lapo, :. 3 . 1955 (Unpublished) Summary Extract and Notes on Howland 
Island from .isc sllaneous Letters Relating to Guano,'Vo 1. Ill" 
:iona1 Archives, Record Group 59, General Records of the 
S Ck L«# 
Department of State- 
• • 
Iviay 2nd 1857— New York—Letter from A. G. Benson to Lewis Cass 
y (Alfred Benson states that he is the assignee of George E. 
Netcher" the discoverer of Howlands' slsland, situated i 
latitude 00° degrees 50 ' north , and longitude, If g 
,5 minutes west as per affidavit of said Betcher annexed 
heretoStated he took possession of Howland ieb 5th, lo5f 
and appeals affadavit by Arthur Benson. 
May 2nd 1857— Appended affadavit of Arthur Benson before the 
Commissioner of Deeds 
Jommissioner oi ueeub Tr A ^ ^ ^ c i A ^7 
states Arthur Benson sware he landed on Howland on Fe ?( 
00°50'N 176^52’W) Stated "winds blow steadily from tne eas 
k ^ it-._ __ v-n -P 4-V»/=> enrfflr'P of Said iSl 
i“rS tdeR^tSeRear" ■Lr^RirL tde surface of.aid isi^nd 
is covered to a depth of several feet with a deposit Om bird lime 
or guano" He claimed the deposits for A. G. Benson ana his 
associates Captains George E. Netcher and Wm. W ‘ 
Wpw Bedford Mass." [[Appended map shows two relatively large 
Sips o? bishes L tlesll-BBC 6/23/65)) [Imp gives position 
as 176°53% o°50'N]] 
Oct 27. l858—Letter from trustees of U.S. Guano Co. to Lewis Cass. 
(State that proper steps have been taken for organization an 
that they have purchased Bensons and Netcher s rights. State 
readiness to post bond on Howland) 
Dec 8, 1858-Letter from Egbert Benson, president of U.S. Guano Co. to 
John Appleton (Assistant Secretary of State) Ltd 
[In answer to the letter of Nov 11, 1858 states he is sending 
more papers to Dept, of State and appending a list of those 
heretofore sent to said Dept] 
List includes: ft ^ 
/ ’ s Alfred G. Benson to George W. Benson—March 27, 1050 
2 , George Benson to Egbert Benson and others—Oct 20 , 1050 
3 ) William W. Taylor to Alfred G. Benson Nov. 13; 185o 
4) Alfred G. Benson to G. W. Benson—Nov 15; 1858 
5) Egbert Benson to G. W. Benson—Nov 30; 1858 
6 ) G. W. Benson to U.S. Guano Co.—Nov. 30; 1858 
7 ^ Various affadavits, including certificate of incorporation o± 
company. 
