The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-06


secret conference OF the HawailArA
cabinet callc.. TO discuss the position TO
be assumed by the government towars.
the two belligenents. The news OF the
declaration OF war by the United Stater
against Spain was received here today
by the Mariposa, which arrived from
the Australian colonies with adviccs
from the United States.
Washington, May 4.-Memhers %
The senate committee on foreign re-
lations generally interpreted the re-
port from Honolulu regarding Pre-k-
dent Dole's tender TO the United States.
to indicate n willingness 10 form an
alliance with this country for the wax
with Spain. They say that for the Ha-
waiian islands 10 have held aloof and
insisted upon remaining neutral would
have been equivalent To refusing coal
or granting any courtesies TO the Unit
ed States during the war and that the
action now taken will put the islands
in the way OF doing this country any
favor possible.
EXTENT AND WEALTH OF THE
PHILIPPINES. e
The understanding at the state de-
partment is that Consul Oscar r. VIII
liams, our representative at Manila uu-
til the recent war began, is now aboard
the flagship Olympia in Manila harbor.
having accompanied Commodore Dew
ey from Hong Kong. SO that advices
may come from him To the state de-
partment, as well as from Commodore
Dewey TO the navy department. a
mail report from Consul william,
reached the state department recently
under date Of Manila, February 2sth
last. 1t gives full description OF the
Philippine islands, their resources.
growth OF American trade. etc and
1,rin I. inna taI ky, ha
issued by the bureau OF statistics OF
the state department. Mr.. Williams
reports
Local and European authorities @s-
innate the area OF the Philippine is
lands at 10000 square miles and their
population at 100000 The island OF
LuZon, on which the city OF Manila is
situated, is larger than New York and
Massachusetts and has a populations
Of 100000, and the island OF Mindanao
is nearly, II not quite, as large. There
are scores OF other islands. An idea
Of the extent OF the population OF the
Philippins may be formed when II is
stated that the six New England statos
and New York, New Jersey, Maryland
and Delaware have 10 per cent. less
area and population"
Mr.. Williams states that twenty-twOs
consulates, representing the leading
commercial countries OF the world.
established at Manila. He adds the
surprising statement: The volume OF
the export trade, coming under my Of
fetal supervision, equals that Of my
twenty-one consular colleagues conf
bined." He then shows i'm detail how
the trade Of the Philippines with the
United states exceeds that OF all other-
countries combined and is growing AZ
a remarkable rate. As indicating the
extent of this trade he says. To-day r
have authenticated invoices for export
to the United States amounting to-
$l3S. .066" He says the exports To this
country average 100000 a month.
In c. previous report, dated February
10th, Mr.. Williams stated that Manila
had just passed through a devastiug
fire, the total loss being $500 900. Ia
said the city would have been totally
destroyed had 1t not been for the spien-
did service OF an American fire engine
brought from Seneca Falls, y. Y.
In another report Mr.. Williams gives
the railroad and ocean steamship IA
clities Of the Philippines. The main
railroad from Manila is frs. class. hay-
ing steel rails, stone culverts and Eng
hsh engines which make forty five
miles an hour. There are four steam
ship lines TO Hong Kong and a month
~ line from Manila to Liverpool.
Beside these direct reports from tho
United States consul, the state depart
ment also has a gazetteer published az
Hong Kong which gives a full account
OF the conditions in the Philippines
il shows that by the last census the
population Of Manila was 1G0. 600 ma
tives. $1,000 Chinese, 400 SpaniardS
and $50 Europeans other than Span
iards. The town is made up OF low
buildings, as the people are In con-
stant dread Of earthquakes. One or
these convulsions killed 300 people. and
the last one. in 1880 wrecked most OF
the town. The city proper is within
walls where the government buildings
are located. The residence and buai--
ness portions are in the sur9yurbs
There are six daily papers. three banks
a mint, chamber OF commerce and u
complete electric light and telephone.
plants. The Mexican dollar Is in gen
eral use.
Secretary Alger has directed that the
ten Spanish officers and the ten prf--
Yates and non-commissioned officers.
captured on the Spanish steamer Ago.
nauta and now at Key West, be TAX
en- TO Fort Mcpherson, just outside OF
Atlanta, Ga, for confinement untif.
they are either exchanged for any
American officers and sailors. who
may be taken by the Spaniards, or un-
til some other method for their dispo~
sition Is reached. "A