Directory_and_Chronicle_1906 — Page 1443

THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA

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and proprietary medicines, printers' ink, typewriting machinery, scales and balances, harness and saddles, paper, varnish, wool, carpets and lubricating oils.

The United Kingdom leads in the following:-Iron and steel, and their finished forms (taken as a whole), condensed milk, tea, zinc and manufactures; copper and its finished forms, window glass, sap, turpentine, fertilizers, cotton goods (taken as a whole), butter, steam vessels, paints, pigments and colours, linseed oil.

Germany leads in the following:-Brass and its finished forms, chemicals, drugs (except opium), and dyes, needles, pins and surgical instruments, firearms, lamps furniture, barley, hops, rails for railways, printing presses, pianos and organs, wearing apparel (woollen), woollen yarn, celluloid and its products, hats and caps, builders' hardware, cutlery, sewing machines, woollen cloth, laundry machines.

The total trade in 1903 was $33,811,384 for imports and $32,396,746 for exports. The policy of the United States towards the Philippines was defined by President Roosevelt in his message to Congress in December 1904. "At present," he said, "the Philippine people are utterly incapable of existing in independence at all, or of building up a civilisation of their own. I firmly believe we can help them to rise higher and higher in the scale of civilisation and of capacity for self-government, and most earnestly hope that in the end they will be able to stand, if not entirly alone, yet in some such relation to the United States as Cuba now stands." The President in his message recom- mended giving to the Islands lower tariff rates on their exports to the United States and hoped for the immediate enactment of legislation to encourage American capital to seek investment in the Islands in railroads, in factories, in plantations, and in lumbering and mining.

MANILA

Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is situated on the western side of the island of Luzon, at the mouth of the river Pasig, which empties itself into the Bay of Manila, and the city is now held by the forces of the United States. War having been declared between the United States and Spain, the fleet of the former on the 1st May, 1898, sailed into Manila Bay and totally destroyed the Spanish fleet, practically with no loss to the attacking side. Thereafter the city was blockaded until the 13th August, when, a Military force having arrived, the Americans took possession after an almost unresisted assault.

The city was founded in 1571. In 1645 it was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake, in which upwards of three hundred lives were lost. In 1863 a great part of the city was again destroyed from the same cause, and in July, 1880, another terrible upheaval made wreck of a great portion of it. The dwelling-houses are built with especial reference to safety under such circumstances, and, although large, possess few pretensions to architectural beauty. The city is practically divided into two parts, the official or walled city being built on the left bank of the Pasig river, while the commercial city is situated on the island of Binondo, which forms the right bank of the same river. The Escolta, the main business street, traverses this suburb, and in it most of the European stores and bazaars are to be found. The Rosario, another broad thoroughfare in Binondo, is occupied chiefly by Chinese shops, and is a busy quarter. San Miguel, Ermita and Malate are the aristocratic suburbs, being the seat of the residences of the wealthy merchants and other residents. Around the walls and the edge of the bay is a fashionable drive lined with almond trees, where the well-to-do inhabitants walk, drive, and meet their friends. The architecture of Manila is not imposing, successive earthquakes having wrought inuch damage, and the city has an old-world aspect, tempered by its tropical surroundings. present the greatest animation in the evening, when the government offices, business houses and cigar factories are closed and the carriages of the upper classes are out for the customary promenade. There are several ancient churches which are worthy of notice. The Cathedral, founded originally in 1578, has been several times destroyed by earthquakes and did not escape in 1863. It has been since rebuilt, but again sustained considerable damage in 1880, when the tower was so much shattered that it had to be pulled down. There are several theatres, but none worthy of the place. The opera is well supported in Manila. There are many statues and monuments erected in Manila. A statue of Charles IV. stands in the centre of the Palacio Square, one of Isabella II. in the Plaza of Isabella 11, Malate, one to Legaspi and Urdaneta, the discoverers of Manila, on the Luneta, one to Magallanes, (Magellan) the discoverer of the Inlands, on

The streets