Directory_and_Chronicle_1916 — Page 1545

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THE PHILIPPINES

and good success is reported to have attended the work of some prospectors. There are many hot springs of iron and sulphur waters, all of excellent medicinal properties. The famous "Holy Waters" of Tiwi and Sibul are visited every year in large numbers by the islanders seeking relief from their sufferings. The endemic complaints of the country are swamp fever, diarrhoea, beri-beri, and a few others. Incurable leprosy is very limited among the natives. Cholera was very prevalent in 1908. The mortality is low considering the number of inhabitants.

Dr. Augustin de la Cavada, a Spanish historian, says of the natives, and he is generally confirmed by American writers, that they are of mild, submissive, and respectful disposition, predisposed to religious observances, extremely superstitious, and very hospitable. Those of Batangas, Cagayan, and Southern Ilocos are better workers and more industrious than those of the other Provinces. During their youth they work with energy and a certain intellectual 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.

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 Buheyan 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 United States has done magnificent work in the island in all departments of the administration and the record of American control is one of substantial progress in every direction. Though the trade of the islands has greatly increased during the past decade there are still many serious difficulties to contend with; lack of capital and labour, to a large extent, handicaps agricultural and commercial development, capital from the United States not being attracted and the admission of Chinese labour being prohibited. An enormous increase has been noticeable in the case of exports to the United States, while there is a decrease in the case of all other countries. This result was mainly due to the fact that by Act of Congress, March, 1902, all articles the growth and produce of the Philippines admitted into the United States free of duty were eligible for a return of the export duty imposed in the Philippines so long as shipped to the United States direct, and proof be submitted of their importation and consumption there.

The military force maintained in the Islands amounts to 13,030 white troops of all arms, 5,000 native scouts allied to the white garrison, and 3,000 constabulary, who act as a sort of semi-military police.

The policy of the United States towards the Philippines was defined by President Roosevelt in his Message to Congress in December, 1904, in the following terms: "At present, 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 entirely alone, yet in some such relation to the United States as Cuba now stands."

The total trade of the islands for the calendar year 1914 amounted to P.194,556,574 as against P.202,171,484 for 1913 and P.233,182,402 for 1912. The exports amounted to P.97,379,268 in 1914 as against P.95,545,912 in 1913 and the imports in 1914 to P.97,177,306 as against P.106,625,572 in 1913. In 1913 the uncertainty that prevailed as to the policy to be adopted by the United States with regard to the control of the islands caused a general want of confidence in commercial circles, and there was a consequent disinclination to extend commercial or industrial undertakings. Business conditions improved in the early part of 1914, but were again depressed by the outbreak of war in Europe. The reduction in the year's trade is accounted for by the falling off in imports during the latter half-year. Approximately 50 per cent. of the trade of the islands during 1914 was with the United States.

From a proportion of slightly over 5 per cent. of the total trade in manufactures of cotton in 1904, the American product supplies 59 per cent. of the present local demand. This development has been fostered by the free entry provisions of the Philippine Tariff Law of 1909.

In a speech delivered by Mr. Taft at Boston before his election to the Presidency he expressed the opinion that the Philippines would not be fit for self-government for one or two generations. But with the return of the Democratic Party to power in the