Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-08-20

the Baker and Rowland islands. Baker
island is in latitude - degrees 20 min
utes north. longitude 17G degrees %
minutes 50 seconds west. Rowland
island is about three miles north of
Baker. Neither of them is inhabited
and the total area OF both is about
one square mile.
Anoth r unique American domain
is the Marquis of Weeks island. 1t was
discovered by Capt, Foster, com
mander Of an American sailing yes
sci, who. by permission of James &.
Blaine, who was then secretary of
state, hoiSted the stars and stripes
over the deserted spot, which is sit
uated about 300 miles west of Hon
oIulu, 1t has an area of three square
miles AMI 80 Inhabitants. Unlike
Baker AMI Rowland islands, Capt. Eos
ter's little discovery is well watercd
and bright with vegetation, Moreover.
il lies in the track Of vessels sailing
between Hawaii, China and Japan, and
almost within mailing distance of Ma.
Mia; and will therefore make an ex-
cellent coaling station for our Asiatic
fleet. In West indian waters we have
for some time owned Nayassa island.
located about 20 miles east of Hayti
and 90 miles east of Jamaica. 1t was
discovered half a century ago by Peter
Duncan, who assumed ownership m
der an act of congress and was the or
ganizer Of the famous Navassa Phos-
phate company, which purchased his
title to the property.
As colonial possessions 90 those
which we w now are not worth very
much, but it is perfectly safe to say
that before the SpanisE-American war
closes we shall at least have Puerto
Rico, n of the worlds garden spots.
1t is one of the richest of the West
Indies. being the fourth in size. 1t is
30 miles long from east to west and
90 miles broad. \ lofty mountain
range runs through the island from
east to west, its highest altitude being
nearly 1000 feet above the sea. II.
area is $3.50 square miles, with a nom
ulatlon of 100000. OF these half are
white, 10000 mulattoes and $4,000 ne
groes. 1t has in the past paid an an
nual tax of 100000 to Spain. Almost
every commodity the soil can produce
is raised in the island, and its climate
is far superior to that of Cuba. Even
under the repressiye influence of Spain
its trade has amounted to S25. 900, 600
Il year-a sum that will be vastly in
creased under the beneficent infu-
ence of the United States. Stratepical-
" the island is bound to prove OF great
value. 1t has a number of splendid
%harbors, to say nothing of the thrifty
and well built cities Of San Juan.
Ponce, Guayama, Arecibo and Faiardo.
With Puerto Rico go the islands of
Pinero, Culebra and Bieque; all of
them small, but of remarkable beauty
and rare fertility.
Even among annexationists of tho
most pronounced type there is some
question about our permanent occupa-
ton of the Philippines with their mot.
ley and semi-barbarous population of
100000 people. From a commercial
point of view the islands might be de-
veloped into a valuable colony, in the
course OF half a century, but they would
Tor generations be a disturbing factor
politically. Millions of the Filipinos.
as they are called, are savages, worse in |
every respect than the North American
indians. They are a mixed race, with
'he vices of the Polynesians and Chi
nese coolies predominating. Spain, al.
ways considered the best and most
cruel tax gatherer, has never derived
any direcs revenue from the islands.
the cost of administration and suppres.
sion OF rebellions more than eating up
the revenues from all sources.
With the Ladrone islands the case is
diHerent. They are inhabited by a slow
going but thrifty race, many of them
descendants Of Mexicans who emf.
grated TO the Pacific group early in the
century, with "a sprinkllng of the M.
i've stock. and will form a valuable ad.
uiuol 10 our colonial system. For coal
ing station purposes the islands are
without a peer. and when decently for