Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-04
THE CITY OF MANILA,
A Description of the Capital of tn
Philippine Islands.

Manila, the capital of the Island of Luzon
and of all the Philippine Islands, is a city
of about 100000 population, not including
the adjacent suburbs, which have total
population of about 10000 additional. The
name of the city is pronounced by the
Spaniards as though it were spelled Nah
nee-ia, with the accent on the middle syla-
BE. 1t is the. see of the Roman Catholic
archbishop and one of the great empor-
irms of the east. 1t is located on the bay
OF the same name at the mouth of the
river Pasig, latitude IA degrees So minutes
north; longitude III degrees east.
The city proper forms the segment of a
circle between the river and the sea, and
its suburbs extend over numerous islets
formed by the river and it's branches. The
Pasig is prolonged into the bay by two
piers terminating, the one in small fort,
the other in a light house Vessels of some
hundred tons may come up as far as the
bridge. On the south side stands the city,
having a dilapidated look, but strongly for
titled. On the north is situated the Binon-
do suburb, more populous than the city
itself. 1t is the residence of the foreign
merchants and the great center of trade.
The aspect of the whole is at once Span
1sh and oriental. Long lines of heavily
mounted batteries, somber churches, I'M
calmly towers and massive houses of solid
masonry mingle with airy cottages in
groves of tropical trees, raised on posts to
permit the free passage of the waters in
the rainy season and so constructed as by
their elasticity to stand the shocks of an
earthquake The streets are straight, but
for the most part unpaved and during the
rains almost impossible. In the city the
houses are two stories high and each has
its central court yard. Here reside the
heads of the state, church and army, and
all who would be thought to be of the
aristocracy.
A bridge leads across the river into the
Binondo suburb, where street, called the
Escolta, runs to the right and the left,
l1Eed with innumerable shops and stalls
and crowded with a strange and motley
population of various races. Beyond the
Escolta swarm of Chinese. Indians and
Ealf castles appear as goldsmiths and jewel
ers, painters and enamelers oil and soap
merchants, confectiOners and keepers of
gambling houses and cook shops
other suburbs have each its special char
acter San Fernando is the seat of great
cigar manufactures. and Santo Mesa of a
cordage mandatory. At the Alcaiceria
the Chinese sampans discharge their car
gees Fishermen and weavers inhabit the
division of Tondo and its gardens supply
the markets with fruit and vegetables
Malate is famous for its embroiderers.
Paco is inhabited by artisans and artists.
Convaiescents resort for health to Santa
Arna and San Pedro Macati.
The principal public buildings are the
cathedral, the palaces of the governor and
the archbishop, a beautiful town house,
ten churches belonging to different reli-
vents, the arsenal, three colleges for young
men and two for young women, the su-
preme court, prison, civil hospital. univer-
Slty, marine and a commercial school d
large theater. the custom house and bar
racks The city has several squares, in the
largest of which, the Prado there is
bronze statue of Charles ".
The Royal and Pontifical University of
ST Thomas is in the hands of the Dominic
cans, and has an attendance of about 800
students. The College of st. Joseph be-
longs to the Jesuts; that of St John
Lateran gives a plain education to Indians
ahd half breeds. The Escuea Pa belongs
to the city and is for Spanish children
aICne. A royal marine school was estab-
hshed in 1920 and commercial school in
1910. The colleges of st. Potentiana and
st Isabella are for girls, the latter for
orphans. Manila is the seat of govern
ment and of the supreme courts. The mu-
nic1pality dates from 1911.
Manila, which formerly occupied rank
OF comparative obscurity, is now regarded
as commercially equal to Calcutta and Ba-
tavia. This change has been wrought bv
legislative and political changes during
the nineteenth century. Being the chief
port Of the Philippines all their produce
lions flow to and through it, and it is the
resort of great number of colonial YES
sels or all sizes. 1t exports sugar tobacco
1roigo, manila hemp and cordag e gold
gust hiEds nests. coffee sapan wood mats,
hats. hides, trepang. tortoise shell. cigars,
cotton and rice. The manufacture of Ma
Mia consist chiefly of cigars and cheroots,
a government monopoly which gives en-
pioyment 20 several thousand men and
women; cordage from the filament of the
abaca and the beautiful fabrics called
pitas, woven from the fibers of the pine
apple leaf and afterward beautifully en-
broidered.
Manila was founded by Legaspi in 1911.
In 16i5 it was nearly destroyed by an
earthquake. In 1862 it was taken by
British fleet and held for fifteen months.