Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-03-23
UNCLE SAMUEL
BUYS ISLAND
Ut WILL PROVIDE OUR NAVY IN
THE ORIENT WITH PLENTY
OF COAL.


does come in the far east, and does
not come too soon. it will find your
Uncle Sam well provided with the first
requisite Of modern warfare-good
| coal.
Ever since this country has been in
the Philippines, it has had an eye out
for fuel for its warships. but until
March l. 1906, has not been able "a
say that it had in its own possession
an absolute supply. 1t has always
either had to buy from Japan or Aus.
trala, and the 100000 tons a wear
used by the United States and Philip.
pine governments has cost an aver
age of So a ton, and the coal has been
dirty and unsatisfactory at that. But
now arrangements have been perfect.
ed whereby the two governments will
have an abundant supply of a superior
quality. at less than half the price of
the Japanese or Australian coal and
il will come from mines owned and
controlled by the United States.
Rich Coal Deposits.
About 1890, or eight years before
the Spanish war, some clever Span
iards found that the little island of
Batan, 450 miles by water from Ma.
Mia, contained marvelously rich de-
rosits of high grade coal and in enor-
nous quantities. Indeed. they found
that the island which is ten miles long
and five miles wide, is practically sol.
id coal. They also found that there
was only one harbor on the island and
that this harbor. owing to the dan
serous nature of the coast, was an
iron-clad necessity for anyone who de-
sired to operate the coal mines. So
they bought the land fronting upon the
nice, ample, land-locked harbor and
placing the deeds in their pockets, sat
down to wait for some one to come
along. who wanted to mine the coal
1t was slow process. but sure. Who
ever got the coal had to see them
first, and so they were patient and
waited.
Spanards in the Way.
Finally came the Spanish war. and
Of course, Uncle Sam wanted coal
He heard of Batan island and examin-
ed it. 1t loked good to him. But he
also found the Spaniards who held the
deeds to the harbor front. They said:
"You can't cross our land or lease it,
but you can buy it for $4,000 cash."
Thereupon Uncle Sam took an option
81 the price, to be good till March 1,
1906, and then quietly slid around and
bought all the rest of the coal land
or the island, having first ascertained
that the supply was sufficient to keep
the American and Philippine govern
ments going for at least 200 years.
When the present session of congress
opened, bill was introduced apprO-
prating $4,000 with which to close
the deal for the harbor front and J',st
few days before the opIt+-n expired
the bill passed and the president sign
ed it. The time was SO short that
Secretary Taft had to cable over the
money to Manila, but this was done
and now the coal supply question in
the Philippines is settled.
Near Waters Edge.
By the acquisition of the harbor
frontage the government can almost
at once commence the shipment OF
coal, as the mouth of the mine will
be not over 200 yards from the waters
edge, and the coal out-crops in guam
titles to make immediate mining pos
sih!e. AS for shipping that will also
be easy. The water in the harbor is
50 feet deep to within 100 yards OF
the shore, so that a small wharf will
be all that is needed.
The coal mine is within 80 miles of
the course of vessels en- route from
San Francisco, Honlulu and Guam to
Manila.