New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-29
-FOUR ISLANDS FOR j. S.
Acquisition Made at Western
End of Panama Canal.
PACIFIC MAIL BOUGHT OUT
Consideration Probably Land
Elsewhere, as Money Would
Require an Appropriation.
fBv Teleeraph to The Tribune !


Colon, Aug. 2S-The islands Of Naos. Fla
menco, Culebra and Perico. in the Pacific
Ocean. near the western end of the Panama
Canal. have been acquired by the United
States government The deal was handled
by the Isthmian Canal Commission, and
the negotiations have extended over period
Oh several years
The United States virtually owned half
,'o ISLANDS already. as a half-nterest was
'ne property CT the Panama Railroad. all
the stock in which is owned nv the limited
STATES government. The other half was
purchased from the Pacinc Mail s,esr,sbin
Company which formerly used the islands
as lahuihs Sta'lon' using tugs and light
ers 10 transfer passengers and frelph, 70
Bnboa, which has been accessible to ocean
going vessels for only five years.
The purchase was made for the nurnose
Of using the islands, by a series OF con-
breakwater for the Pacific end % the big
ditch" The embankment from the main
land to Naos begun three years ago. is
nearly ready. But for the embankments,
Il IS asserted the canal outlet would be
menaced with great danger IN case OF
storms, due 10 the heavy currents off shore.
Canal engineers assert that these currents
would have had the further drawback Of
filing in the canal mouth with the sedi-
ment they carry IN large quantities.
Cuebra already is in use as quarantine
station.
The islands are in the Bay of Panama.
For fifty-seven years they have been owned
by the Pacific Mail and the Panama Rail-
road. each having half interest The
price specified to he paid Colombia for
them was $4,000 This was handed over.
the ship line making immediate Use of
them, but the railroad failed 10 build It's
projected oversee line TO them. as author
tied by a contract made i'm 1867 Through
political intrigues extending over series
of years the ownership was disputed. the
railroad company finally being compelled
10 pay 500 ono for its half.
For a time it seemed possible that the
road actually might extend its lines. thus
affording easy steamship access to the
docks proposed. but the company was un-
able to obtain the necessary capital For
many years the railroad made virtually no
use of the islands. and after the haroor Of
Bilboa was improved the Pacific Nail quit
anchoring its vessels off Flamenco This
was rendered necessary, as no vessels Of
deep draft can enter the harbor of Panama.
It is expected that the Islands will serve
an additional purpose as the site for
forts ia protect the canal, but nothing has
been given out upon this point. The de-
struction Of the embsnkment by a hostile
force. while IT would prove serious blow,
could not well be accomplished hurriedly,
and it would take several years. or long
enough to rebuild it, for the canal mouth
to FIJI up.
Washington. Aug. Sit is believed here
that the acquisition by the United states
government of the islands OF Naos,
Flamenco, Culebrs and Perico has been
made by an exchange Of properties with
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company the
latter becoming the owner of certain prop
critics on the mainland. This view IS
rendered probable by the fact that II the
ACQUISITION of the islands were money
transaction, an appropriation from Con-
gress would be required.