Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-06

name on the maps is the Galapagos
islands. These islands belong TO Ecua-
dor. They are situated about as far from
Panama as New York is distant from
Chicago, and in such a location that they
might form an important coaling sta
ton for the ships on their way north and
south between the two continents They
are about 500 miles from Ecuador and
1000 miles north of Valparaiso.
These islands were for a long time
uninhabited, and not long ago they had
sort of Robinson Crusoe. who lived
there for years upon fruits and roots and
upon the wild cattle and pigs which he
was able to KILL He caught the animals
in traps and killed them with a spear
made of pocket knife tied to stick.
He had hut with a roof of cowskins
and pigskirs. When found he was naked
and was carrying a pig en- his back. He
had been on the islands for years, having
been left there by some ship. He had
almost lost the power OF speech, and 1t
took some time for him to grow accus-
toned to civilized WAYS
Uncle Sam May hay Island.
AT several times duri-ig our history the
United States has considered the getting
possession of the Galapagos islands In
1851 preliminaries of transfer were ar
ranged with Ecuador, and at that time
50. 900 was offc->A Tor the right of col
lecting the guano on the islands. The
sale fell through, however, and so far
none of the subsequent negotiations has
succeeded Now that we have the canal
the sale may again como up in connec-
ton with cur Pacie'~ coast trade;
It ia claimed that the islands are fer
tile Some parts of them are now being
settled. The Ecuadorians have estab-
lished several plantations, and say thai
they have enough grazing grounds to
feed thousands of cattle The islands
have excellent cod fisheries along the
shore, and are also famous for turtles OF
enormous size, which are found nowhere
else. These turtles when full grown
measure about three feet thick and weigh
as much as 600 pounds. They are valuable
for their oil, which can be used In place
of lard. An ordinary turtle will yield
about six gallons of oil, and this will sci
for IS cents a gallon. The islands have
also seals and wild dogs. as well as wild
donkeys and cattle, all of which are the
descendants of those brought by colony
!. from Ecuador which once attempted Il
settle the island, but failed.
Valuable for Fertilizer.
There are other islands lying off TIT
west coast OF South America that havI
yielded more money than any other spot
upon earth OF a similar size. / refer 4
the guano islands, which have produced
more than 81 900, 900 900 worth Of fertilizer
and which, II the present movement 70
their renovation succeeds. will produces
hundreds OF millions of dollars more. Thi
9 movement Is backed by the Peruvian
q government. and is based upon scientific
( Investigations I will describe It furthe
< on In this letter.
Q The guano islands begin at the north
ern part OF Peru, and they run here am
: there through the sea off the west coas
, of the South American desert far dow
t into Chile. They are 50 situated that thel
/ have no rain, and they are absolutel,
barren except for the vast flocks OF bird
) which use them for their breeding places
) I saw many OF these Islands on my wal
5 southwark through the Pacific. At frs
they seemed to be rocks OF white chalk
5 The white. however. was made by TN
! droppings Of birds. which come there b.
4 the tens Of millions every year to mes
j and raise their young.
The great value comes from the drop
\ pAAHb VI AiAdAuIG Ol tiltEt DiIubs NJ AIs
, time they were discovered the deposits
: were so large that the Peruvians wer'
! two generations in developing them
; They shipped the guano TO the Unite'
States and Europe. and fleet Of vessel
: was engaged in carrying it. The receipt
paid large part OF the expenses of tn
government and they kept the country
: rich
Lost Rs Result of War.
Then Peru had its war with Chile AM
was conquered. The result was an enor
nous foreign debt in the settlement o
D which the best OF the guano islands wer
a given over 20 the foreign bohdholders
!. and came under what is known as tn
Y Peruvian corporation. which corporation
7 is still shipping from them thirty o
J. more thousand tons every year.
q The guano deposits are now almost ex
hausted. The most Of the product hal
e been consumed before the war with Chill,
r and continual export has gone on slno