The Detroit times., 1909-07-31
TO HAVE STATION
ON DREARY ISLAND
United States Government Expects
to Establish Coaling Headquarters
Off the Coast of Ecuador.

SAN DIEGO. Cal, July 3l.-"In
time OF peace establish coaling sta
tons"
There il gradually accommodating
evidence 20 Indicate that Uncle Sam
has adopted this as at least part OF
his working motto on the Pacificc.
Unless all signs fail. the next ad-
dition TO the nations present insig-
nificant number OF coaling stations Is
to be in the Galapagos Islands, the
group off the coast OF Ecuador, now
historically noted as the NARROWING
place of Sailor Jeffreys. whose rescue
was attempted unsuccessfully by the
Yankton during the cruise OF the bat
tleship fleet from the Atlantic TO Pa
cihc.
Naval experts and writer's have re-
peatedly laid much stress on the I'm
perative need OF a coaling depot for
American warships as far south as
the Equator, and at the same time re-
moved from the mainland. To all APP
pearances. an ideal spot for the pur-
pose has been found in the Galapagos
islands. -'-ea6a
The gunboat Yorktown recently re-
turned here from the islands, where
surveys were made and data taken for
the most favorable site for the depot.
This has all been forwarded to Wash
ington to be passed upon by the de-
partment The site recommended In
the report is Cruiser Bay, Albemarle.
island
Look at a map OF South America
and you will see the Galapagos group
OF about fifteen Islands. lying direct
ly on the Equator $50 miles due west
of Ecuador. The archipelago is the
same longitude as New Orleans. The
islands. all OF volcanic origin. are prac-
ticaily uninhabitable. They are
dreary, scorched wastes Of lava, dotted
with numberless warming craters Of ex-
tinct VOLCANOES. There is no vegeta-
ton except the mangrove tree,
scrubby plant that grows where II
can be reached by the tide waters.
There is no fresh water on the island
Seals and immense tortoises are about
the only inhabitants.
Commander Harry u. Field, OF the
Yorktown. is one OF the navy's experts
in marine surveying He visited the
Islands a short time ago
with orders 10 find good location for
a coalrg depot. and according to
members of his crew II will be but .
short time until Cruiser Bay Will be
officially listed as a government coal
ing station with San Francisco. Guam,
Martha. San Diego and other places
now under consideration. The entire
Pacific feet visited thessscene while
the Yorktown was there and various
officers pronounced the site selected
for the purpose.
Albemarle island Is the largest OF
the group. Cruiser Bay hitherto un-
but given this appelation by
the boys OF the Yorktown, is on the
east coast OF the island and is well
protected from the storms The bay
Is five miles long by four miles wide,
and OF horseshoe shape.
n present plans are not abandoned.
several OF the old navy vessels will
be loaded with coal and sent TO Cruis-
er Bay, there to anchor and discharge
their cargoes aboard the warships, as
required In this way several thou
sand tons OF coal can be kept on hand
Both before and after
the opening OF the Panama canal the
United States ships will thus have
place to replenish their fuel supply
without having TO make the long run
back to home ports or be compelled
to buy their coal In foreign ports.