The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-11-02

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington, ID. CO.
While the Netherlands are celebrat-
ing the silver jubilee Of their ruler
and the peace and well-being of the
kingdom in war-torn Europe, one may
well turn half around the world to
the beautiful island of Java, queen of
Dutch possessions, which has contrib
uted so heavily to the country's pros
perlty.
Distance does Java an injustice. The
Westerner, seeing on his map this
slender island lying Off the southeast
ern point Of ASIA might well compare
It to our own Long Island which 1t
resembles In shape. But Java Is
giant, equallng in area the entire state
of New York.
volcano-made In the first place. and
constantly being remade by them,
Java has more volcanoes than any
area of It's size In the world. a Esti-
mates Of the active and extinct crat-
ers range from 100 to 80. Every
where In Java. In the huge crater
lakes, In assures that now are river
beds, even In ancient temples half
finished when interrupted by some
fiery convulsion. are evidences OF cat
aclysmic forces-such turbulent forces
as now are In continuous hysteria In
the Valley Of the Ten Thousand
Smokes In Alaska-and break their
crusted surface cage intermittently In
Java.
Java Is fifth in size of the Dutch
islands; but 1t is probably best known.
and for good reason. Enthusiastic
observers have called 1t ''the garden
spot Of the world" It's soil is con-
stantly enriched by it's active vol
canoes, 1t 10 well watered, and four
out of every Ave acres of Its surface
are cultivated. Even mountain peaks
10000 feet high are girdled by unbrok-
en- fields up to half their height. above
which forests still hold sway.
Java, with Its $4,000 square miles
Of area, has q population Of about
85 5000. -one-third that of the Unit
ed States which In 70 times az large.
Compared with other geographical
units Of It's size, II Is probably the
most p0pulous as well as the most
prosperous region In the world. Most
Of the Inhabitants live In villages Al
though 1t has only four cities as large
or larger than Reading, Pa, the dens.
ity Of population for the island as q
whole 10 close to TOO per square mile
greater than that Of Belgium, the
most crowded country In Europe. OF
Shantung, the most heavily populated
province In China.
Luxurlancs Of Vegetation.
The deep rich soil of this favored
island supports vegetation which, In
luxuriance and variety, is unsurpassed
by that Of any other region Of similar
area, and ever since the Dutch estab-
lished their first settlement on the
island. In 1895. q golden harvest of
agricultural products has been year
ly garnered to swell the granaries of
the colonists and the revenues Of the
home government.
To the visiting American perhaps
one Of the most noticeable features
about Java II the distinctly paternal
character Of the Dutch colonial admin
istration. On landing at Batavia. one
must report directly to the chief of
police to obtain permits to travel on
the island Before these are granted,
full answers must be given as to
names, nationality. occupation, age
and purpose In visiting Java. During
the travellers subsequent wanderings,
he must hold these permits in readi.
ness for inspection by ofhcials, and al
all times his movements are a matter
Of some interest 10 the authoritieA -
Z matter Of fact the uniform policy
Of the government has been, IN for.
mer years. to discourage foreign trav.
el in Netherlands-India, and the pres
emit regulations are only q concession
to the modern spirit which demanda
nee intercourse among the nations.
To one who halls from q country
where private initiative counts for
70 much. Il II something Of I surprise
% learn that nearly al the land ID
owned By the government IN sscur
Ing from the native princes b. tysaty
and purchase the lordship Of the land
the Dutch government also Inherited
the right 10 receive one-ffth Of prod,
ucs and the labor of the peasant Thla
led 10 the infroductioa. n the ysaz
1852 Of what y known @ ~ ~culfuru
eystem-" This We 4 devtes - IN
ersase the rsvsuues. anG eohslscod b
ne exactien q forcsd labor fFvn ~
peaeanta, vhe weFe eonDol1od un1ol
o(0elal ouDervlGloa - cuItfvnte to0ae'
- eonea snonr. - on1 h6leo -