The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-02-10

ready arches are BoinS up
streets and committees are oelng
formed to welcome the Governor when
he takes up his official residence IN
Agana.
THE natives are peaceful and gentle
~ disnosition. The Filipino con-
v;cts sent here from Manila, seem to
he the only disturbing element on the
island. These Filipinos tried to in
ouourate a 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 gem
eral. The native is indolent, ana ne
can see no benefit in education. he
works if he pleases, and after a lew
DAYS knocks off with money enough to
Eeen him the rest of the year. 1t
costs him nothing to build his house,
and if he is out of work and out OF
funds there are the breadfruit trees,
the cocoanuts and the bananas grow
mo wild. Why should he disturb his
.;astap In the past there was an ad-
ditional reason why he should not
work: he was taxed heavily for every
thing he owned. IT.
When the natives cultivate the
fields, they rarely live on the land
thev till. Instead they prefer to
oroup themselves in little villages, OF
which there are a number scattered
ohont the island. When it 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 occa-
sion for merry-making, in which la
tuba PLAYS an important part. There
is rarely any disorder, but when
necessary to quell disturbance the
force is furnished by a company OF
: native artillery, the only military
f,r.e on tho island between the
evse-et;on By the Spanish troops and
), la arrival of the Yosemite. Every
. one unltes in praising these native
soldiers. Their behavior is excellent,
and their appearance is surprisingly
neat and military.
: Guam is an island of great posi-
. bilities. Strategically. it is important
!, in being link in the chain between
"a San Francisco and Manila. CONNER
- cialIy, it may be important, but at
y 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.
y Few other vegetables or cereals have
20 been tried, but there is little doubt
- that the experiments to beundertaken
~ 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
Nv ty-two horses on the whole island,
- and they are owned only by the
. wealthy class. 1t is not an uncom.
IN mon sight to see native astraddle OF
Ell a buffalo, galloping unconcernedly
sn along the muddy paths. Goats, pigs
n and deer roam wild all over the ISL
~ and.
10 Copra, the dried kernel Of the CO.
ne cosnut, is the principal article OF ex.
rs port. The other products are raised
nt for home consumption only. 1t not
us known what minerals there are in the
49, island, because nobody has ever tried
". to find out. Building material Is
ISL plentiful; lime is made by burning
m the coral in a kiln, and this, mixed
ne with the broken coral stone, can b.
ne shaped or plastered, and becomes
'g' hard when exposed to the air. Thl
ln' is the material used for the walls o
vi the houses. For the roadbeds tn
raj coral is mixed with the red clay, ant
Is when smoothed down hardens and be
20 comes like cemented road.
Ill There are several kinds CT lumber
ny the most valuable being the iron
ELS wood. This is used in the floors
IN, the houses, the rafters, etc. 1t is ez
eau ceedingly hard and heavy, and resist
ecu all insects, even the teredo when use
III. for piles in the wharves. Some OF tn
en- inhabitants say that the floors in thel
me houses are more than one hundre
leu wears old, and there appears no nece'
SEES sity for removal. The woodwork OF
house takes longer to complete tina
~, IS the masonry. There are no sawmlli
l. and every plank mus' oo
ne, hand. In fact, the natives idea
pie architecture and of agriculture are
de, the most primitive order. A saw al
ma a te.ohet for the first, the fork OF
,tas .-ee as !. pillow and a machete for farl
H. i-r ere lis iasa of toolc, AID vii
le-5 t.ess Is works patiently away to Il
ans end. If it is not finished to-day,
VIII matter, to-mor will do; time Is
.i..5 matter to him.
ifai The climate of Guam is fairly plea
ial, ant, and very healthful. The lsla5
no is situated in latitude thirteen q
TN, grees twenty-six minutes north nj
as longitude IA degrees forty m'n'lt
est east, and is beyond the reach OF Il
nelr monsoons, and within the trsdewil
belt. As the island is only thlr
les. miles long ana less than ten mil
ade wide, the influence of the trade VII
sap is felt throughout ia area. and /
said heat of the tropical SIN is temper
ght- thereby. Fevers are almost unknow
dly, and there are few OF the tropical Il
lngs eases here. Unfortunately there