The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-10-12

oye~. Over 40 kinds are found IL the
market possessing high utility, some
having special virtues unknown to
woods Of temperate zones The aranGa,
which provides trunks 70 feet long, is
poisonous to sea worms, especially to
the dreaded teredo. 1t is used IN max
ing wharfs and piers ana also for the
outside planking of native vessels.
More remarkable i'll this respect are
the antipolo and the belts which are
employed b. Europeans as well as Ma
lays in shipbuilding. Tie wood which
comes from the bullet tree is SO strong
that it can be driven into soft wood like
a nail. 1t is used for tool handles, be-
laying pins, palicemen's clubs, banis-
ters and newer posts The mabolo is
handsome black wood with yellow
dashes running through and is used for
wainscoting and fine furniture. The
guijo resembles the American hickory,
but is even stronger and tougher. In
Manila it is the favorite wood for the
spokes and shafts Of carriages. The
molave is che most valuable wood in
the east and is perhaps, as is claimed
by it's friends, the king of all woods. 1t
is very beautiful and possesses tissue
which is proof against insects on land
and worms in water. It does not be-
come waterlogged and grows straight
and also crooked, so as to provide knees
and angles. AS it does not decay it
makes fine railway sleepers. 1t is ex-
t-emely strong, tough and durable
So great are the exactions of the
Spanish administration that the export
of lumber is Insignificant. It hardly
pays one to go into the business even
where the wood is intended for native
consumption, much less where it is to
be exported. a few 'opeaus Of enter
prise have tried tt ,usiness, but be-
cause of the obstacles thrown in their
way by offcialdom they have all retired
and generally With but little saved from
the original capital. a description OF
the difficulties under Spanish rule will
perhaps be the best illustration that
can be given.
a merchant must first have a pass
port, which is to vised with great regu-
larity by the local officials. Every time
it is vised there is fee to be paid. He
must next obtain 'sedula personal. .
This is a document that is a happy or
unhappy combination of poll tax,
tax on personal estate and tax on busl-
ness. It ranges from 81 up to SO and
must be renewed every year.
He must next take out license for
the lumber business. Ee must then
make application to the department OF
mines and forests for leave to cut tim
Der and must employ lawyer If he
wants to get that leave within year.
He then goes to the bureau of forests,
which apparently does nothing atall for
it's salaries and fees. Here he also en-
ploys lawyer and finally obtains the
requisite authorization to go ahead. He
must then 90 to the forest country and
make an arrangement with the choppers
direct or with chief, which agreement
must be submitted to the authorities,
approved, sealed and stamped Here
there is another large batch of fees
Under the law, if any formality is
omitted even by the government clerk
himself, the merchant is liable to ar
rest, fine and imprisonment Then, to
prevent the woodchoppers from becom-
ing burden upon the state-an event
of which Spanish official has deep,
theoretic horror-all of them must have
payment in advance, often one-haif OF
their wages for two or three months. Il
during that time there are symptoms
of insurrection in the district and the
soldiers drive out the woodchoppers,
the merchant is helpless. He has alsc
to pay an inspector to see that the WICK
ed woodcutters fell the proper trees.
The merchant must then engage por-
tiers to move the logs to the nearest Wa
ter course or coast port, and must here
pay in advance as before. He is also
called Upon to pay several Local taxes,
where the work goes on, and general
tax on the timber and the business
done. When the logs reach his mill,
they are inspected BY another off ial,
and when they are exported they are
again inspected, and he must in addi-
tion pay an export tax If the normal
price of log is 81, and that is about
what an ordinary log costs in land
where strong man gets 9 cents day,
the various taxes, fees, bribes, lost ad-
vances and accidents bring it up to Sl5
or $40 before it is put on board OF
ship to be sent to another lana.
It is difficult to understand how
government can be SO cruel and so fool
ish. China is but 600 miles from the
Philippines, and the demand for lum-
Der there is perpetual. 1t is so great
n T., ~, M:x.