Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/276

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UNITED STATES

COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES WITH THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, FISCAL TEARS ENDING JUNE 30, 1895-1S97 — Cuntinued Exports

DOMESTIC MERCHANDISE Breadstuffs: Wheat flour bbls 5,000 5,250 4,400 11,250 18,290 10,-O68 Carriages and street cars, and parts of. . . 959 5,182 1,707 Chemicals, drugs, dyes, and medicines 320 3,390 3,316 Cotton, manufactures of.

3,355 9,714 2,164 Iron and steel, manu- factures of. . . . 13,34:3 10,204 9,655 Oils, mineral, refined galls. 1,085,500 1,130,260 600,8:37 67,8:37 89,958 45,908 Varnish. . galls. 1,354 1,138 2,483 2,605 1,500 2,2:39 All other articles. Total domestic mer-

19,586 24,103 19,540 chandise 119,255 162,341 94,597 Total foreign merclian- dise .... Total exports of mer-

105 chandise

119,255 162,446 94,597

Guam (Ladrones) The Island of Guam or Guahan, the largest in the Marianne or Ladrone Archipelago, was ceded by Spain to the United States in 1898, and will probably be used as a coaling station for the United States navy. The island is about 32 miles long and 100 miles in circumference, and has a population of about 9000, of whom about 6000 are in Agana, the capital. The inhabitants are mostly immigrants or the descendants of immigrants from the Philippines, the original race of the Marianne Islands having become extinct. The recognized language is Spanish, but English is also spoken. On the island there are 18 schools, and nine-tenths of the islanders can read and write. The island is thickly wooded, well watered, and fertile, and possesses a roadstead. Cuba Government Cuba, after having been continuously in the po.ssession of Spain from its discovery, was by the peace preliminaries and by the definite treaty signed by the l*eace Commissioners at Paris, Dec. 10. 18i)8. and ratified by the Senate Feb. 6, 1899, and by the Queen Regent of Spain Mar. 17, 1899, re- linquished by Spain, and thus has the position of an independent state. The direct armed interposition of the United States in the struggle against Spanish domination has, however, brought the island into close association with the United States Government, and though Congress has affirmed Cuban independence, the island is now held in military occupation by United States forces. So long as the occupation lasts the United States Government assumes and discliarges the resulting obligations with respect to the protection of life and property, and a military Governor-General has been appointed, who will control all branches of the administration, civil and military ; while in Havana and each of the six provinces military governors have been or are being appointed, who will receive instructions from the Governor-General.