Baker, Howland and Jarvis Colonization Scheme

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Map of the United States Minor Outlying Islands with the location of Baker, Howland and Jarvis (in the south)

The Baker, Howland and Jarvis Colonization Scheme ( German about: Colonization program for Baker, Howland and Jarvis Island ) from 1935 was a program of the United States to colonize three of its territories in the Pacific Ocean , namely Baker Island , Howland Island and Jarvis Island .

background

Numerous islands, particularly in the Pacific, were taken for the United States in the 19th century under the Guano Islands Act of 1856. As a result, the island territories were settled to mine guano and then abandoned again after the raw material had been removed. In order to continue to be present in the Central Pacific, some islands were expanded for military purposes in the 1930s and 1940s, such as Wake or the Johnston Atoll . The three uninhabited islands of Baker, Howland and Jarvis, however, were designated for civil repopulation. Students from Kamameha University in Hawaii were selected as settlers .

execution

On March 26, 1935, the first four settlers were brought to Jarvis Island with the USCGC Itasca , where they founded the Millersville settlement . Then on April 3, 1935, four settlers each were deposited on Howland and Baker Island, where the towns of Itascatown and Meyerton were founded. A lighthouse was also built on each of the three islands, and a landing pad for aircraft on Baker and Howland Island. Since there are no natural sources of drinking water on the islands , they were always dependent on supplies from third parties.

The End

After the beginning of World War II in the Pacific , Baker, Howland and Jarvis Island came under Japanese attacks. On December 8, 1941, two of the four colonists were killed in an air raid on Itascatown (on Howland Island). Also Meyerton was (on the Baker Island) attacked, but without loss of life. On January 31, 1942, the two survivors from Howland Island and the settlers from Baker Island were evacuated by the US Navy , and on February 7, the settlers from Jarvis Island as well. The project failed and the islands have been uninhabited since then.

  • The remains of Meyerton on Baker Island

  • The lighthouse on Howland Island, Amelia Earhart Light, destroyed in the air strike

  • The remains of Itascatown on Howland Island

  • Jarvis Island with lighthouse

management

Initially, the Bureau of Air Commerce , a division of the US Department of Commerce , was entrusted with the management of the program, in 1937 this was transferred to the US Department of the Interior .

The leaders of the Baker, Howland and Jarvis Colonization Scheme were:

  • 1935-1937: William T. Miller
  • 1937-1942: Richard B. Black

See also

Web links