Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-08-12


although it was acquired as long ago
as 1857. These islands are neither very
populous nor fertile, but are of in
terest because they were our first
colonial possessions-th beginning
of our great Pacific empire. The
islands are known to geographers as
the Baker and Rowland islands. Baker
island is in latitude 13 degrees 20 min
utes north, longitude 176 degrees 20
minutes 80 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.
Another unique American domain
is the Marquis Of Weeks island. twas
discovered by Capt. Foster, COM
mander of an American sailing yes
sci, who, by permission of James G..
Blaine, who was then secretary Of
state, hoisted the stars and stripes
over the deserted spot, which is sit
uated about 1900 miles west of Hon
olulu. 1t has an area of three square
miles and so inhabitants. Unlike
Baker and Rowland islands, Capt. Eos
ter's little discovery is we'll watered
and bright with vegetation. Moreover,
1T lies in the track of vessels sailing
between Hawaii, China and Japan, and
almost within hailing distance of Ma,
Mia; and will therefore make an ex-
cellent coaling station for our Asiatic
feet. In West Indian waters we have
for some time owned Navassa island.
located about 30 miles east of Hayti
and 80 miles east of Jamaica. 1t was
discovered half century ago by Peter
Duncan, who assumed ownership I'M
der an act of congress and was the or
ganizer of the famous Navassa Phos-
plate company, which purchased his
title to the property.
AS colonial possessions go those
which we own now are not worth very
much, but it is perfectly safe to say
that before the Spauish-American war
closes we shall at least have Puerto
Rico, one of the worlds garden spots.
1t is one of the richest of the West
Indies. being the fourth In size. 1t is
90 miles long from east to west and
SO miles broad. lofty mountain
range runs through the island from
east to west, its highest altitude being
nearly 1000 feet above the sea. It's
area is $3.50 square miles, with pop
ulation of 100000. OF these half are
white, 240 900 mulattoes and $4,000 ne
groes. 1t has in the past paid an an
nual tax Of S3,o00,000 to Spain. Almost
every commodity the soil can produce
is raised in the island, and it's climate
is far superior to that of Cuba. Even
under the repressive influence of Spain
its trade has amounted to $25, 900, COO
year-a sum that will be vastly in
creased under the benefcent infu-
ence of the United States. Strategical-
ly the island is bound to prove of great
value. 1t has number of splendid
harbors, to say nothing of the thrifty
and well built cities Of San Juan,
Ponce, Guayama, Arecibo and Fajardo.
With Puerto Rico go the islands of
Pinero, Culebra and Bieque; ell of
them small, but of remarkable beauty
and rare fertility.
Even among anneXationists of the
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 commercial
point of view the islands might be de-
veloped into a valuable colony, in the
course of half century, but they would
for generations be disturbing factor
politically. Millions of the Filipinos.
as they are called, are savages, worse III
every respect than the North American