The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-08

the attendance of children between the
ages of and II, the boys in the forepart
of the day and the girls in the afternoon
These half measures are the utmost that
1t is possible to contrive.
Agana contains upwards Of seven tenths
OF the entire population of the island. Al
most all Of the remaining 5000 are d.
vided among four villages strung along
the coast between the capital and the har-
Dor, distance of less than 10 miles.
There are a few little barrios upon the
western littoral. but the interior Is wholly
uninhabited. Agana stands upon the sea-
shore at an elevation Of few feet above
the ocean. A torpid stream passes through
the town and serves the joint purpose Of
laundry, bath and open sewer. Its water
is undrinkable, and being brackish. would
be so even though uncontaminated. The
Inhabitants depend upon wells dug to
depth of from three to six feet. Univer-
sal suffering and an unnecessarily high
mortality are the consequences Of a condl
ton which might easily be remedied. A
good water supply for Agana might be Sc
cured at q cost of about $4,000 This
state OF affairs is a very discreditable re-
Election upon our government, and sub
jects US to a charge Of criminal careless
ness, for should cholera or typhoid be IN
troduced to Guam the result would be ap-
palling.
This little island, figuring rs incon-
spicuously upon the map as In the current
of the worlds progress. has been In our
possession for eight years. and we have
remained utterly unmindful of its needs.
The Filipinos. the Porto Ricans. the alien
Cubans and even the foreign negroes of
Do hor
but the far-off Guamese are left to work
out their difficulties as best they may
unaided. Their voice Is lost In the insist
ent call Of the islands. Something more
than mapitarian ism Is involved In this
question. Our own interests demand that
we should alleviate the distress of these
people, that we should educate them and
help them to develop their country. Re-
mote and insignificant of value as the
island Is at present, It will surely grow
into Importance as American interests ex-
tend in the Orient. Lying as 1t does in
the direct route between Honolulu and
Manila, and containing the only good
harbor In the Western Pacific, 1t will be
highly valuable as a naval depot. At no
very distant date the requirements Of the
station will demand a number of men to
fill clerical positions and to perform In
telligent work as mechanics and Iaborers.
If, when that demand arises, the island
cannot furnish q large proportion of the
needed force. 1t will only be possible for
the government to fll the positions at
comparatively great cost and inconveni-
ence.
Guam is to be one of the stations Of the
trans Pacific cable, and after the opening
of the Panama Canal should become a
frequent point Of call for coal and sup
plies. In justice to the Guamese we must
give them the sanitation and training that
shall enable them to avail of the oppor-
tunities which may grow out OF the
future. No doubt Guam will eventually
be the subject OF beneficial legislat ton,
but II action Is much longer delayed we
shall have no ground for surprise or COM
plant should change take place In the
present feeling of friendliness entertained
by the people Of this little island for
America.
c. Fl. FORBES-LINDSAY.