Directory_and_Chronicle_1923 — Page 1502

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MANILA-ILOILO

ZUELLIG, INC., F. E., Merchants (Successor to Lutz & Zuelling), European Repre- sentatives: A. C. Lutz & Co., Zurich, Switzerland-Tel. Ad: Acctlutz

F. E. Zuellig, president

E. Nievergelt, 1st vice-president H. Graber

F. Bergmann

J. Barendtszen

A. Irminger

H. Gasser (Cebu)

O. Schulthess (Iloilo)

C. Kelling

W. Meyer

F. Kress

H. Bruggisser

E. A. Schenkel J. Terol

Agencies

Lancashire Insurance Co., Ld.

East India Sea & Fire Ins. Co., Ld. Fire Association of Philadelphia Bernese Alps Milk Co. Clifford-Wilkinson Tansan

Water Co., Ld., Kobe

Mineral

Royal Baking Powder Co., New York National Aniline and Chemical Co.,

New York

ILOILO

Iloilo, the largest town of Panay and the capital of the province of the same name, is the most important port of western Visayas. The exact location of the city is latitude 10° 41′ 39′′ north, and longitude 123° 34′ 12′′ east. It is situated on the border of the narrow Iloilo Strait, formed by the south-eastern curve of the island of Panay and the adjacent Guimaras Island. It is distant 340 nautical miles from Manila, 175 from Cebu, 243 from Zamboanga, 295 from Jolo, and 24 from Bacolod.

The port is on a narrow arm of the sea, commonly called the Iloilo River. Its harbour is well protected and has good anchorage for steamers of any size. The minimum depth of the river is 22 feet, and the minimum and maximum depths of anchorage are 80 feet and 120 feet, respectively. The entrance channel to the harbour has a minimum depth of 42 fect. The port has four-fifths of a nautical mile of water- front. Vessels can anchor at the river wall close to the Custom House and the ware- houses of the leading commercial firms.

Iloilo is an important commercial centre. It is one of the Philippine ports opened to the commerce of the world. Vessels from the ports of eastern and southern Asia, Europe, and the United States call for sugar and copra. The port has also bi-weekly steamship connections with Manila, and there is a regular steamship service with Cebu, Dumaguete and Zamboanga. Moreover, two steamers ply daily between this port and Occidental Negros. In 1921, 140 foreign vessels entered and cleared the port, with a total net tonnage of 398,893. The Philippine Railway, which extends from Iloilo to Capiz, a distance of 73 miles, practically bisects the Island of Panay, and traverses an exceptionally fertile stretch of country. Each end of the line passes through alluvial plains devoted to the cultivation of rice, sugar-cane, corn, garden and minor products; while the central portion, being higher, is utilized for cattle- raising, the cultivation of tobacco, hemp, coffee, cacao, sugar-cane, cocoanuts, and other tropical products. Roads from almost all the towns of the province also enter the city. Besides being the leading sugar port, Iloilo is the centre of the sinamay industry.

Iloilo is a first-class municipality with 49,808 inhabitants. It includes the neighbouring towns of Molo and Mandurriao. Among its principal streets mention may be made of J. M. Basa, wherein are found most of the stores; A. Ledesma, the potential business thoroughfare; and Progreso, where several banks are established. There are four hotels the Iloilo Hotel, the Eastern-American Hotel, the Panay and Negros Hotel, and the Bilbao Hotel. The principal buildings are the Custom House, the Provincial Building, St. Paul's Hospital, Lizares Building, Cacho Build- ing, Javellana Building, Tantoco Building, and Lopez Building. The secondary and elementary schools are among the largest in the Islands. The means of communication are excellent; one can communicate by telegraph and telephone with all the other municipalities in Panay, and by cable and wireless with the other islands of the Archipelago, as well as with any other country in the world.