The times., 1899-12-17
A DESCRIPTION OF GUAM
The Interesting Letter of an Amer
lean Officer.
of the Island ns IA Naval
over the Change i'm Government.
improvements TO BE Made-Cele-
bration of the Fourth Of July.

The Island of Guam, one of Americas
new possessions, is, according to a letter
recently received in this city from one CT
the officers on the United States steamship
Yosemite, a place of considerable interest
and one presenting many natural adyan
tages as a naval station. The estab ish
ment of an American garrison there has
been productive of some interesting prob
lens OF which the officer tells in his letter.
Among other interesting things, he de-
scribes the odd ceremony attending Guam's
celebration of the Fourth of July, an event
that seemed to appeal especially to the
natives of the island, for they made
great effort to demonstrate their patriot
ism and their satisfaction at having come
under the protection and the progressive
influences of the Stars and Stripes The
letter referred to says in part;
The island looks very pretty as It is
approached from the sea. There are some
very prominent cliffs and a barrier coral
reef outside of them. The surf breaking
over the rocks is very picturesque. Inc
cliffs and some lower shore beyond them
are clothed in the greenest sort of green,
and as the ships draw near one can DIS
tinguish palm groves and little stretches
of sandy beach, The barrier reef extends
out in such a manner as to form a natural
breakwater, behind which ships can lie IN
safety; but the inner reef is so far out
that the ships cannot get closer than
mile from the shore. At low tide this
stretch of water is so shallow in many
places that navigation for a pulling boat
is somewhat difficult. but a fairly reliable
channel was staked out by the Benning-
ton people With a little blasting a good
channel could be made.
Enthasimsm of the Natives.
THE island is of volcanic origin and is
skirted with coral. Everything grows in
luxurious profusion and the tropical plants
require little or no care. Cocoauuts and
bananas grew everywhere. The natives
are most polite, inoffensve, peaceable
people, and are inclined to be somewhat
indolent but they are very loyal and eX-
tremely anxious to see the Americans in
stalled l was told by the interpreter that
the citizens of Agana intended to turn out
! in a body to welcome the governor when
! he takes official possession, and delega-
I tion is to meet him at the town gates and
read a speech of welcome. They have al
ready erected the triumphal arches under
which the gubernatorial procession is to
pass. and the first one, at the gate, bears
/ a big sign with the inscription Welcome.
! All this has an amusing aspect, but the
/ peopIe are sincere in their protestations
and all the arrangements were made by
! them of their own volition. They were
much elated at the prospect Of stable
government.
There is any amount Of work to be
] dcns in preparing the palace for the gov
| arnOr aud the barracks for the marines.
| There is ample room, only the whole
place wants scraping, painting, and clean
ing inside.
The Most Important Town.
"Agana, the principal town, is about
four and one-half miles from the land
ing, and the road leading from the land
ing place to the town is very level The
surface is somewhat worn. but it can cas-
| lily be repaired The road runs near the
| beach all the way and is decidedly pic
| turesque On each side are groves and
! groves of cocoanut palms and banana
trees. With thatched native nuts inter
spersed. The town itself is not far from
a sort of bay and it is proposed to
take the stores for the palace and barracks
around that way by boat which can be
done very we'll by blasting a small chan
mel through the reef. This Will save haul
ing four and a half miles in small bullock
carts from the landing to the town, which
would be an arduous task. There are 10
horses in the island, but some ponies,
which hitched to fOur-W heeled chaiSes,
do very sell for the passenger service
They are like the Manila ponies The
beasts OF burden here as in Manila, are
the water buffaloes, and there are some
cattle of the ordinary kind in the island
so there Will be no lack of fresh beef
AN ideal naval station could be estab-
Iishcd here. Cabras Island, which helps &c
smut in the barbor, would be a splendid
spot for it. A channel for boats of Light
draft and for coaling lighters could be east
" dredged out of the soft coral rock righ
up TO ii, aud all the harbor needs is buoy
ing and a little Gaping on top OF the natu-
raj reef to make it very snug. As it is. the
natural reef makes very good breakwater
At pres ut the two problems are to find {
! secure place for the lepeTs, of which there
! are few scattered over the island. and e
( find suitable location for a small hospi
tai for the present leper hospital is righ
! in the midst of Q village and is by NJ
meaus secure. 1t viii probably be burned
and some small island or peninsula select
cd as place for a leper colony. The ole
military hospital was simply a corridor con.
nected with the main barracks. but as it i.
entirely ursuited for the purpose it is pro
pGsed to convert it into a mess hall anC
build a new hospital of moderate dimen'
sions. but 10 be fitted with modern con
vanieucss and hygienic advantages.
improvements TO Be Made.
The grounds in front of the palace
which is a two-story building of dozeI
or fifteen rooms. are to be cleared of thei
present shrubbery and turned into an idea
place for parade A band stand is to q
erected and afternoon concerts viii b,
given when things once get in running or
der. site for athletic field for OFF
GERS and men will be selected and ltte,
with track. baseball diamond. and tennis
courts. After great deal Of hard work j.
done the garrison viii be very comfort
able.
The great problem now is the wats
supply and the question OF drainage. Ha,
we enough terra Gotta or iron piping. botl
could be easily arranged, for there is
good stream in the hills just back OF th
palace or wells could be easily driven VI
there and the grade to the sea is ampl
TO promote excellent drainage, There ar
some wells about the barracks and palac
now but they are so shallow and thei
situation is such as to make them unh
for use. The native soldiers. at pTesen
, | quartered in the barracks. drink water col
iected from the iron roof This compan,
Of natives, about sixty in number maxi
very guod-loOking soldiers, and when "
visited the barracks they all stood at at
tention. AS no uniform has as yet beel
provided for them they still wear thos
they had under the Spanish regime.
The story Of the Fourth OF July ceIe
! bration as told by the officer in charg
here at the time, is very amusing. ant
from all accounts the enthusiasm ran high
The buglers of the native company hav
: been taught to play colors and at moo
on the Fourth of July Old Glory was rails
ed with ceremony and received a salute o
: twenLv-one guns. fired from old mortar