New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-23
A NEW INDUSTRY.

The particular province OF some persons seems
to spread itself continents, as IN the case OF
Cecil Rhodes. The talent of others Graves high
attitudes like the mountain climbing Prince or
the Abruzzi. Captain Leary's special department
appears TO be islands. and when the United
States Government sent him to rule over the
Island Of Guam II did not as 1t so often does
put the square man into the round hole Some
wears ago when Lieutenant Leary was IN the
South Seas. he had the chance to get rise out
OF the German Consul who was undertaking 10
boss the Samoan situation. He made the most
of this blissfu opportunity, and the episode so
tickled Robert Louis Stevenson's sense OF humor
that that charming writer proceeded to preserve
the name of Leary from possible oblivion by
enshrining him in a chapter Of his well known
book "A Footnote to History
Most persons would consider this. glory
enough but Captain Leary does not Willingly
'stay put" He is Il decidedly progressive per-
son, and islands are coming our way Last
summer he was appointed Governor OF Guam
and in view Of the fact that this important post
! is not an Industrial centre the Government
kindly provided him with portable "Guberna-
| toriaw mansion neatly packed away In sections;
| and, still believing in the ancient myth that
music hath charms 10 soothe the savage
hreast" II likewise enlisted the best band that
corld he induced TO go there. What effect the
| strains of "A Hot Time in the Old Town To-
night" and kindred melodies will have on the
minds and morals of its inhabitants the future
| historian OF Guam will doubt one day DO
| able to describe.
| To the sectional Government House and the
complete orchestra was thoughtfully added
small supply of stamps, enough to last the
| Guamese or Guamites, who are not scribbllng
race couple of years. But before the precious
cargo had been securely packed in the hold OF
| the ship the stamp dealers got on to- this third
consignment, and forthwith letters, petitions,
checks and cash poured in and nearly swamped
the surprised chief. All were returned before
his sailing but on reaching his post he found
more of these requests, aud soon shoals OF them
/ began to arrive and daily increased in numbers.
! Whereupon n brilliant financial scheme worked
itself out in the fertile brain of our Captain-Gov-
ernor- Postmaster General. The stamps issued
10 him were our ordinary one, two and four
cent kinds with the word Guam simply
stamped across them in black letters Why not
send for more Of these-in fact. the whole series
from one cent to one dollar in sufficient num-
bers to satisfy both the island consumption and
the fancy stamp trade? The special delivery
| stamp from Guam would alone be worth 50 10
any one with sense of humor, let alone a
stamp dealer. BY sending 1900 one cent,
$1,000 two cent, 5000 three cent 5000 four cent,
1900 five cent, 5000 six cent 5000 eight cent.
10000 10 cent 5000 10 cent, 1000 80 cent 5000
81 and 5000 special delivery stamps and selling
them not at premium, but simply at their face
value The Guam Postoflice Department would
be able to clear about $4,000 the actual cost Of
production being somewhere around $40.
The Spanish Governor OF Guam, who so po-
ltely regretted that he hadn't powder enough to
: return our supposed salute when United
States cruiser came in to take possession. will
tear his hair when he realizes this precious but
lost opportunity. Spanish stamps with Guam
across their face would no doubt have found
eonal favor with the collector, and would have
brought I'm n neat little sum either 10 the Gov
eminent or It's representative. And what vista
/ opens I'D before us. What's the matter with a
Philippine stamp series? Or a Cuban Tempo
rarv Occupation Series? The more temporary
= I the Issue the mere valuable from n commercial
point of view And the respectable countenances
OF former Presidents would acquire an addi-
tiona fictitious value were the picturesque words
, "Pago Page" stamped upon their devoted heads
To bundle out useless loafers and to gather in
honest revenue are both of them acts conducive
to the welfare of the colony. and In the last OF