The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-05-13
WHEELER ON GUAM
OBSERVATIONS MADE BY FIGHT
ING JOE"
What He Saw of the Island and Its
Nine Thousand Inhabitants While
He Was Visiting.

g.
The report of Brigadier- General JOS
eph Wheeler, L. $. A, on the condi-
tons in Guam, made after his travels
over the island after he left the Philip
pines contains the following observa-
tions:
Il can not 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 estimat-
ed, is susceptible of cultivation. Nearly
all of the land is still virgin soil, my
information being that only about l
per cent is now under cultivation.
THE population is about 5000 souls,
nearly all of whom reside in the
towns Those who own ranches also
have rude houses on them, where the
family spends a portion of its time.
1.-THE land which is regarded as ara
hle is very fertile producing cocoanuts
oranges, lemons, cacaO, rice, corn to-
bacco, sugar cane, beans, tomatoes
etc, the cocoanuU trees having an APP
pearance of thrift and bearing poweC
superior to those 1 have seen in any
other part of the Tropics.
Deer and wild goats are found in
abundance, AMI for years formed the
principal meat food of the Europeans
CSpaniards.) Cows and pigs are also
reared. Potatoes. maize, and rice are
cultivated, the latter only to limited
extent.
"The only industry of any conse-
quence in the island of Guam is the
production and expectation of copra, OF
dried cOcoanut.
THE price received by natives for
cOpra from traders buying it on the ISL
end ranges from SO to 81, Mexican, pei
hundredweight. These merchants re-
ceive about double the above price toI
the product in japan. In England COP
+ sells for S75 per ton, gold.
THE people are very cordial and
friendly. At every town we entered We
were met by the leading men of tn
place, at two places with United States
flags flying. White flags were upon
many of the houses, bells were rune
ard other efforts were made by the ma
t!ves to manifest regard for the Ameri-
cans. l saw few people who l was
Informed were pure Chamorros, and
they impressed me very faVorably
Their features were regular, thell
forms erect and they We're in all re-
spects fine physical specimens. Thf
people seemed very DESTROYS of estab-
fishing the kindest relations with the
Americans, and their conduct Impress
ed me with the idea that they hoped
for and expected great advantages 10
come to the island from American rule.
There is very little money on the
island. Wages are very low The
teacher at Umata had a nice school of
little children and his pay was only
pesos, equal to about $3.50 gold per
month / understand that the pay has
been. or is about to be- increased to So
Mexican, per month.
"A short distance north Of Agana Is
the settlement OF from Is to 100 Caro-
line Islanders They preserve the ma
tive customs and methods Of dress and
have quite the appearance of American
Indians. They are industrious ano
peaceable. They were brought to the
island for employment as farm labor
ers, but now they all seem to have
their own houses, or more properly
huts, and they make a living by cult
waiting cocoanuts and small patches of
ground and by catching fish. Their
civilization is very far behind that OF
the other inhabitants. They have no
floors to their dwellings, and present q
very untidy appearance both personal
ly and in their habitations.
1T rains very heavily in the Maria
mas, and It may be affirmed that there