Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1903 — CABLE REACHES HAWAII. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CABLE REACHES HAWAII.

Wire Communication Between San Francisco and Honolulu. San Francisco and Honolulu nre now connected by cable. The first words passed under the ocean a few moments after 11 o’clock Thursday night. The wire worked perfectly. The first message received was from Gov. Dole to President Roosevelt. It was merely a formal greeting and congratulation from the people of Hawaii to the people of the United States from one chief Executive to the other. Right after the Dole signature on the first message came a second ines-

sage through from Honolulu. It was a greeting from the people of Hawaii to Clarence 11. Mackay, president of the Cable company, congratulating him upon the completion of the cable. The line is now open for public business. The opening of this cable line marks a great step in the work of connecting the United States with its island possessions. The next step is to be tlie completion of the cable between Honolulu and tlie Philippines. The cable to Australia has been in operation about five weeks, with most satisfactory results from a business standpoint A midway station, in nu uninhabited and hitherto unknown island in the Pacific between Hawaii and Guam, is the greatest obstacle yet onixuiiitereel., T.’.e island is listed ns "Midway island,” and except for millions of birds is uninhabited. The only visitors to have been Japanese and Chinese brigands, who used it for game hunting and for a meeting place for the division of loot. Up to date tlie officials of tlie cable company have been unnble to learn what government, if any, lias control of and jurisdiction over the island. If it is determined that it belong* to the United State* an effort will be made to have the

manager of the cable office appointed governor of the island, and he will have the honor of ruling over a email territory inlubited by less than a score of men. With the opening of business to Honolulu a rate of 50 cent* a word from San Franciaco ha* been established. When tlie line I* completed to Hongkong, Slinnghal mid Manila n rate of $1 a word will be established. Heretofore the rate to these points ha* been $2 and a season of rate-cutting between the two cable companies is not unlikely. The Pacific Const limited, west bound, on the Rio Grande Western Railroad, ran iat,o a huge rock slide two miles east of Westwnter, Utah, one trainman being killed and two injured.

HARBOR OF HONOLULU, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.

CABLE STATION, HONOLULU.