The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1898-09-03
MORE ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES
Racial, Commercial, Political and Social Con-
ditions of the Inhabitants Of ~
Those Islands. "...

The Philippine group were discover
ed by an expedition under Magellan in
1871, the islands, on the occasion of a
later expedition under Villabos, were
named Philippine in honor of the then
Prince of the Asturias, afterwards
Philip II. .. Manila was founded in 1871,
and since that date has been held by
the Spaniards, except for a brief in
terval between 1852 and 1854, when it
was occupied by the British.
Situation. Topography.
The islands of the Philippine archi-
pelago are described by Sir John Bow
ring as 'tinnumerable" Other author
tiles variously estimate them at from
400 to 1000 in number. The eleven
most important, embracing some IS per
, cent of the total area computed at
114,350 square miles,, and the great
mass Of the population are Luzon, Min
danao, Negros, Panay, Mindnro, Cebu,
Samar, Leyte, Palawan, Bojol md Mas
bate, Lying between Borneo aud For
mosa, the archipelago extends scme 800
leagues from north to south, and 1S0
from east to west, and covers 141a de-
grees of latitude and degrees of lon
gitude. Luzon and Mindanao together
exceed all the other islands combined.
Manila, the capital, situated on the
west coast of LuZon is in latitude IA
degrees 36 minutes north and longitude
12O degrees 81 minutes east. Its posi-
tion, "as central point between ia
pan, China, AMMAN, the English and
Dutch ports of the Malayan archipelago
and Australia" is, observes Jagor, Tex
tremely favorable to the development
OF a worldwide trade" Some 1000
miles distant from San Francisco, it
Is but $50 miles from Hongkong, while
from the northern extremity of Luzon
to- the south cape of Formosa is little
more than 200 miles.
The Town Of Manila.
The site Of Manila was selected chief
~ on account of it's fine harbor or bay,
circular in form, and capable of hold
Ing all the navies of the world" Into
this debouches the river Pasig, which,
with breadth of about $50 feet, flows
through the city, dividing it into Ma
Mia proper or old Manila, and new
Manila or Binondo Tho former, oc-
cupying the left or southern bank of
the river, is the fortress or citadel. It
contains, besides the principal fortif
cations, the palace and the cathedral,
and is surrounded by old walls, bas-
toned and moated, and dating back
in part to the sixteenth century. These
walls have been cracked by earth
quakes, and could easily be preached
by modern artillery. Jagor describes
the old town as "a hot, dried-up place,
full Of monasteries, converts, barracks
and government buildings" "It still
preserves" says a later writer, "all the
austere appearance of city of the
reign of Philip IT," Upon the walls,
however, and beneath them, have been
arranged pleasant promenades, where
the aristocracy stroll and drive and
ride in the cool of the evening. The
district of Binondo, on the right bank
the real commercial capital; and here
are the shops and warehouses and the
movement Of modern life. Here also,
and in the pleasant suburban villages
or pueblos behind the city, live the
foreigners and the weather. class. Be-
hind the city stretches a fat region
rich in tropical vegetation, through
which flows for some twenty miles the
river Pasig which forms the outlet of
great fresh-water lake called the La
guna; the country around being known
as the Laguna province. Beyond this
region the land rises towards the ir-
regular mountain chain or sierra which
runs parallel with the east coast, and,
which, abounding in grand and pictur-
esque scenery, is the home Of the Wild
= er native tribes. From this range as
cends Mayor, an active volcano Of con-
ical form, about eight thousand feet in
elevation, a conspicuous landmark from
3 the sea. This height, with that of Ba-
najao $500 feet), and San Cristobal
(7,375 feet, are but little exceeded by
Halcon in Mindoro (8,868 feet). Next
In population to Manila is the town Of
Cavite, at the southern point of the
bay, eight miles distant, where were
the Spanish naval and quarantine sta
tion and arsenal, and the defences so
cleverly turned by Admiral Dewey in
the dawn Of that eventful first Of May.
Other ports in the Philippines which
have been opened to general trade are
Sual in Luzon, Iloilo in the island Of
Panay, and Zamboanga in Minda-
mao. sual has probably the best
harbor, but Iloilo IS the more i'm
portant point, It's province being the
most advanced after that of Manila.
The pima fabrics made here are the
most esteemed. Capis, or Capiz, also
In Panay, is another considerable town.
! .Tacloban, the chief town Of the island
Of Leyte, has an excellent harbor and
is the emporium Of trade between Man