The Nome nugget., 1904-04-23
Navy Department Plans
 for KiSka Island
IA STRATEGIC POINT
Purpose is to Make Station a Combined Military and
 Naval Base.

Washington, Feb. 2.-The navy de- partment early in April will send a col Her and several specially selected off cers of the navy to Kiska island, Alas ka, for the purpose of making a final detailed survey of the site for the pro posed coaling depot at that place. As published in these dispatches several days ago, the general staff regards the Kiska island site as the most important from the standpoint of strategy, of any point in the North Pacific.
 An executive order has been issued, turning over to the navy department Kiska island, Little kiska island and several small outlaying islets, compris- ing in all several thousand acres. There is depth of water in the natural har bor found there which would enable nearly all the ships of the navy to en- ter the place. Some dredging will be necessary around the proposed wharves.
 Will Fortify Depot.
 The proposition is that the war de- partment shall fortify the proposed depot, thus making the station a com bined military and naval base. Mer- chant vessels will be permitted to obtain coal at kiska island in times o1 emergency. and it is proposed to make the point of the greatest possible value to commercial interests. A detach- ment of marines will be regularly stationed at the place, and the Aleu- tian islands will be frequently visited by vessels of the Pacific squadron. especially during the summer cruises. The depot will also be useful to the fleet of revenue cutters which annually visits Alaska, to the fish commission steamers, and to the vessels of the coast and geodetic survey.
 Kska island is so near the regular commercial route between Seattle and the Orient that it will be a convenient port of call and afford harbor of refuge in time of severe storms or in case of accident to vessels.
 Status of Dutch Harbor. There is some speculation as to whether the general board of the navy will subordinate Dutch harbor. It was the purpose of Rear Admiral Bradford, who was until recently chief of the bureau of equipment of the navy de- pertinent, to bring about the establish ment of two coaling stations in north ern waters, one of which should be at Dutch harbor and the other at some place in the Aleutian islands, farther westward. Admiral Bradford believed that Dutch harbor should be fortified.
 It is probable that the general board will also favor the maintenance of coaling station at Dutch harbor Kska 1 island is about 800 miles west of Dutch harbor, and while it is near the regular 1 commercial route to the Orient. Dutch harbor is the key to Bering sea and Northern Alaska.
 Capt. D. H. Jarvis, collector of GUS toms for the District of Alaska, left Washington tonight for Sitka. He has transacted a large amount of customs business with the treasury department and been heard by the house ways and means committee. It is expected cong ress will pass the pending bill remov- ing the the customs headquarters from Sitka to Juneau.
 To Improve St. Michael Harbor.
 A strong petition has been drawn up by the Northern Commercial Company, favoring the improvement of St. Michael canal, at St. Michael Alaska, under scheme of river and harbor improvement to be authorized by con- gress. It is represented that the cost would be moderate, and that the navi- gatiOn interests amply warrant the project.
 In the petition of the company atten- tion is called to the dangers of navi- gation near the mouth of the Yukon under present conditions, and instances are cited in which vessels have lost their barges and the vessels them selves have been endangered. Serious delays and much danger and damage could be saved, the company says, if the canal were made navigable.
 The canal is about twelve miles long, and has good water throughout it's entire leagth. There are, however, several sharp turns, and this makes it impossible for large packet to pass through or for any vessel with tow to successfully navigate it. It is rep resented that the improvement pro- ject would be simple. and the cost very small in proportion to the interests of commerce which would be served. With the petition is statement of the volume of commerce which has passed through St. Michael since 1898.