The Washington herald., 1908-06-28

mission. which runs the strip across the
isthmus cedcd 20 the United States, and
also keeps an oversight on the affairs OF
the republic Of Panama. Col Goethals
and his advisers must not only administer
the Canal Zone but must look out that
Panama keeps up her sanitation, that she
holds honest elections. and refrains from
revolutions and graft It is quite a job.
Incidentally. Col Goethals. as chief engi-
neer, is digging the canal
In reality, the republic Of Panama" is
a protectorate Of the United States and
the chairman OF tie Isthmian Canal Com
mission IS charged with the protection.
To keep general supervision Of a tur-
bulent Latin-AmerIcan republic. 10 man
age a zone filed with thousands of la
bOrers from all nations and 20 construct
at the same time the greatest engineering
work the world ever saw. Is tie task OF
this comparatively young officer of cnEl-
neers. He shares his dfties. OF course.
with the other members Of the commits
sion. but Goethals is the head and front.
the real ''prOconsul' In the last analysis.
Yet he is a most affable man. who never
seems lu a hurry. He IS a New Yorker.
and entered West Point I'm 1876. During
the war with Spain he held the volunteer
rank Of Lieutenant colonel Of engineers.
and had tine war continued might have
distinguished himself IL g. As IL was, he
had no chance
Population Of n Million.
Between the Virgin Islands. that north
ern group Of tho Lesser Antilles which
separate the Caribbean Sea from the At
lantic. lies the island whose "rich port
has given the whole land the name OF
Porto Rico Only few years ago it was
"one OF the brightest Jewels IN the crown
OF CASTLE and AraEon." Columbus dis
covered it, Ponce de Leon governed IT,
It's old Carib name Of Boriquen means
the Land OF the Valiant Lord" Il has q
population Of about a million souls and
q territory about two-thirds that OF the
Kingdom OF SaNony. To is @ fair land, a
rich land. capable Of sustaining a heavy
population and Of producing in the fu-
ture. as it has In the past great riches
for the world
In an ancient palace said to have beer
begun by Ponce De Leon himself. q pal
ace situated on "a rocky promoutOry ir
the city Of san Juan de Porto Rico est
John Of the Rich Port). now sits Regis II
Post. another native OF New York, "a
graduate Of Harvard and stiu young. II
| fact. he is the youngest OF all Uncle Sans
| prOconsuls, being only thirty-eight las
January. and not looking Il.
When Mr.. Post was graduated from
/ Harvard he took a shy at politicS-wen
TO the legislature. Sc. He also went f.
/ for yachting and shooting. He becam,
well known as a crack wing shot IL
/ is a man Of independent fortune and be
/ longs 20 the Post family which settled II
Southampton. l.. l.. early I'm the seven
/ teenth century. AIr. Post belonged 10 Mr.
! RoOsevelts set. and. ike the President
/ had an ambition to take some part il
! public life-to become something mor
/ than a good y8chtsmau and crack" win,
/ shot. So in 1903 Mr.. Post was sent out {,
/ Porto Rico as auditor Of the insular gov
/ ernment He made good" and last Janu
/ airy was promoted 20 be governor.
Guam Il Isolated.
! A curious little dependency Of the Unit
| ed States is Guam. II is. as IT were.
| ship permanently anchored away out il
the Pacific, l50O miles east Of the Philip
pines, its affairs being administere,