The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-11-30


streets and committees Rre being
formed to welcome the Governor when
he takes up his official residence in
Agana.
The natives are peaceful and gentle
in disposition. The Filipino con
victs, sent here from Manila, seom to
be the only disturbing element on the
island. These Filipinos tried TO in.
augurate revolution last March, but
the plot was nipped in the bud by the
naval officer in charge here at the
time. There are several schools on
the island, but education is not gen
eral. The native il indolent, and he
can see no benefit in education. He
works if he pleases, and after q few
days knocks Nff with money enough to
keep him the rest of the year 1t
costs him nothing to build his house,
and If he istout of work and out OF
funds there are the breadfruit trees,
the cocoanuts and the bananas grow
ing wild. Why should he disturb his
siesta? In the past there was nm ad.
ditional reason why lie should not
work; he was taxed heavily for every.
thing he owned.
When the natives cultivate the
fields, they rarely live on tho land
they till. Instead they prefer to
group themselves in little villages, of
which there are a number scattered
about the island. When 1t comes
harvesting time, all the men assemble
on one plantation, build hut, and
live and work together gathering in
the crop. When they have finished.
the whole body of them move to the
next plantation. 1t is also an occe.
sion for merry-making, i'll which la
tuba plays AN important part. There
is rarely any disorder, but when
necessary to quell disturbance the
force is furnished by company OF
native artillery, the only military
force on the island between tho
evacuation by the Spanish troops and
the arrival OF the Yosemite. Every
one unites in praising these native
soldiers. Their behavior is excellent,
and their appearance is surprisingly
neat and military.
1uhul 10 al vi BIGdb DObSl-
bilities. Strategically, it is important
il being a link in the chain between
San Francisco and Manila. CONNIE
cially, it may be important, but Mt
present little is known of its re-
sources, as the island has never been
developed. 1t is known, however,
that the land is extremely fertile.
coffee, cocoanuts, lemons, lines, corn,
sugar cane, all grow with but little at =
tention further than the planting.
Few other vegetables OF cereals have
been tried, but there is little doubt
that the experiments to be undertaken
will prove that the productivity of the
land is general Cattle of the water
buffalo variety thrive well, but horses
do not. In fact there are only TWEEN
ty-two horses on the whole island,
and they are owned only by the
wealthy class. 1t is not an uncom-
mon sight to see native astraddle OF
a buffalo, galloping unconcernedly
along the muddy paths. Goats, pigs
and deer roam wild al! over the is! =
and.
Copra, the dried kerne! of the co.
coanut, is the principal article of ex-
port. The other products are raised
for home consumption only. 1t is not
known what minerals there are in the
island, because nobody has ever tried
to find out Building material is
plentiful; lime is made by burning
the coral in kiln, and this, mixed
with the broken coral stone, can be
shaped or plastered, and becomes
hard when exposed to the air. This
Is the material used for the walls of
the houses. For the roadbeds the
coral Is mixed with the red clay, and
when smoothed down hardens and be-
comes like a cemented road
There are several kinds CT lumber,
the most valuable being the iron
wood This is used in the floors CT
the houses, the rafters, etc. 1t is ex-
ceedingly hard and heavy, and resist.
all insects, even the teredo when used
for piles in the wharves. Some of the
inhabitants say that the floors in their
houses are more than one hundred
years old, and there appears no neces-
sity for ItNoval. The woodwork of a
house t i =, longer to complete than
the mas6MM!ly. There are no sawmills,
and every plank must be cut out by
hand. In fact, the natives idea OF
architecture and of agriculture are OF
the most primitive order A saw and
hatchet 70, The first, the FORK of II
tree as piow and machete for farm
ing are his idea of tools, and with
these he works patiently away to tho
end. If it is not finished to-day, no
matter, tom orrow will do; time is no
matter to him.
The climate of Guam is fairly pleas
ant, and very healthful. The island
10 situated in latitude thirteen de
greea twenty-six minutes north and
longitude LA degrees forty minutes
east, and is beyond the reach of tho
monsoons, and within the tradewind
belt. As the island is only thirty
- lies long ana haas than ten miles
wide, the infueno, CT TIE trade wind
is felt throughort Us area, and the
heat of the tropical a2n is tempered
thereby. Feyers are a!t-ost unknown,
and there are few of tce trocical dis
eases here. Unfortunately tAero arc
q few cases of leprosy. TIE ieperH
were confined in a Hospital, hut when
the Spaniards evacuated the island,
the lepers wero released and are
now scattered and hidden about the