The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-10
WILL ESTABLISH
COAL|NC STATION
United States Is to Have the
Largest of the Kind on the
Pacific Ocean.
Globe Special Washington Service,
1A17 = CAra0@

1917 Street.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April g.
The navy department has decided TO
carry out it's ambitious scheme of es-
tablishing the largest coaling station
on the Pacific at Kiska island. in the
Aleutian chain, about 500 miles west of
Dutch Harbor. 1t was told briefly in
press dispatches several days ago that
the gunboat Petrol has been assigned
to duty in Alaskan waters for the COM
ing season. The special duty of the
Petrol will be to complete the prelim-
mary work for the proposed naval base
at Kiska island. She sailed from
Panama for the North Pacific coast
March %, and will soon sail from San
Francisco, where she arrived several
days ago, for Puget sound.
The Petrol will be ACCOMPANIED
north by a naval collier, probably the
Saturn, which is now at the Puget
sound navy yard. The Saturn will take
cargo of coal, and If conditions are
favorable this will be deposited on the
site of the projected coaling station.
The plans for the Kiska island sta
ton were devised by the general board
OF the navy, of which Admiral Dewey
is the chief, and have been fully de-
scribed in these dispatches. 1t is
roughly estimated that the station will
In the end cost about $1,5OOO0O for it
is proposed to provide first-class ia
cilities for coaling ships and to main
tain supply of not less than 100, 900
tons of coal on Kiska island. The
natural harbOr is protected by a break
water which nature provided in the
form of Little KiSka island. There is
good depth of water, and dredging
VIII be necessary only in the imme-
date vicinity of the WharVes.
Just the Spot Needed.
The naval officers who are interested
in the project say that the Kiska island
site answers in a marked degree all the
requirements of naval strategy. 1t is
within $50 miles of the great circle
route between the Pacific coast and
oriental ports, and the coal supply will
be of value to the merchant trade in
case of emergency. The place will
also furnish harbOr of refuge
The locality was partially surveyed
last summer, and the work will be con-
ttnued during the coming season. The
navy department already feels war
ranted in going ahead with the project,
however, and a good beginning will
be made next summer. A much larger
appropriation than usuel was asked for
this year to be expended for coal sup
ply, and in explanation the navy de-
Rartment told the house committee on
naval affairs that the funds were
needed for the Kiska island project. 1t
was urged essentially as a naval meas
are, in view of our increa sing interests
in the far East and in Alaska; but the
commercial advantages were also
brought to the attention Of congress.
1t is probable that in the course of
time the navy department will ask that
the Alaska cable be extended to Kiska
island, and if that is done it will be
fine beginning for a cable extending
all the way from Puget sound to the
Orient. The Seattle Sitka cable will
be laid early next summer and it is
possible that the Sitka- Valdez cable
will be in operation before next winter.
Walter E, Clark