davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15
Guarding tho Caribbean.

1t behooves the United States to hurry
up it's naval stations on the Caribbean sea-
We are acquiring bigger interests IN this
part OF the world every year. We have,
through the Monroe doctrine, taken upon
ourselves the office OF an international po-
llceman. We have already put the hand
cuffs on Santo Domingo and made It a debt
prisoner. as It were. and there is no telling
when we shall have trouble with other
islands II the Caribbean sea is to be the
American Mediterranean, the American
government will have to protect 1t. 1t can
do a great deal by means of this naval sta
ton at Guantanamo, but It should have
equally strong stations at the other pas
sages, such as the Mona passage, between
Porto Rico and Santo Domingo, and at the
Virgin passage, between Porto Rico and
the Danish islands. At present we have
a station at the eastern end OF Porto Rico
IN Culebra, a little island which lies just
OF the northeast coast. It commands the
entrance to that passage and is said TO
control II quite as well as Gibraltar con-
trolls the entrance to the Mediterranean.
We should, however, own the Danish ISL
ands on the other side OF the passage. We
offered 10 buy st. Thomas some time ago
and Denmark refused. 1t is believed that
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15
Y. M. G. A. Work There.

on my arrival IN this city l was taken
in charge by the general secretary of tho
Young Mems Christian association, MIR,
Henry C. Brown, and his assistants
have met with the board OF directors, the
chairman of committees and several of the
committees, giving them all the information
that could TO help them In their work.
spoke one Sunday evening at the young
mems meeting and the next Sunday spoke
of the work among the street car men and
presented the association work at the even
ing service at the Central Union church.
The Young Mems Christian association
has a good property and In many ways Is
doing an excellent work, but has been
handicapped by the coming and going Of
its workers, also by the different kinds of
population and its isolation from other as
sociations.
The Young Womens Christian associa-
ton has a good work and employ Mrs. II
c. Brown as it's general secretary. 1t main
tains good rooms and a home in the resi-
dence district both of which are very ao-
ceptable to the parties benefited by them.
1 have been stopping at the home during
the whole of my visit
I called upon Sanford p. Dole, United
States judge OF the territory OF Hawaii.
and asked him whether he was satisfied
with what had been done In the changing
from the former government to the an
nexation with the United States He
stated that while the monarchy had been
a very satisfactory government on account
of the corruption just previous to the
change It was the only thing TO do to
bring about the change that has been
made. and said that the prospects of the
islands seemed very fair Also that efforts
were being put forth to draw into the ter
ritory q larger population OF desirable
farmers manufacturers and residents that
would not only demand a large import
trade, but make possible a larger export
trade with the United States and other
countries.
In every way have been delighted with
my visit and sorry that 1 have to leave
the islands on the next steamer.
ROBERT wEIDENsALL.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15
Rare Beauties Resources and Prospects of the Hawaiian Islands

waian islands They have a population OF
l54 0O0-50OO0 natives. l2IO0 whites. 1900
Chinese 5000 japanese aud 23S negroes.
The islands are very interesting in what
ever way you may consider them: almost
in the center of the Pacific ocean. with
steamers of the largest capacity passing
to and from the orient, North America ana
Europe e.
Tho following are some extracts from the
statement given me by Governor Carter:
Probably in no other place in the world
are there such contrasts of nature, such
wide variations In close proximity as in
the Hawaiian islands. Nature has concen-
trated there her wonders and her beauties.
our scenery is full of mountains and val
leys, with peaks that extend into the snow;
high Gins, surrounded by the sea. with the
magnificent coloring OF the tropics, with
sea which Is perhaps little bluer than
that Of the Blue grotto Of Naples; inside
the white wreath of breakers shallow
water, a beautiful green.
The trees of cur forests vary in color
from the light yellow green of the kuGui
to the dark rich green Of the koa, and
nestled on the cliffs this foliage is ex-
tremely striking
zone can wade in the warm water and
soft sand OF the beach at Hilo perhaps
palms, and see the snow in the distance,
on the top OF Mauna Kea. without travel
ing any great distance we can show you
natures method of making soil from tho
raw material-lava rocks thrown out by
the volcanoes-to the rich disintegrated
loan Of our lowlands. You can see striking
effects of erosion In the burrows of our
hillsides' On one side. to the windward
where the rain falls, are heavy growths
of tropical forests; on the other side
deserts bare and brown through lack OF
rain 1 rode in day on the Island of
Maui through a locality which has over
400 inches of rain year. The morning
before 1 arrived UP to 10 o'clock eleven
inches Of rain had fallen-it is measured
there in feet, not in inches-and 1 had left
a section of the island where there is only
few inches Of rain throughout the whole
year.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15

peen done there.
1t is not improbable that Guantanamo will
eventually be connected by railroad with
Santiago. The distance between the two
points is about fifty miles, and such a road
would give the naval station access TO the
Cuban railway system. AS Uncle Sam is
now situated Cuba is one OF his dependen-
cies. He will always have to defend it
against other nations, and he must protect
It in case he has war with other nations.
II we should have international troubles
Cuba would probably be occupied by the
United States and a railroad connection
with Guantanamo would be very import
ant, as we could then ship naval supplies
from Florida to Havana, and, in short.
bring this naval station within about
twelve hours by sea Of our shores.
At present there are but few settlements
in the neighborhood OF the harbor. The
port for the sugar plantations is at La
Caimanera, which is on the bay much far
Their inland, railroad going from the port
to the town Of Guantanamo and thence on
for six miles beyond. / understand that the
land is very good in the interior, and espe-
cially so in the valleys over the mountains.
There are in the lowlands some large plan
tatons of sugar owned by Americans, and
coffee grows we'll on the hills. The country
is especially healthy, and 1t was at one
time a sort OF Newport for the rich sugar
and coffee men of the eastern end Of the
island. One Of the planters had an avenue
running from his residence to the seashore.
The road was covered with shells and lined
with lemon and orange trees. Another
planter in this same region is said to have
owned 800 acres of coffee trees some time
before the war, and 10 have gotten for ten
years an annual income OF $4,000 from his
coffee and fruit. Now that the United
States owns property here American colo
MES will probably be formed to buy up the
good lands OF the immediate Interior.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15
In Guantanamo Bay.

Guantanamo bay will undoubtedly be one
of our most important naval stations. 1t
has the only large harbor on the south or
east coast OF Cuba. 1t lies right here on
the windward passage, which is the great
avenue from the Atlantic into the Carib-
bean and the main door for all vessels
going to the Panama canal. 1t is just
around the corner from Cape Maisi, at the
northeastern end of Cuba, and about seven
hours by steam from Haiti.
In going TO Panama the first bit of Cuban
land one sees is Cape Maisi. A little later
he gets into the windward passage. and
can see Cuba on one side and Haiti on the
other. Guantanamo is not visible. as after
a time the boats get pretty we'll out in the
passage. 1t is so situated that It COM
niands the passage, and thus controls not
only the vessels going TO Panama, but
those to Venezuela and all parts OF the
West Indies by this route It is only two
days by fast vessels from Guantanamo to
Colon. and about the same distance to La
Guayra, in Venezuela. II is Just about
one days steaming to the middle Of the
Caribbean. or. as it is now called, 1.-THE
American Mediterranean"
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15
Great CoaIinE station.

The advantage OF this station in pro-
tecting the Caribbean will be enormous.
Should any European power attempt to
make the sea a battle-ground its gunboats
win have to sail about two weeks before
they can reach 1t. The men will not know
when to expect an attack, and they will
be In about the same position as the Rus
sian marines who went around the world
20 be defeated by Admiral Togo. Our ships
can start out from Guantanamo with their
men fresh and be fighting within about
q day after leaving port.
Guantanamo will DO our chiaf coaling
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15

ton of II in the following sentence:
THE Island Of Navassa in the West In
dies has under the provision of title vii
OF the revised statutes been recognized by
the president as appertaining to the United
States"
At that time the private ownership Of the
island was vested in the Navassa Phos-
phate company. That company was work
ing for its rich deposits OF guano, and II
had, so It is claimed, cruelty treated its
laborers The men revolted and were ar
rested and tried In the United States court
at Baltimore on the ground that they were
subject to the same laws as though they
had mutinied on board a merchant vessel
on the high seas. They were sentenced to
death and President Harrison pardoned
them. He sent a naval vessel to the Island.
and the officers reported that the phosphate
company was treating its laborers like con-
victs and recommended that the island be
placed under government supervision. This
done, as 1 understand; but shortly at
terward the guano business was given up,
and the island has been vacant from that
time to this.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15
Our IsIand. About Pannma.

Uncle Sam has Islands on both sides of
the Panama canal He has several in
Panama bay some of which will be almost
at the entrance to the canal when 1t is
completed. Others have formed the land
ing places Of the steamers going north and
south. On the Island of Naos the Pacific
Mail Steamship company for a long time
had its headquarters. Naos and Perico,
which adjoin It, are connected by an 18TH
mus and between them there is a bay
which forms a good anchorage. On the
isthmus steam vessels OF $500 tons can be
easily beached. These islands belong to
the United States. and the end Of the Pan
anna canal when It is finally dredged out
will be not very far from them.
The most of us do not know It. but the
Island of Navassa belongs to the United
States 1t is not down on the map as an
American possession, and, indeed, one finds
IL one color on one map and some other
color on another, so that people do not
seem 10 know Just to whom II belongs It
U.s. however, the property OF Uncle Sam. II
was owned by Baltimore parties some years
ago, and President Harrison, in his third
annual MESSAGE. proclaimed our acquisi-
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15
Fort on Navannn.

Our naval officers can probably tell
whether 1t would pay to establish a forth
fication on Navassa. I have talked with
some sea captains who think II might be
OF great value and with naval officers who
say that IT would cost more to protect it
than 1t would be worth / have Travelled
very close to the island in going TO and
from Panama, and to my amateurlsh eyes
II seems the natural position for great
fertilization. 1t lies right in the lower end
of the Windward passage, just half way
between Haiti and Jamaica, and a little
more than 100 miles south OF Guatanamo.
Standing upon the island on clear day
one can see the blue mountains ,of Haiti.
NavassA is two and one-half miles long
and mile wide. IT is almost surrounded
by bold perpendicular cliffs twenty feet
high, being inaccessible except at the land
ing platform on the western side. where the
guano ships were loaded. In that vicinity
there is good holding ground within half a
mile OF the shore. where the water is about
sixty feet deep. The island is a natural
fort, having these walls OF cliffs about $50
feet broad running around the coast ex-
cept at the entrance. Disappearing guns
could be easily placed upon this ridge, and
the station within would be absolutely safe.
The top OF the island is covered with
stunted palm trees and cactus. under
stand that II has good water It would
make an excellent place for a wireless tele-
graph station, as 1t is right on the track
of the vessels sailing between Panama and
New York
Navassa has never been populated. II
was 400 years ago that Diego Mendez, one
of the Christopher Columbus lieutenants
made II known TO the world. Columbus
k...9 -.
made his way in canoe for $50 miles across
the seas TO Haiti and notified the Span
iards there TO send a ship to his master
relief. The voyage would not have been
successful had It not been for the food
and water which Mendez and his party
found on the Island OF Navassa
FRANK G. CARPENTER.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15

ter. The following is a statement OF Mark
Twain's made during one of his visits to
the islands:
mo alien land in all the world has any
deep, strong charm for me but that one;
no other land could so longingly and be-
seechingly haunt me sleeping and waking.
through half lifetime, as that one has
done. Other things leave me, but 1t abides;
other things change. but It remains the
same. For me its balmy airs are always
blowing, its summer seas flashing IN the
sun: the pulsing OF its surf beat is in my
ear; / can SEQ its garlanded craigs; its
leaping cascades its plumy palms browsing
by the shore: its remote submits floating
like islands above the cloud rack. I can
feel the spirit OF its woodland solitude I
can hear the plash OF its brooks; in my
nostrils still lives the breath of flowers
that persisted twenty years ago"
Carroll D. Wright has stated that the
tinable land would accommodate 10000
. people.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15
| I |
l&@B.


lSRAg441I on the Pacific Mail steamer Mon
SAAAs golia, one of the two largest YES
sells ever built and completed in the United
states There was a great variety of pas
sensers from different countries and with
Inherent purposes In view We had on board
number of missionaries Of the Presbyte-
rian, Methodist, Baptist and other
churches, returning to their fields of work
There were also the secretary Of the Brit
ish and Foreign Bible society and some
notable business and political personages
The whole trip was very enjoyable. The
ocean was in an ideal state and fully DEM
onstrated Its title to the name Pacific
ocean" We had on board a number of
things both good and bad There was con-
siderable gambling, particularly by the
Chinese part OF the crew. that was engaged
in also by some of the passengers Of first
class and storage. We had several very
pleasant and profitable meetings on board
On Sunday there were religious services
and twice during the week devotional meet
ings were held. at all of which 1 was
chosen as the speaker. One evening we had
presentation Of the Hawaiian islands
Governor George r. Carter presided over
the meeting, 'and a Mr.. Emerson presented
the early historical character OF the islands
and a Mrs Whitney the devotional and
philanthropic, after which Governor Carter
made some most interesting statements,
which 1 asked him to reproduce for me,
some Of which shall give In this commune
cation.
On another evening a missionary. Rev.
DIR. Lowrey, spoke OF the Boxer movement
In China, from the beginning to the end,
giving an account Of the sufferings which
It caused and the open door that was
brought about for the missionaries and
their firm stand for the right. From the
first to the last Of his talk 1t was very in
teresting, indeed.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15
Big Rife Range.

There are ample means at Guantanamo
for practice work on the part OF the men.
On one side OF the harbor there is a great
dry swamp which nature has fitted for a
rife range. One hundred men can practice
long range shooting there at the same time
without danger OF injury 10 any one. The
swamp is surrounded by hills. understand
that considerable S-Reticing has already
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15

naval station. l understand the work is
going on as fast as the appropriations will
permit, but the demand for the place is
such that congress will probably vote
big sum of money toward It during the
coming session. At present the only build
Ings that have been constructed are a store
house, a mule stable and some quarters
for officers. landing wharf about $50
feet long has been built upon piles and
preparations are being made to put in one
OF the largest dry docks in the world.
The coral islands or keys which lie in the
harbor have been cleared Of the malarious
mangrove trees which border their shores,
and great efforts have been made to wipe
out the mosquitoes. The work is now
doing with Cuban laborers under the direc-
ton of our naval officers, but good men
are hard to hire, and so far the work Of
construction is slow. The Amphitrite and
the Monongohela are stationed in the bay,
and the naval officers and marines have
their quarters upon them. The little Vixen
is used as a supply ship, coming here to
Santiago every other day.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15
Natures interesting Proces.es.

Natures Interesting Processes.
II could take you to the ridge of a noun
tain and in places within a stones throw
OF each other show. you where evolution
is in progress and very marked differences
appear-land-shells in one ravine with a
right-hand twist and shells in another with
left-hand twist. | am told that when
our land-shells were shown to Darwin he
made the remark that IL nature was carry
ing on such processes in Hawaii the birds
of the islands ought to be exceedingly in
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15

teresting Years after the British museum
owing to this remark took up the matter
and a study Of the birds has proven the
truth of Darwin's statement. One family
OF birds, which were formerly honey-suck-
ers, from various causes-the great num-
bers or the contraction Of the forest areas
have been forced to change their habits
until now there are some thirty-six varie-
ties, ranging from one with beak almost
as long as your index finger and soft as
cardboard. to one with beak like that
of the paroquet, having great power, in
order to crack the nuts OF the bastard
sandal wood tree on which 1t lives Still
another variety has had to take TO eating
insects. and it now carries an upper bill
twice as long as the lower which 1t uses
as bar to pry off the dry bark of trees
in order to get at the insects in hiding.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15
The Pnnnma CnnaI.

may possibly want a coaling station there
for itself in the future.
o
The Panama Canal.
We need these naval stations especially
on account Of the Panama canal. The
windward passage, between Haiti and
Cuba, is we'll supplied by Guantanamo.
This is the main highway. All our ships
from New York to the isthmus go past
Guantanamo and all other vessels from the
North Atlantic do likewise We should
have SANTANA bay, at the other end OF
Santo Domingo, to control the Mona pas
sage, and we are guarding the Yucatan
passage by our naval stations of Key West
and Bahia Honda on the other side OF
Havana.
SANTANA bay is so close to the Mona pas
sage that 1t commands 1t. The bay Is
thirty miles long and ten miles wide, with
a deep water basin ten miles long and five
miles wide with good holding ground. 1t
is sheltered by mountain ranges on Its
north and south sides, some of the noun
tains rising to about 1850 feet. The noun
tain ridge on the north runs out into a
peninsula about ten miles wide. This
peninsula can be fortified against attack
by land, and thus make a coaling station
secure The bay could easily be defended
by works at the entrance SANTANA bay
would shelter our whole Atlantic squadron
and be Of enormous value to us.
Key West is important not only on &C
count of the Caribbean, but as a defense
to the Gulf OF Mexico and the Mississippi
river, and the same may be said of Bahia
Honda. Key West lies right in the en-
trance to the Gulf of Mexico, and it also
commands the Yucatan channel around the
corner. AS 1t is now we have ships going
from New Orleans through this channel
into the Caribbean, a great deal of our
trade with Panama being between Colon
and the gulf ports. The United Fruit COM
pany steamers run regular lines TO Panama
and to their big fruit estates about the
Chiriqui lagoon.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15

city, all add to the beauty and attractive
ness Of the city. Churches, missions,
schools, hospitals and societies OF all kinds
sufficient TO benefit very largely any popu-
lation, are also here. There is also here a
splendid aquarium and the largest museum
OF Polynesian collections in the world
Farming and fishing constitute the largest
industries Bananas, pineapples, cocoanuts
taro, rice, sugarcane and coffee are grown
In abundance most beautiful and palatable
The sugar industry is the largest single in
dustry. single reference. to one planta-
ton visited will suffice to prove this state
ment:
EVA plantation is one of the most pro-
ductive plantations in the world and has
one Of the largest plants in existence for
the manufacture Of sugar. This plantation
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15
rree. ana WING. Innumernp1e.

never saw in any one locality OF the
same dimensions so many trees plants ami
vines that are abundant in every part OF
the city tried to find out the number OF
these. but none OF the community seems 10
he able TO tell them. called upon l. E.
Higgins OF the United States government
experiment station and he named over
about forty-one different kinds OF fruits.
many OF which have from two to twenty
five varieties. and corresponding number
Of feeding stun for animals. including 'vege-
tables OF many kinds. He also gave me the
names OF an almost unlimited number OF
shade trees. bushes and vines. II was i'm
possible for me TO get any adequate idea
of the immense number OF things suggested
by Mr.. Higgins. accordingly i went 10 visit
the homestead OF one Of the leading citizens
OF Honolulu. Hon. w. r. Castle. His
grounds are 300x40O feet in dimension and
on these he has twenty-seven different
kinds of fruits and a corresponding number
OF shade trees, many Towering trees. bushes
and vines. Among the fruits are oranges,
lemons, lines, figs, bananas. pineapples,
apples, guava 1.-TWO vaTieties). mangoes
-four. alligator pear, papaia (two), coffee.
peaches. cocoanuts, dates. candle nuts.
mandarin. strawberry guava. Spanish
cherry. bread fruit, mulberry, grape fruit
and pamela, etc Among the shade trees
we're algeroba, candle nut. palms den Yarie-
ties. among which were sage, royal. date.
Gil sugar and fan pnlms), beetle. loulu,
ronceania rigia. silk oak, rubber. hola.
Golden shower. pepper, bamboo. traveller
tree, hibiscus hedge, etc. Some OF the al
gercba trees are seventy-nve feet high and
three feet In diameter. Thirty of the royal
nalms were over nifty feet high and nifty
other palms. Many OF these plants trees
md vines are covered with beautiful
4owers All OF the plants on this home
stead have been grown in the last twenty
four years This will certainly give some
idea OF the immense number OF trees
plants and vines i'm the whole city'and how
easy It Is 20 multiply them indefinitely
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15

consists of 1000 acres Of cane. 1t is a cor
poration of 10000 shares, has five locomo-
tives, 600 cane cars bring the cane to the
mill. where It is first weighed and unloaded
by machinery: 1000 tons every day. from
which over 200 tons Of sugar are made.
They have 1900 people on their pay roll.
four sets Of steam plows each set blowing
about eight acres per day. They have fifty
artesian wells with a pumping capacity of
74.50O0O0 gallons daily. In the separators
$4,000 gallons of cane juice are daily boiled
to syrup"
When to this would be- added the other
sugar plantations it would increase the
amount enormously.