Directory_and_Chronicle_1930

ILOILO

1437

Europe, and the United States call for sugar and copra. The port has also bi-weekly steamship connections with Manila, and there is a regular steamship service with Cebu, and Dumaguete. In addition to this service, two steamers ply daily between this port and Occidental Negros. The Philippine Railway, which extends from Iloilo to Capiz, a distance of 73 miles, practically bisects the Island of Panay, and traverses an exceptionally fertile stretch of country. Each end of the line passes through alluvial plains devoted to the cultivation of rice, sugar-cane, corn, garden and minor products; while the central portion, being higher, is utilized for cattle- raising, the cultivation of tobacco, hemp, coffee, cacao, sugar-cane, cocoanuts, and other tropical products. Roads from almost all the towns of the province also enter the city. Besides being the leading sugar port, Iloilo is the centre of the sinamay industry.

Iloilo is a first-class municipality with 50,000 inhabitants. It includes the neighbouring towns of Molo and Mandurriao. Among its principal streets mention may be made of J. M. Basa, wherein are found most of the stores; A. Ledesma, the potential business thoroughfare; and Progreso, where several banks are established. There are five hotels the Iloilo Hotel, the Eastern-American Hotel, the Panay and Negros Hotel, the Plaza Hotel and the Bilbao Hotel. The principal buildings are the Custom House, the Provincial Building, St. Paul's Hospital, Lizares Building, Cacho Building, Javellana Building, Tantoco Building, and Lopez Building. The secondary and elementary schools are among the largest in the Islands. The means of communication are excellent; one can communicate by telegraph and telephone with all the other municipalities in Panay, and by cable and wireless with the other islands of the Archipelago, as well as with any other country in the world.

The town of Iloilo became the capital of the province in 1688. It was opened to the commerce of the world in 1855. On the 23rd December, 1898, the Spanish Governor-General resident in Iloilo resigned, giving over the care of the town to the Mayor, or Alcalde, of Iloilo, preparing with his troops and Government officials, naval, military and civil, to evacuate the place, which, on the 25th December, was accomplished. On the 26th December, 1898, the town of Iloilo, which for over a month had been entirely surrounded on the land side by Revolutionary forces, was delivered over to them by the Spanish Alcalde, and the Philippine Republic flag was hoisted on all the public buildings. On the 28th December, 1898, the United States forces, composed of the U.S.S. Baltimore and three transports with 3,800 troops, under the command of Brigadier-General Miller, arrived in front of Iloilo, but did not land, as the Revolutionary forces declined to give up the town unless under orders from Aguinaldo, their chief. Affairs in Luzon liaving come to an open rupture between the United States and the Revolutionary forces, the General Commanding the United States expedition advised the foreign Consulates that hostilities would cominence after 5 a.m. on the 12th February. The Revolutionary forces set fire to the city, leaving it almost in ruins, and retired outside the city limits. Iloilo was immediately occupied by the Americans. Civil government was established in Iloilo on April 11th, 1901.

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