New York Times July 8, 1936


U. S. Prepares to Dig In On Tiny Pacific Islands


HONOLULU, July 8 - Details of the manner in which the United States will "perpetuate its sovereignty" over Howland, Jarvis and Baker Islands were revealed today with the arrival of two officials of the Department of Interior.

They are Ray A. Kleindienst of the Division of Territories and Insular Possessions, who will cruise to the equatorial pinpoints of land, and R. B. Black, field representative, who will make the crusie southward aboard the Coast Guard cutter Itasca, leaving in about two weeks.

The Itasca will carry materials necessary for the erection of permanent buildings of stone or concrete.

The cargo will include complete equipment for two aerological stations. Such posts will give the army and navy a line of observations that would be invaluable in the event of hostilities.



New York Times July 25, 1936


U.S. COLONISTS START FOR TROPICAL ISLANDS

Coast Guard Cutter Is Taking Group From Honolulu - Isle to Be Prepared for Planes


HONOLULU, Hawaii July 25 - Heavily laden with building materials and carrying a group of new colonists chosen from personnel of the Kamehameha Boys School, the Coast Guard cutter Itasca departed yesterday for Baker, Howland and Jarvis Islands. Permanent development of these tiny specks of land along the equator will be started.

Aboard the Itasca with the group of boys were W. T. Miller of the Department of Commerce and R. B. Black of the Department of Interior, who are supervising the work of colonization and establishment of permanent stations from which weather observations can be made.

The colonists took with them large quantities of seedlings and cuttings for planting ironwood, cashew, mango, breadfruit, Hawaiian oranges, passion fruit and sea grapes.

Preparation of the islands for use by aircraft will start in about three months, when the Itasca makes another voyage carrying tractors and plows, which will be used to remove bumps from the natural runways. On her present trip the Itasca is returning in one month. She is sailing again in September.


New York Times August 17, 1936


RADIOS FOR PACIFIC ISLES

Stations on Baker, Howland and Jarvis to Give Aerological Data


HONOLULU, Aug 17. - Radio stations on Baker, Howland and Jarvis Islands, 1,000 miles south of Honolulu, will be sending reports to the outside world within three months, it was reported today when the Coast Guard cutter Itasca returned from the South with a group of eight boy colonists.

W. T. Miller of the United States Department of Commerce and R. B. Black of the Department of the Interior, who made the cruises said dwellings on the htree mid-Pacific specks of land were virtually completed. When the Itasca sails out again in October or November, radio equipment will be taken along. Aerological stations on Jarvis and Howland Islands are now gathering upper-air data, which will be the chief subject matter transmitted when radio operation is begun