The Washington herald., 1911-02-12
UNCLE SAM PLANS
TO PUT FORTS ON
GALAPAGOS ISLES

Owing to the rapidly approaching time
when the Panama Canal will be opened
to the commerce of the world the QueS-
tion of naval bases close to the canal en-
frances on either the Atlantic or Pacific
side becomes of immense Importance to
the nations of the world. On the Pacific
side the only islands which could be util-
lied are the Galapagos Islands. Owing
to the Monroe doctrine, no European ma
ton would care to run the risk OF ac-
cuiring them, knowing such an act would
undoubtedly lead to war with the United
States. This country has been unofficial
~ dickering with Ecuador, which owns
them and, it is reported, has offered the
sum of $1,000, ,O0OO for a ninety-nine years
lease of the islands, the Ecuadoran con-
stitution forbdding the permanent alien
alton of any national territory. So much
opposition, however, has been displayed
by the people of Ecuador that President
Alfaro has promised to drop the idea of
parting with them for any sum.
The Galapagos Islands form one of the
most remarkable group Of islands in the
world. They arc situated on the equator,
about 500 miles west from the coast OF
Ecuador to which country they POLITICAL
iy belong although they have no local
government. and extend from about lon
Eitude 50 degrees to % degrees west from
Greenwich. and extending on each side
Of the equator about IL degrees north
and south. There are five principal is
lands, eleven smaller ones and a great
number of sets and rocks. The five
principal islands are Marlborough, Abe
marie, James. Indefatigable. and Chat
ham. The eleven smaller islands are
JcrvIs. Duncan, harrington, Brattle,
Charles, Hood, Tower, BindlOe, Abing-
dom Wenman. and Culpeper. Hood is
the most southern, Culpeper the most
nG-thern and also the most western,
While Chatham is the most eastern. AL
bemarle is by far the largest. occupying
more than one-haIf of the estimated > 400
square miles of the group. The popula-
tion is about 400, nearly all in Chatham.
There is some sugar grown on this is
land, while cattle are raised to some ex-
tent.
The Whole Group Volcanic.
As is well known, the whole group is
volcanic The highest mountain is on
the southwest end Of AIbemarle Reports
of volcanic eruptions on the islands have
been frequent in the past. but of recent
wears the volcanoes have been inactive
Most Of the islands consist of basaltic
rocks and masses of scoriae and lava
The climate. considering that these is
lands are directly on the equator is far
from being excessively hot. a circum-
stance which is chiefly owing to the sin
gUlarIy low temperature OF the surround
ing sea, which is p degrees Ccntigrade
TIL" rainy season is between February
\ H.HrH
ally very short. and often it stops entire
~ for one or two years. In the higher
portions Of the islands there is often
rain all the year. but very little. The
whole broad lower zone is nearly without
rain. therefore the upper region remains
always green, the lower one arid and
larren. making startling contrast when
seen from tn" water
The currents about these islands are
remarkable, for, in addition TO their We
lOcity, which iS from one TO two and
half miles an hour and usually toward
the west and northwest there is a sur
DrlsinC difference in temperature Of the
bodies 0f water moving within few
miles Of ono another. These striking diff
fcrcnccs arr owing to the cool current
coming from Tho southwark along the
, oaSts Of Chill and Peru. which at Gala
pagOs encounters "A far warmer body N
Heavy rollers occasionally break on the
northern shores during the rainy season.
though no wind of any consequence ac-
companies them. and are probably
"auSed by the nOrthers from Tehaunte-
pee and the Papagayos, or northeast
winds, which ar" so well known on the
coast between Panama and Acapulco.
Named from TortOiseS.
The Galapagos Islands derive their
rumc from ono OF the most remarkable
groups of animals to he found in the
world. the land tOrtoises CSpanish Gala
paEo). Formerly these t0rtoises were
abundant on most Of the larger islands
Of the group. but they have been killed
in great numbers for food, principally by
The crews of whaling vessels and buC-
aneers. who frequently resorted to these
islands to reht and provision in the early
DAYS Of the last century. 1t has been
,Stlmatod that I4.GoOOO0 of these animals
have been taken from the islands for use
aS food. Th"ir former abundance is well |
shown by the statement of Darwin that I,
in tho early days single vessels have
taken away as many as 1O0. and that the |
ships company Of a frigate brought |
down in one day "on tortOises to the !
beach" MANY were also killed off by |
pigs which EcUadOrans turned loose up
on the islands about a century ago and |
by wild dogs
In 1906 the Academy Of Sciences of Cal
'r"rnia sent an expedition to the islands
and secured ono Of the largest tOrtoiscs
ever taken from the islands, it weighing
about eleven hundred pounds a little
earlier a number were taken Rav and
sent to different cities Of tho world as
additions to the scientific collections Of
Inimals in their geological gardens SCv-
raj were given to the New York To-
illogical Park.
At present an expedition would. he
ucky to got a, dozen as a reward for sev-
raj months work. However. there are {
>ull a few remaining on four or five Of
he islands. but so few that they arc OK
remcly hard to find, and the race may
yell be called nearly extinct.
Few Young Ones Remain
Few young individuals are found now.
hese being usually about the size Of our
Common box tortoise or ''terrapfn." as it
: usually called. the principal difference
,einE one of color. The Galapagos tor
else is entirely black. The average size
obtained now measures about three feet
n length and weighs between l25 and Ia
,ounds. At Tring Park. England. is one
II the biggest known. measuring 56 by ~
inches over the curve of its Carapace |
which was taken from Duncan Island in
S1S TO Rotuma- thence TO Sydney in 1880 !
nd finally to England
The shells are high and rounded like
nc shells of our box tortoise. and the
eek of the animal is long and flexible.
nablng it to reach moss and leaves at