The evening times., 1900-03-28
THE CONDITIONS In GUAM
General Wheeler's Report to the
Navy Department
The People Display Great Friendli-
ness Toward Americans-Natura
Products of the 1sIand-Lfttle
Money ia CircuIntio~-The Lepers
Scattered - ENtraEagant Legends.

General Joe Wheeler's report on the sit
uation in the Island of Guam. which he in
spected while en- route to San Francisco
from Manila, was made public by the Navy
Department today and says in part:
Il cannot learn that the Island of Guam
has ever been surveyed, but its area may
be stated at about $50 square miles, one
half of which, it is estimated, is suscepti-
bic of cultivation. Nearly all of the land is
still virgin soil. my information being that
only about / per cent is now under cul-
tiyation.
The population is about 5000 souls,
nearly all Of whom reside in the towns.
The land which is regarded as arabic is
very fertile. producing cocoanuts, oranges,
lemons, cacao, rice. corn, sugar-cane,
beans. tomatoes etc, the cocoa-nut trees
having an appearance of thrift and bearing
power superior to those l have seen in any
other part of the tropics Deer and wild
goats are found in abundance.
The road from Agana TO the north of the
island passes through an especially fertile
country. In this section there is a large
table land and where clearings have been
made the ranches are in a good state OF
cultivation. All other parts Of this table
land are covered with a very thick jungle,
which can with difficulty be penetrated by
q man on foot. The dugdug and other
bread fruit trees grow to enormous size.
The belief in spirits inhabiting forests
and lonely places, is widely spread
throughout the islands of the Pacific. In
Samoa they are called 'AitU,' in Guam
dol 10 of ha n1G
often described as being headless, and
jumping on the backs CT people going
through the woods at night. as did the
devils upon the saints Of old. They are
supposed to frequent especially the yicini-
ty of Banyan trees, and Of prehistoric re-
mains, called 'Latda.
Flying foxes are numerous. They fly in
full daylight, fapping their wings slowly.
like crow. They are eaten generally. and
are one of the usual staples of fooa.
Centipedes and wasps are common, both
indoors and out. There is a small scor-
pion. The stings of none Of these are dan
gerous. Spiders are common. Some OF
the spiders are very large, but none is
dangerous. There are no tarantulas.
The only industry OF any consequence
in the Island of Guam. is the production
and expectation of copra. The price re-
ceived by the natives for copra, from the
from 81 to 81, Mexican, per hundred
weight These merchants receive about
double the above price for the product in
Japan. IN England. copra sells for SO per
ton. gold.
There is very good road between the
landing CT Pitt Cn to Agana. and for two
miles beyond along the coast 10 the north
west To the north of Umata, along the
east side OF the island. the
-s,1.- r. 10
the island. from AsaEa TO Page. is fairly
good. All the roads. except the one from
Phi through Agana. become very bad in
the wet season. but as all the towns are
on the coast communication by sea is
always available. In Agsna probably half
the houses are built Of stone: the ether
houses are Of nipa and bamboo, very
much Ike the houses in LUZOH.
The people were very cordial and
friendly At every town we entered we
we're net by the leading men Of the place
at two places with United States flags
flying. white flags were upon many Of Jre
houses, bells were rEng, and ether effOi Is
we,s made by the natives 10 manifest re-
gard for the Americans. ! saw few peo-
pie who | was informed were pure Cha
morrCs and they impr. sed me very IA
yoTabiy. Their features were regular;
their forms erect and they were in an re-
spects fire physical specimens
There is very little money cn the ISL
and Wages are very low. The teacher
at Umata had a rice school Of little chill
oren, and his pay vas only three pesos
equal to Sl.50 gold per month. ] under
stand that the paw has been. or is about
TO be. increased to $6 Mexican per month.
"A short distance north Of Agana is the
settlement Of from - to 100 Caroline ISL
anders. They preserve their native GUS
toms and methods of dress and have quite
the appearance of American Indians They
are Industrious and peaceable. Most eX-
travagant legends exist as to the former
density Of the population OF this and other
islands. Some Spanish writer's assert that
the population Of the Island of Guam alone
at one time was as much as 30.0e0 The
reports OF Padre Sanvitores have been
quoted 10 sustain these large estimates
He says that during the first year of his
lsbors he baptized 1900 people and con-
verted 20. 600, but these statements like
the others to which allusion has been
made. are certainly very much overrated
In 1868 the population was reckoned at 8
SO. of which 1924 were on Guam 3S5 on
Rota. Is on Tinian. and 435 on Saypan. the
other islands being uninhabited
I'm 1873 Il was stated that in the south
west part Of Guam the people were much l
afflicted with leprosy. but this afliction 1
now seems TO be much less than formerly. |
When the Spaniards left. there were six
lepers i'm the hospital at Asan. All but one 1