The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-23
THINGS WORTH NOTING.


Compiled for The Tribune BY Walter j. Ballard.
| "Thc rich possibilities of Alaska lIc made still
greater by the report the United States G2oiori-
cal Survey publishes. Alfred II. Brooks, who
has made special investigation, finds t'mt
Alaski has large stores of fuel, In addition 10
| coal it has heavy timber and great deal OF
peat Petroleum has also been found though
whether ii exists to an extent that Will make
it commercially valuable is not yet settled. iut
Alaska is doing vary we'll. That S7,50O,00o paid
for it by Uncle sam was Of the best invest
| ments lie ever made. Troy Tines.
The South is realizing that the illitcmcy If its
population, white and black due to lack Of
schools in Tie rural districts, is one of its weak
est points. Better schools and more OF lhcm
in the country sections oi the South would work
Il wonderful change.
"Tho American idea does not involve The wor'
ship OF more wealth or the elevation TO prom
inoncc in the public regard and in social posi-
lon Of men merely because of their riches, hut
it does mean the proper recognition Of The forces
which contribute to national greatness through
actual achievement, This may be rcpugnGnt 10
the traditions which put premium on the
claims nj long descent though the latter have
no useful service to humanity 10 cntiile them
to rc,ppct. Ii the monlrghs ut the old world
are really impressed with the value Of tie ldcl
aud are putting it to good service at home, 50
much the better for the old world"-lroy Times.
How well Porto Rico las prospcrad since
annexation is shown 10y the official tradp stais-
tics, Before the Spanish war the cyporis from
The United States 10 Porto Rico averaged about
$500 600 annually, while this wear they will
reach Sl0o0O,OU0 uf course this ILLUSTRATION
shows a greater bcneft TO the manand than
to the island, hut upon tire other hand the
Porto Rican exports to the United States have
gained in about the same proportion This
country uoated Porto Rico with iaiIncss and
both benefited. The same tCncht viii undoubi-
cdly be shown With Cuba treated fairly also.
'The Spanish residents Of Cuba furnish very
important part of the population, They are ior
the most pant merchants and manufacturers, and
they stand high in the commercial world as men
OF ability and probity, Henry W, Peabody, 4
Boston merchant 0i prominence, has just re-
turned from visit 10 Cuba. during which he
spent much lime at the principal cities and ports
and game into close association with the Span
ish business men In letter which he has pub
lished Mr.. Peabody says he was much impressed
with these industrious and honorable persons lie
found that many Of them knew the English Ian
guage. They were proud OF the fact that in
spite Of the war not one failure had occurred
among their spanish houses; that when the war
was over and trade was resumed, all OF them
were able to meet their just obligations. They
are progressive, alert and hghmindcd in all
respects fine types of business men such Us are
recognized as the best representative of commerce
the world over, The plesdrnt-clec OF Cuba is
wise to urge Just treatment OF these Spanish
merchants and manufacturers, for they furnish
a very solid nucleus about which to build Cuban
prosperity. 1t Is hardly too much to say that
the element thy represent is indispensable 10
Iuba's industrial ccg sac --.l politicaI vel.