The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-27
WHEELER'S GUAM REPORT.
The General Describes Conditions ON
the Pacific Island

report by Brig. Gen. Joseph Wheeler on
his observations in the island of Guam,
which he visited last winter in obedience
to an order from the President. which re-
| CURED him to Investigate conditions ex-
listing there, the administration Of the
United States officer in charge, the work
| accomplished and in contemplation. and
the public advantages the island affords by
reason of location and physical features
The island contains an area CT about $50
! square miles, and in four days the busting
and energetic general traVeTsed it il every
direction. noting its physical features and
| advantages with the eye of a trained sol
der. No detail seems TO have escaped him
| and into pamphlet of fifty pages he has
| cTammed a vast amount CT useful and in
teresting information about this distant
island possession Of the United States ard
its people.
The latter number about 5000. and most
of them live in the half-dozen towns scat
tered over the island. Agana, the capital.
is the largest, with population of $500.
General Wheeler found the towns very
neat. indeed" In Agana, probably half
the houses are Of stone, and the rest Of
nipa and bamboo, much like those in Lu-
Zon. The people were cordial and friend y,
AT every town we entered" says the re-
port. I'VE were met by the leading men OF
the place; at two places with United States
flags flying White flags were upon many
OF the houses, bells were rung and other
efforts were made by the natives TO mani
fest regard for the Americans.
The people met me at some distance
from the town. As I approached they fired
guns, rang bells, and made all possible
display of welcome and good feeling to-
ward our Government. They insisted upon
our partakiDg Of an entertainment which
they had prepared, and in many ways ex-
hibited a desire to receive US with cordi-
atty. The school children. with their
bright. intelligent faces, the girls with neat
dresses, and the boys with equally nea,
clothing. were brought out ii body and
presented to US. Here, in other towns
everything had clean and cheerful ap-
pearance. The town now has about 200
people
Agat which has a population of about
800, was also visited. and General Wheeler
says:
.Agat is now one Of the most important
places next to Agana. In 1876 it contained
only thirty native houses, d poor
church, and stone house for the padre.
When l approached the town every pos
sible expression OF welcome 10 Americans
was manifested. Their one little cannon
salutcd small arms were fired, and the
bells were rung- The padre was absent,
but his commOdious house was occupied
by a Spaniard, who, with the leading men
Of the place, gave us very nice luncheon.
The streets, houses, and people all pre-
sented very clean appearance
General Wheeler spent night at Ynara-
jan, the second town Of the island IN size,
with a population Of 800, where he was re-
ceiyed with the most marked hospitality
He writes:
We were met by the leading citizens
as We approached. and il was touching to
see the efforts of all the people TO show
respect TO the American Government Guns
were fired, bells rung, and the little son
. OF The towns governor walked by my SIDE
playing the ACCORDION. We were taken TO
the BEST house in the place, where We We're
entertained by the people. We were given
/ an excellent supper and were
! furnished comfortable beds with
very clean, nice, snow-Whlta
sheets, and pillowCases. The next
morning the population, including the
women. called. We were given a good
breakfast and SIX Of the citizens insisted
upon accompanying Us 10 Apras a distance
of nearly, If not quite, fifteen miles"
General Wheeler furnishes a summary
of the general orders issued by Governor
Leary. and says that the Governor and his
assistant have used their best judgment
in framing the orders which have become
t the laws Of the island" The summary
shows that the orders made the following
provisions:
General Order No / dated August 16
1899 prohibited the disposal OF liquors &c
any person who was not a resident 81 the
island prior to August l.
= General Order No. .. of the same date
, prohibited the importation OF liquors eX-
, cept by special license
General Order No. 3. OF August y, pro-
/ "a he oil oF
. tanning The consent Of the Government.
General Order No. /, Of August .. linn
T tied the celebration of religious feast days
10 the walls Of the church, chapel, or pTi-
vate residence. and provided that the only
: public holidays recognized would be Sun
DAYS and the holidays authorized by tbs
{ United States statute laws and by The
proclamations of the President Of tht
United States
General Order No prohibits concu-
biuage, and commands all persons living
8 together out of the bonds of wed!ock TO be
f married
General Order No. 6, of October 1. pro-
+ hibits the expectation of certain product.
q of the island
, General Order No 7. of October 1, com,
mands inhabitants who are without trade
or habitual occupation to plant certain
q products and keep certain live stock
4 General Order No. prohibits the i'm
: portation OF disposal of any intoXieatin:
: stinulants except by special license ISSUED
r by the Government
General Order No. g Of December 6
1899. requires that dogs be licensed, ant
q states that animals, large and small. mus
a not be permitted 10 run loose in the road
q or streets
General order No TO- of January 3. 1900
e | aboIishes the Spanish system Of taxation
n on real estate and provides for a new sys
1 tenn
B General Order No. II, of January 19
/ | condemns the lawless conduct of certain
d persons belonging to the station
General Order No Il. of January p
: provides system of public education an
e ! prohibits religious instruction in favor o
: any particular church or creed.
D General Order No. b. of January %, re
= quires each adult resident to learn t
e write his or her name before July l, 1896
: unless prevented from so doing by physi
S cal disability
e General Order No. II. of February
G provides regulations regarding men at
k taehed to the command and who absen
d themselves from the station.
o Governor Leary established a system @
e compulsory education by requiring that a.
children between the ages of eight an
s fourteen should attend school The wage
:, Of teachers were low. At Umata Genera
It Wheeler found "a nice school of littl
n children in charge of a male teacher VIII
y received in wages the munifieent sum c
II three pesos equal to about $3.50 gold
s a month. General Wheeler was informe
S that this rate of wages was about 10 b
3 increased Ito Sc Mexican per month