The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-26
COALING STATION
PROMISES MUCH
United States May Be Con-
nectedby Continuous Cable
With the Orient.
Globe Special Washington Service.
1117 . cA-a-k

1417 Street.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb 25.
There are some highly interesting nos
slDlllt1es in the plan Of the navy de-
partment for establishing a large coal
ing station and naval rendezvous in the
AIeut1an islands, about half way be-
tween the United States and China. on
the great circle route. If a certain
paragraph in the pending naval an
preparation bill goes through, the sta
ton will certainly be established. If 50
an AMBITIOUS scheme Of the naval ex-
perts VIII be realized. Moreover, 1t viii
marx the beginning of steps to utilize
our lar Northern possessions to the full
extent of their value for strategic pur-
poses. a continuous submarine tele-
graphlc cable connecting the United
states with the Orient will probably be
an incident of this important step In
naval and military progress
The Importance of these Drenara-
tons, from a commercial standpoint.
also Is of course, very great New ships
are building for the Oriental trade Of
the Pacific Northwest, our commerce
| between that part of the United States
and the countries of the far East is
growing rapidly, and the telegram ia
the natural accompaniment of CONNER
cial progress
An item In the naval appropriation
Dill provides $600,000 for the establish
| ment of coal depots, including the mr.
chase OF land AS told in these dis
patches some time ago. the general
| BOARD or the navy wants a cOaIine
plant and naval base at Kislka island a
| small body of land in the Aleutian ISL
ands several hundred miles west of
Dutch Harbor. The pending bill does
not name Kiska island, but 1t is known
that the navy department wants the
| money largely for this project
Large Equipment Wanted.
The only other large coaIing station
| expected to be undertaken in the near
future is at OlangapO, Subig bay, in the
: philippines. The department has asked
| for $4,000 for coaling depots. and thIs
amount Is named in the bill AS the
| department already has on hand for
| eae establishment of new stations about
| $2IO,0O0 1t Is evident that a good be-
ginning can be made at Kiska island.
II the desired amount is appropriated
the navy department will send a
| collier to Kiska island early in the COM
| ing spring to make further detailed ex-
amlnatlons, in order that information of
such a kind may be furnished to con-
| tractors as will enable them to bid In
| teIl1gently. The department wants To
store about 100000 tons of coal al
k1ska island, and this will make II by
Tar the largest coaling plant on the
Pacific. K1ska island, Little Kiska ISL
| and and several small neighboring
| fslets have already been withdrawn by
order of the president for the use of the
| navy department.
II the station is established, the gov
eminent will, sooner or later, connect
| the Island with the main line Of the
Alaskan cable, and there will then be
| continuous telegraph line extending
from Seattle half way to the Orient. In
| Iact, the line Will reach more than half
| way to the nearest large settlement on
| the Asfatic Vladivostok. Kiska
| island is about 500 miles west of Dutch
| Harbor and LOO or 1900 miles easterly
| from Vladivostok
A company incorporated under the
| laws of the state of Washington and
| known as the North American Tele-
| graph and Gable company some time
| ago made plans for laying a cable to
| connect the United States with several
| points In the Orient-the nearest of
| which Is VladiVostok-and a bill au-
| thorizing the company to lay the cable
is now PENDING in congress. 1t was in
| trOduced by Senator Mitchell, of Ore
| gon. 1t is probable that if the govern
| ment should lay a cable as far west
| ward as Kiska island, this company
would be encouraged to complete
| promptly the connection as far west
| ward as Vladivostok.
| Walter e Clark