Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-10

been set aside by the government and
, placed under the biological survey of the
Department OF Agriculture. Is another
natural wonder. II IS a great ocean park
covering hundreds of miles. in which are
belong TO the Hawaiian group. but they
stretch far off TO the westward in the
direction Of Japan.
These islands have no human life upon
them. but they contain a population of
sea birds which in variety and extent Is
aneaualed In any other part Of the earth.
There are tens Of millions OF birds which
make their homes on those lonely lands.
They come there to breed, and at times
the Islands are covered with nests. The
ground is one mass Of eggs. and in th,,
past these have been gathered in wheel
barrows and carts and carried away by
tho boat load.
The birds feed on the fish whic AZ
swarm about the islands and upon otf or
kinds of sea life which live on the re efs
and along the shores. There are s. sue
plants, and just now the reservation u
suffering from an invasion Of rally Jits,
which feed on the plants and which. 4. no,
dealt With, may destroy the bird II r.
Moreover, the japanese have bee u raid
ing the islands in order to kill Il ie alba
trosses. The group should be " atched
by our revenue cutters and the reserva-
ton should, have permanent officials
there to care for it.
Preparing for Panansa.
Uncle Sam is doing much 10 prepare
the islands for the incres ised traffic
which will come with the Ps mama canal.
The ports have been clea ted and the
chief harbors have all mo fern facilities
for the handling of friegh'i A very i'm
portant work is that viii d is going on
at Pearl harbor.
The general board Of the army and
navy has declared that u lis place should
be made naval base. and plans have
been prepared which will involve the
spending OF slooo,on in improving ii.
There are to be also y lsts and fortifica-
tons which are to q rst 100000 more.
and altogether we 81 iaIl erect a little
Gibraltar away out there In the middle
Of the Pacific. The Islands have already
been made sepa' ate military district,
and general Off ter has been assigned
to the troops str tioned there. We are
putting In hU re dry dock at Pearl
harbor. and eonr iscted with it viii be re-
pair shops for our ganboais and other
vessels Of war.
The opening of the canal will greatly
Increase the II f.portance Of these islands
a q a "a a. - -.
They lie. you know, at the crossway Of
the main tr1fgeied routes Of that ocean.
They are 2ljo miles from San Francisco
and about 20 miles from the east eoas,
Of Asia They are 4.7oo miles from the
western e ID Of the Panama canal 3.&s
miles frSIn New Zealand. 3,ts miles
from JaI An and about 400 from Seat
tie or Vancouver. They are the half
way h use to almost anywhere In the
Pacific, and their future trade win be
enorm,gn.
lsetter shipping Facilities.
As il is. the transportation facilities
have increased since we took possession.
res jllarly from island to island. and thef
ca Fry several hundred thousands tons Of
n eight every year. There is a big traffic
4 etween the United States. Australia and
gIexico and there are many vessels which
tcali at Hawaii on their way to and from
Japan and China. This is 80 Of our trans-
4 ports en- route to the Philippines and also
Of the Canadian vessels bound for New
Zealand and the Fills.