Directory_and_Chronicle_1919 — Page 1356

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ZAMBOANGA

Communication with other ports is assured by weekly mail steamers, bi-weekly transports and despatch boats with Cebu and Manila, monthly steamers of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha with Australia, Manila and the China coast, and bi-weekly steamers of the Straits Steamship Company with Sandakan, Borneo, and Singapore. A coast guard cutter, running out of Zamboanga, gives regular communication with other small ports of the Department. Telegraphic communication with the remainder of the Archipelago is secured by a wireless station connecting with cables and land lines.

Zamboanga was founded by the Spaniards in April, 1635, for the purpose of intercepting Moro corsair fleets which were accustomed to pass the Strait of Basilan from southern Mindanao to the Visayan Islands. The town was repeatedly attacked by the Moros. In 1646, it exchanged shots with a Dutch fleet and, in 1798, maintained an all-day bom- bardment with an English squadron. In 1872, for putting down a mutiny of prisoners, Zamboanga was granted by the Madrid government the title "Loyal and Valiant "Town." On May 10, 1899, the revolutionists attacked the Spanish garrison in Zam- boanga, which withdrew on May 24. The town was burned during the hostilities. Dur- ing the summer of 1899, the Republic of Zamboanga was in full control, but the town was finally surrendered to the American blockading squadron without bloodshed on November 16 of the same year.

The Department of Mindanao and Sulu, of which the capital is Zamboanga, consists of the seven provinces of Agusan, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao, Lanao, Sulu and Zamboanga-all of Mindanao island excluding the small provinces of Misamis and Surigao, but including the Archipelago of Sulu and other adjacent islands. The area of the Department is thirty-three per cent. of the entire land area of the Philippines. Zamboanga is also the capital of the Province of the same name. The town, though small, is one of the most beautiful, not only of the Philippines, but of the Far East. It is characterised by shady streets and possesses very fine parks and exquisite gardens. There is a drastic building ordinance in force which provides that all buildings erected in the central portion must be of reinforced concrete or other equally fire-proof material with an 8 inch firewall every 100 feet. Good roads extend along the coast in either direction from the town.

DIRECTORY

Department Governor-F. W. Carpenter Department Secretary-Teopisto Guingona

Assistant Dept. Secretary and Acting Treasurer-Juan Posadas (Jr.) Department Delegate-Doroteo Karagdag

Judge, Court of First Instance-Ponciano Reyes

Auxiliary Judge, Court of First Instance-Francisco Soriano

Acting Department Attorney-Delfin Jaranilla

Acting Assistant Attorney-Anatalio C. Mañalac

Commanding Officer, P. C., Department of Mindanao-Col. Ole Waloe

Supervising Engineer and District Engineer-J. C. Cookingham

Department Superintendent of Schools-Carl. M. Moore

Chief, Philippine Health Service-Dr. Jacobo Fajardo

District Auditor-R. E. Fernandez

Chief Clerk, Department Governor's Office-Tomas Valdes Acting Department Disbursing Officer-Raymundo Legal Acting Clerk of Court-Joaquin Madrazo

Collector of Customs-Lawrence Benton

Internal Revenue Agent-F. W. Scheben Supervising Surveyor-Henry E. Neibert District Forester-James Logan

MEMBERS OF PHILIPPINE LEGISLATURE FROM DEPARTMENT

Senator-Hadji Butu Abdul Baki of Jolo

Representatives-Isidoro Vamenta of Agusan, Datu Benito of Lanao, Pablo Lorenzo of Zamboanga, Teodoro Palma Gil of Davao, Datu Plang of Cotabato