Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-11-19
GUAM IS A LONE GEM.
Island in the Far East described
By Former Eilwaukeean.
H. CUTLER'S OBSERVATIONS
In Letter to L. L. Runkel He Points Ont
Virtues and Faults OF New Posses.
sion-Peace Reigns on Island.

''The natives of Guam. an island Of vol
canic origin, are peace-loving ami hon
est, unlike those Of the Philippines Their
houses are never locked. The island ,
possession of the United States, is a bro
ductiye one, though capital is not encour-
aged to come" says Horace Cutler .
Milwaukee man who is now teaching in
the government public schools at TIM
pronounced Tewee), Guam. Little is
known of this island and the letter. writ
ten by a former newspaper man. ana
sent to a friend. l.. l.. Runkel, a chamber
of commerce man, is one of uLdSual inter
est.
How Uncle Sam Got the Island.
Gas we neared Pettee, the port of
Guam, we passed the wrecked caDle shtI,
that went on a reef last March," writes
Mr.. Cutler. ITO our right lay a long
cliff at the further end of which is locat-
ed the village of Soumaye, where the ca
bic station is being built. To the left lay
the United States naval transport Supply.
Five miles inland is Agana, the capital
and principal town.
'Six year ago, June 20, the cruiser
Charleston sailed i'll here and demolished
an old fort on Il little rocky island in
the middle of the bay. The Spanish COM
mander, not seeing the results, supposed
it was saluting the garrison. as he knew
nothing of war. Having no powder to
make reply, he pulled to the Charleston
and made apology to the commander.
When everything was explained he could
not see the joke.
Thus Guam, antOuated and peaceful,
came into our possession.
Volcano Made It's Existence.
ten miles wide. 1t was originally a sub
merged coral reef which subsequent vol
canic upheavals elevat W. Coral lime is
found clear to the tops the mountains,
which rise to a height 1000 feet. \
governor, appointed at Washington, is the
chief executive. He appoints, in turn,
the judge. Between the two laws are
made from which, it is said, there is no
appeal.
''The land is about equally divided be-
tween $4,000 Chimoros. the Western
Commercial company of San Francisco,
and the United States government.
Business is carried on by japanese and
Americans, the former doing about two
thirds of it. Capital is not encouraged
to come.
Earthquakes Are Frequent.
Earthquakes have no doubt been fire.
quent. Slight shocks are daily occur
rences. The first recorded was a couple
of hundred years ago, when popuous
portion of the island was submerged
Now the natives take to the hills when
there is a disturbance. The last serious
shock was felt in August, 1902. when all
the principal buildings OF the capital
were shaken down.
The natives gamble little except at
Sunday cock fights. Except on Sunday.
clothes were seldom worn before Ameri-
cans came.
Although fish are abundant. few are
eaten by the natives They know 10
way of catching them except with
spears. Sweet potatoes. rice, bananas,
corn and tarro the mainstay of the IIa-
waiian diet, are the chief products. The
houses are of bamboo. A few of the
better ones, and churches, are Of mason
ry.
Natives Know Their Game
"About the only attempts that are
made to do business are when the trans
ports come As soon as the quarantine
flag has been lowered out come the ma
tives with boats loaded with fruits. hats.
bags, canes and shells. for all of which
eXorbitant prices are charged.
''Copra, the dried meats of the cocoa
nuts, is the chief Draduct. Most of il is
shipped to Japan. Other products are t.
bacco, coffee. pawpaws. watermelons and
wild boar and deer make good hunt
ing in the wooded highlands, and on the
lowands snipe, plover and duck abound.
There are no snakes, but many lizards.
The ignanas. a lizard, sometimes reach ;
to 4 feet in length. They are account
able for the scarcity of song-birds.
American Schools Prosper
"A,l the villages have their chapc,s
and schools. The government has just
established American schools The
American women OF the island give their
service gratis. 1t is said there are over
600 children already in attendance al
for over month.
''All goods entering Guam from the Unit
ed States pay duty. The money in oril-
nary business transactions is Mexican.
The manufacture and sale Of Intoxicating
liquors is prohibited, but is disrega.a7d
on the quiet.
Climate Good; Mortality High
Notwithstanding the perfect climate
OF Guam. the mortality has been h.-a.
Recently more care is being given in
fants. The water is very bad.
As lonesome as the island may seem, Il
gets a daily bulletin of news every even
ing at dinner time, and two evenings ia
the week the Marine band plays in front
of the government building. Bales ar
as common as dances in the United
States.
"Some improvements are being made
and more are in sight. a hne turnpNs
from Petee to Santa Rosa, along the West
coast, for a distance of twenty-five mics
is well under way. AS soon as the b-eaA-
water which the government Is me-"
building is completed. the United Statr-
will have a coaling station to be proud or,
will have a coaling station TO be p'oal
. Wisconsin