Directory_and_Chronicle_1868 — Page 649

Page 649 Page 649

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ILOILO.

WAGES.-The wages of labourers for shipping average from 25 to 30 cents a day; Carpenters 31 to 50 cents; Caulkers 37 cents.

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WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.-The picul of 110 catties, or 140lbs. English; the quintal of 4 arrobas, or 100lbs. Spanish, equal to 100lbs. English; the arroha of 25lbs. Spanish.

PRODUCE. The country round Iloilo and in the province and islands generally is very fertile and extensively cultivated. It is well peopled, and there are towns of 18, 20, 30, and 40 thousand inhabitants in the vicinity and interior, and on the coast. Nearly all tropical productions can be grown on the island, but the chief articles of export are Sugar, which is at present the most important, Tobacco, Sapanwood, Rice, Hides, Hemp (imported coastwise), Cattle, and a large quantity of available native textures, made of the fibre of the pineapple leaf, Silk, Hemp and other fibres. These textures are mostly for native consumption in the Archipelago. The quantity of sugar has increased rapidly since the opening of the port to direct foreign trade.

At the fine island of Negros the planting of cane is being much extended. The bulk of the plantations is owned by natives, but a number of Europeans have formed estates there, and several steam mills for crushing cane have recently been erected. Very productive land, in good positions, is to be had; labour is not scarce; conveyance of produce by sea to the Iloilo market is safe and expeditions, and intending planters could scarcely find a more eligible district.

COFFEE. Thrives well, but is not yet cultivated on a scale to allow of export.

The population of the province of Iloilo is now 595,000; that of the island of Panay 863,000; Negros 140,000.

Direct Imports from Europe have recently taken place at floilo, and the amount of European goods consumed is becoming important.

Additional Note, regarding Light-houses to be erected at Iloilo.

Two lights are to be placed by the Spanish Government in the south-western entrance of the port of Iloilo. One, a third-class light, is to be situated at the point marked G. in the plan of the recently made survey, a mile S. 30° W. of point Cabalig. The other will be of the fourth-class, and placed at the fort in the port of Iloilo. The point marked G. is of rock, about 160 bears N. 85° W., consequently any vessel entering the port from the south, by keeping well in to the Light before taking up that course towards the north, will completely clear the bank.

The south point of Panay bears from the point G., S. 70° W. The light of the Iloilo fort determines by its position all the S.E. edge of the Otong bank, and by it vessels can pass safely through all the channel formed by the bank and Guimaras coast with the advantage that it (the light,) gives, also the N.W. edge of the Guimaràs bank, to the south of point Bondulau. On this account a vessel beating up should not lose sight of the south light.

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