be raised
and, with the ideal climate, the shel
tered bay, the splendid fishing and tn
direct connection with the world b,
cable, the cable operators and force
who man the guns will have an assign
ment which will doubtless become tn
envy of the service.
What the improvement Is to be i
the cable service between the Unite
States and the Philippines may b
seen by a comparison Of the presen
route and cost Of message fror
Manila to Washington. The tolls wi
be reduced from $1.56 to 80 cents
word. By the old route messag
leaving Manila for Washington goe
first to Hongkong, China; to LabuaI
Borneo; to Singapore, Malay peniI
sula; to Suez, to Port Said, to AlexaI
: dria, Egypt; to Malta. to Morocco.
. Penzance, to Valentia. on the Iris
! coast, to Nova Scotia, to Canso. to Me-
e York. The total distance by this rout
8 is $4,000 miles. By the new cable ii
e distance will be only 5000 miles. III
3 cable tolls paid by the governmeI
0 alone for one year in Its communlc'
a tons with the Philippines amounted
s 100000. Under the new rate at leai
f two-thirds Of this amount will /