The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-02-19

is not in constant use for business. is also given over to the cable operators and the other employees at the station for personal as well as official uses.
 Altogether there are about forty in habitants of Sand island, of whom there are only half a dozen white men. Mrs. Odley, wife of the superintendent of the station, is the only white woman. There are, in addition to the cable ope- rators, about a score of employees. Sand island was all that it's name inl- piled when the cable operators first went there, little over six months ago. From one end of the little island to the other nothing was presented to the view but a glaring waste of white sand. The sand was of such dazzling white ness in the sunlight that it was neces- sary to use smaked glasses, and the men who failed to provide themselves with these came near losing their eye sight in consequence. Now, however, Sand island presents a pretty picture of a black East country village, minus the trees and grass. There are half a dozen buildings grouped about the ca bic station, including several dwellings and storehouses. A start has even been made toward foresting the island. Tons of rich soil were taken to the island as 1 ballast on supply steamers, and this soil l has been carefully mixed with the sand Seeds and small trees have been plant ! ed near the station, and quite vegeta- l tion has sprung up. An attempt also is being made to grow vegetables. and so l far much success has attended the eff fort The water problem is quite seri- ous, although so far there has been no i trouble from that source. The present supply is not sufficient to cultivate a very large tract of land, even though enough soil could be brought there for 1 the purpose.
 1 The operators have a cat which was taken along especially to get rid of the rats with which the island was sup posed to be infested. Other domestic pets also were introduced. In one of the buildings a hall was provided where little entertainments could be held. On l Christmas eve the operators gave quite an entertainment, with songs, recita- l tions and gramophone numbers. All of 1 the operators are more or less musical; 1 the same is true of the doctor i'll attend ance. The gramophone records were rescued from destruction by one of the operators at the risk of his life and with the loss of all his personal belongings, when he arrived on the wrecked Julie E. Whalen. Following the musical and literary programme, the operators en- 1 joyed Christmas feast, at which toasts
 were given to President Roosevelt, San ta Claus and Clarence Mackay.
 Captain Rodman has made a number of rules as governor for the government of the Midway island group. These provide for public service, and also pro- hibit the killing of birds or game on the island. Millions of birds go to the is land every year. Japanese have been in the habit of coming to the island and killing these birds. and an order has been issued prohibiting this practice. Superintendent C. w. Colley has been appointed by the governor-mayor, chief of police, undertaken and everything else for the island, and he is in commu- nication with the governor by cable dai- 1 ly as to the best methods of carrying out the orders. Tn the meantime, all { the operators who went to the lonely l isle with many misgivings are begin ming to feel that life there has it's rosy 1 side and advantages as we'll as disad-
 vantages.--New York Sun.
 | -------------- | $