Directory_and_Chronicle_1903 — Page 1253

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THE PHILIPPINES

to be of opinion that though Gold and other minerals are to be found in the islands they will not pay the expense of working on a large scale. Coal may possibly be an exception. Since the arrival of the Americans petroleum has been discovered, an good success is reported to have attended the work of some prospectors. Ther are many hot springs of iron and sulphur waters, all of excellent medicinal pr perties. The famous "Holy Waters" of Tuii and Sibu are visited every year large numbers by the islanders seeking relief from their sufferings. The endem complaints of the country are swamp fever, diarrhea, beri-beri, and a few other Incurable leprosy is very limited among the natives. The mortality is low, consider ing the number of inhabitants.

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Dr. Augustin de la Cavada, a Spanish historian, says of the natives that they ar of a mild, submissive, and respectful disposition, predisposed to religious observance, extremely superstitious, and very hospitable. Those of Batangas, Cagayan, an . Southern Ilocos are better workers and more industrious than those of the other Provinces. During their youth they work with energy and a certain intellectua vigour, but on reaching a more advanced age they lose a large part of their disposition for work and lapse into an indolence that is one of their greatest defects. The women are averse to idleness and have a spirit of enterprise, and they often engage in various trades with success. They are economical and sacrifice themselves with delight for the sake of those for whom they feel any affection.

The rivers and streams of the Philippines are countless and traverse the islands in all directions, the natural result of mountain peaks and ranges that extend over a large area.

The most noteworthy volcanoes are Buleyan in Mindanao, Taal in Batangas and Bulusan and Mayon in Albay. The last is in continual eruption and at times creates .terror in the surrounding country, on account of the quantity of boiling water, ashes and lava it throws out. In 1872 an eruption of this volcano destroyed entirely the villages of Malinao, Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao, Polangui, and Albay.

The Civil Commission appointed in 1900 voted the same year $1,000,000 gold for the improvement of Manila Harbour, and a somewhat comprehensive school measury is under the consideration of this Commission. It has been decided that the English language shall form the basis of the instruction given, and a system of district super- intendence is to be established. It is hoped that in the municipal civil governments some provision will be made for local boards to supervise the work of the schools. Over 500 skilled teachers from the United States arrived in 1901. A compulsory scho attendance clause is expected to be incorporated in the bill. It is desired to have money appropriated not only for the building of more and necessary school building but for the institution of normal schools for the training of native teachers.

A plan is under consideration for the construction of harbour works, including docks at the mouth of the river on the south side, and also for the increasing of whart and warehouse accommodation, by the demolition of part of the old city walls along the river front. These works will enormously benefit the trade of Manila.

British interests in the Philippines are much larger than currently suppl There are about twenty British firms in Manila, many of them of long standing in the islands. Their importance will, perhaps, be best gauged by the fac that two out of the three banking establishments in the city are branches of well-known British corporations. They include the largest import and expos firms, but engineering works, ship repairing, stevedoring, and many other in dustries are also represented. The larger firms have branches in most of the provincial ports as well as rice and sugar mills up country. The only railway in the Philippines, that from Manila to Dagupan, the port of the rice-producing district the island, is the property of a British company, and many undertakings with foreign names are carried on mainly by British energy and capital. Taking into acc the numerous insurance, shipping, and other firms for which local firms are agents, B will be evident that British interests in the Philippines run into millions.

The naval authorities are undertaking a very necessary work, namely that f surveying the local waters, and preparing new charts, the existing charts being very

inaccurate.

The following particulars of trade for 1899, 1900, and 1901 are taken from th Bureau of Insular Affairs of the War Department:--The trade statistics of the Phi lippines for 1899, 1900, and 1901 show a determined effort on the part of the con mercial world at large to invade the industrial field afforded by the islands. With what success is shown by the fact that the importation of merchandise for the ye 1901 establishes a new record, the value of goods purchased during this period excesi

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