Evening star., 1901-10-14
LIFE IN THE TROPICS.
The Question of the Suitability of
Climates for CoIonists.

From the New York Sun.
The nineteenth century saw a great de-
velopment of the worlds need of the tropi-
cal lands Their natural riches are very
great, but the utilization of them on a
large scale. outside of their own borders.
has not long been OF large Importance.
With the acquisition of the Philippines
and Porto Rico, our practical interest in
all questions relating to the development
Of tropical lands is rapidly growing. Ger
many's participation In the study of these
questions has been confined mostly to the
few years since that empire became
colonial power. In that short time the
citizens of no country have thrown more
light upon the problem Of tropical agrf-
culture. which will always be the largest
Industrial interest of the tropics, than
those OF Germany The experiment stations
maintained by the government i'm East and
West Africa and New Guinea; the German
Colonial School at Witzenhausen where
young men are fitted to fiji responsible posi-
tions in the colonies; Jne coffee cotton to-
bacco and other plantations which are be-
ing opened by colonial societies i'm all the
foreign possessions: the experts in various
lines sent out to make special studies in
the field. are all contributing practical re-
Suits research and experience of great
value in the intelligent development of the
German colonies. Some recent books pub
lished in Germany, such wohltmann's
"Handbuch der Tropischen Agrikutur," are
idi 6Siy lit uulCOHe Oh lne OlllSent Stu1y
and experiment of the past fifteen years.
All the colonial powers are studying the
questions relating to their tropical pos
sessions. The suitability of climates for
colonists and the rules of hygiene nee
essary to observe I'm tropical countries the
profits of colonial agriculture and how to
enhance them. the development of stock
raising. the labor supply transportation
and commercial facilities and many other
problems are receiving the most earnest
attention. The Germans believe they have
already demonstrated the practicability of
profitable cotton and tobacco culture in
Africa, and of tobacco raising in New
Guinea. and coffee sold at the highest price
in London is raised in a region where LIy-
ingstone- was the first white man ever
seem Singapore and Hong Kong. where
residence was once almost fatal to white
men. have been transformed into healthful
places. Great progress is being made IN aH
directions ard this century win see the re-
sources of the tropics adding enormously
To the general wealth of the world. though
a hundred years ago they were a COMPARE
lively Insignificant factor
This country is laying a broad founda-
ton for the development of that part OF
the tropical domain which has fallen to IT,
Its policy touches all phases OF the aues-
tfons that relate to turning our tropical
possessions 20 the very best account for
the people who inhabit them and the world
al large. The services which William Nc
kinley gave to the great work which we
have taken in hand will always be one OF
his strongest claims to the gratitude of
this nation and of the millions over .he
seas who have been added to Il.