Introduction to the Cable Station Infrastructure

The Cable Station infrastructure, during the vital and strategic trans-Pacific telegraphic cable services, had to provide reliable electrical generation services in order to charge racks of electrical batteries which were the backbone of the relay equipment that was used to detect and re-energize incoming telegraphic signals.  This strategic facility also had to provide comfortable facilities for the personnel, and try to keep them as healthy as possible notwithstanding long intervals between the arrival of food, fuel and materiel by freighter shipments that were lightered ashore. Likewise, during the scientific research operations of PERL, similar needs existed, but much of the equipment left behind was antiquated and needed replacement.   Therefore, some of the services were restored, however others were abandoned.

Electrical and Refrigeration Facilities

The electrical and refrigeration facilities during PERL operations included generators and compressors, some of which remained from Cable and Wireless Ltd.  Photographed at the top of the page are three of the five electrical generators (some were gas and the others diesel), for which the fuel was stored in barrels in the Fuel Storage Building, also photographed at the top.  The Refrigeration Building, also photographed at the top, housed both the electrical generators as well as the gasoline and diesel powered compressors that were used to keep the storage rooms for meat, vegetables and chilled goods either frozen or cool, as the case may be.  Additionally, not shown are the carpentry, paint, and machine shops which were extremely essential to the maintenance and normal operation of all the facilities.

Fresh Water and Sewage Systems

The Cable Station maintained two water systems, one relying on rainwater which is rather abundant in the winter months, and a ground water system which was used for washing and sewage operations, although the ground water can also be used for drinking if necessary.  Photographed to the left is the ground water tower which provided water at pressure throughout the Cable Station.  Also photographed to the left is the rain water cistern.  The well water that was used at the Cable Station was collected in sewer pipes, and to the left is a photograph of the pump station used to discharged it into the ocean with a discharge pipe, also shown in the left margin.

Boathouse and Lagoon Pier

The wooden Boathouse, photographed in the left margin, was located at the eastern end of the Cable Station property near the lagoon pier, and housed several of the boats which are shown in the PERL Research Vessels webpage.  The lagoon pier, also photographed in the left margin, was for tying up shallow draft boats, as well as being used to accommodate a weather data collection station.  Next to the pier, but not shown, is an old tramway leading from the shore into the water and apparently was used during the old Cable Station operation days to bring ashore boats and tenders.

Recreation Facilities, Medical Dispensary, and General Store

The recreation facilities at the Cable Station included the tennis court and swimming pool, which are not shown, although the lagoon and ocean provided more than ample recreational pursuits.  During the PERL operations, movies were shown on a regular basis in the Cable Station main room, which formerly housed the telegraphic relays, and which is photographed below.  Also in the main building was a medical dispensary, which sufficed for treatment of minor wounds and setting broken bones.  Also during PERL operations there was a general store housed in the Cable Station building that provided basic dry goods subject to availability.  The goods were either flown or shipped in by Dr. Vitousek, or offloaded from occasional tramp steamers that would sail past the island from Hawaii or Fiji.  Naturally, shortages were common.

Concluding Remarks

In retrospective, the Cable Station and PERL operation days provided the Kiribatese staff with steady and meaningful employment which sadly is missing today.  Hopefully, under the auspices of the proposed Atoll Institute and Empyrean Village Inn employment and education opportunities will abound, goods will be readily available, and the Kiribatese islanders will have unimaginable opportunities at their footsteps, as well as some alternatives to sea level rise as it begins to threaten their existence.