The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-08-29
Galapagos Land Turtle.

Land Turtle.
tablished which became measureably
prosperous by trading with the whal-
ers. But within a few years the
colony was turned into penal settle
ment, the whalers left the region, and
after a decade or SO only handful Of
settlers remained.
Neglected BY Ecuador.
| Ecuador has neglected the Galapagos
| islands ever since, but she has been
unwilling or unable to sell them to any
Of the great powers who would be glad
to take them over. Great Britain sug-
gested taking them for a debt in 1852,
but Peru, France and Spain promptly
made protest and the transfer was
not made. Later the United States pro-
posed that concessions be granted 1t on
the islands, but the same protestants
made objections and were joined by
Great Britain, so that nothing came OF
the proposal. Still later individual
Americans attempted to obtain con-
tracts for the exploitation Of the is
lands but the Ecuadorean government
apparently feared the growth Of alien
influence in her remote lands. and re-
fused to consider the proposals. What
ever reasons the United States may
have had for interest in the island
group have been strengthened since
the construction of the Panama canal.
The opening of that waterway
straightway relieved the islands Of
their remoteness, for they are on the
direct route between the fsthmus on
the one hand and Australia, New Zea-
land and the islands of the South
seas on the other. This position gives
the islands considerable value as po-
tential coaling stations. Even more
important, the islands as naval base
would command the Pacific entrance
to the canal. Their falling into the
hands of a power unfriendly to the
United States would constitute a dam
gerous situation.
At first view the Galapagos islands
seem hopelessly barren. Beyond a
struggling fringe of mangroves that
have established themselves in places
along the shore, extend miles of dry,
broken lava fragments In which only
cacti and scrubby, almost leafless
shrubs, exist. These wastes of vol
canic fragments, over which innumer-
able lizards run and occasional giant
turtles stalk, slope upward and finally
give way rather Unexpectedly to 4
moister region in which the volcanic
material has been decomposed. form
ing soil. First is a belt of trees and
still higher, grasslands. An interest
ing feature of the climate, Of the Gala
pages Is that these green uplands are
supported not so much by rain as by
frequent fogs or clouds in actual con-
tact with the earth which deposit
their moisture directly.
Climate Rather Chilly.
The islands are directly under the
equator, but their climate is far from
what is generally understood by the
term, equatorial" A cold ocean cur
rent from the Antarctic battles them
and the air currents from this cool
water keep the uplands at a pleasant |
temperature the year round. At night |
It becomes really cold on the plateaus
and camp fires must be used. 1t is
when the visitor finds this upland re- !
gion that he realizes that there Is
Galapagos islands.
At present efforts toward the de |
velopment of the islands are being |
made at only two places. There is
small hacienda on Chatham island |
(CristobaD where sugar is the prin-
cipal crop. The pxoductiveness OF the
soil is further shown, however, by the i
patches of coffee, grain, and fruits
grown by the poems. Herds of cattle
are also raised on the excellent pasture
lands. This island is about 20 miles
long by 10 wide. On Albemarle is
Land (some 60 miles long by 20 to 40
wide) is another relatively small
hacienda.
On the ten principal islands there
are many thousands Of acres Of till
able land and more on which live
stock could be raised. so that at some
future day the islands will probably
support considerable population. The
principal problem would be an ade-
luate water supply. There are no
streams on the islands. But
much water falls on the uplands and It
IS possible to obtain water in many
places by digging a few feet. 1t Is
believed that a number of subterran-
an streams empty into the sea. and
hat possibly some Of these could be
intercepted