New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-31
PHILIPPINE RESOURCES.
REPORT TO GENERAL OTIS OF THE
ARCHIPELAGO ENORMOUS NATU-
RAJ POSSIBILITIES
-,r CAPITAL COULD DO IN DEVELOPING
THE PRoDucTIvENEss OF THE ISLANDS,
VEGETABLE AND MINERAL WEALTH
YET UNTOUCHED.

YET UNTOUCHED
washington. Dec 80 Especially -Ma1or-Gen-
a, Otis Governor Of the Philippines. has sent
a. the Division OF Customs and Insular Affairs
=, the War Department interesting COM
,ounication, which he has received from highly
,,,euicent resident of Manila. showing what a
profitable possession the archipelago must prove
r,der American methods of development. The
--os, important portions Of the document which
ore presented herewith. have the unqualified in
dorseuent Of General Otis. who has been able
- ,.e,,fv the statements, and who has sent the
,o,,er 70 Washington in order that the Govern
,rsnt may Re IN better position to refute the
e-suments Of il-informed anti-expansionists
bo are trying 10 raise economical scare
sra,ns, the retention OF the islands General
francis Y. Greene. Who read the extracts to-
day assured a Tribune representative that his
experience at Manila corroborated the state
roents end ne considered them fairly conserv-
alive and thoroughly trustworthy. II appears
from this letter that the value OF Cuba and
Porto Rico is altogether insignificant CONNER
c;ally compared 10 that OF the Philippines. with
out taking into consideration the advantage Of
the archipelago the threshold OF the limitless
markets of Eastern Asia.
Writing Of the necessary internal improve
rents and Of the resources Of the island, Gen
eral Ots's informant says:
The River Pasig dredged out to the mouth Of
the lake and with its points cut down 10 make
navigation easy for decent passenger steamers,
would Immediately attract capital 10 put on
daily morning and evening service. Then the
people Of Manila could and would avail them
selves OF the service TO pass the nights IN the
many cool spots fringing the lake. NO heat IN
the daytime would be felt after cool night
II q very short time Laguda de- Bay, twenty
nnensions would be studded over with yachts
and pleasure craft OF every kind 10 AFFORD pleas
urable recreation to all who could spare the time
and expense
EARTHLY PARADISE AT. BECK AND CALL
With capital and enterprise the nearest ap-
preach 70 an earthly paradise is here al beck
and call II is perfectly amazing the strides
made by progress within the last thirty years
since province steamers began 10 run in the
Islands Some Of the promoters Of the enter
Prise can recall that as late as 1863 IL took two
weeks or more for one Of the small schooners
then employed 10 bring in outside produce
distance Of two hundred and fifty miles to the
shipping ports In 1868 twelve capitalists prin-
cipaIy foreigners. got together a capital or
$4,000 10 bring out small boat TO make trips
70 the open ports OF llollo and Ceou. me re-
sult was so satisfactory that boat after poat
followed until there is at the present time line
Of fifty province steamers, large ana small run
ring IL the Islands
81 much for what steamers have done through
private enterprise. What might be done under
highly intelligent administration such as the
cove-nren' Of the United States VIII CONFER
,pon these Islands? The short l2O-mlle rail-
vsy put down by English capitalists gives put
fair- idea Of what a network or rallroads coeIu
do but IS quite enough 10 snow Wnal pm
stle Investment some roads can be made in TINS
country under a liberal. up-'o-date goVerhlnent.
Thai which applies 70 Luzon appnes eQuaaIs
- Al o.. the other islands. where the produce
., r~any cases is left 10 rot IN the fields for
vant ~ adequate means OF conveyance. Roaos,
.sood public roads and railroads woula se ENG
49, islands ahead by leaps and bounds ana
ter!al progress would De the sure precursor OF
The light OF civilization $3.50
why Eq psin npsninr up and civilizing the
darkA., countries. shonld have ia IN
90 - necessary. force reform upon the ruling
powers. seems inexplicable And now that al
last an enlightened Power has taken hold " Is
fervently hoped that II VII open ,a ~ have awe
penetrated the renotest crevice OF these tnos.
fertile and valuable islands This zone, there
would be rebellion nor the though' OF one
ppopAp1y THE RICHEST IN THE WORLD.
When The islands shall have been fully eA-
plored the country will probably be found 70 De
The richest unexplored territory in the known
world When We think Of the immense sum
spent N prospecting unknown lands, and in
many cases locating find" II IS simply anaZ-
ing that here where untold riches are staring
Us in the face. capitalists shouIo ha.e 50 i''s
tax Iuzon frst 10 give a faint idea Of known
resources In the north IS a rich and extensive
tobacco country where qualities equal 10 those
grown in Cuba can be produced coming SUI,
the TWO Ilocos provinces comprise rlch sugar
lands Indigo can also be Largely Pr in
duced and with more LABOR DC lhc'easeu III
Quantities and improved IN quanty. ,u,
In the long range Of mountains. practlca!!y
unexplored. copper, soId ana otiei IN cnnsid
erabie Quantities Copper has been WORKED lor
many years in mountains Of south llocos Nan
cayan and Lepanto want OF IN large
scale In this neigh borhood we have the DIS
Uric, Of Bensuo,. over four thousand leet dooNe
the sea level with climate not TO oe beaten
4 Furope In winter il borders on frost ana
in summer il Is never over % oes'ee
heit .Aor. ord
EXQUISITE potatoes and home vegetabies OF az
kinds can be grown 70 any extent Inc opat.sn
Government had arranged 10 put up saare
-orurn there 10 save sending invalloeo uoopS
and employees 10 Europe 70 recruit lhoui; ,i
line OF railroad for the ascent ana sho,t ;fe
line 70 connect with The terminus o. .a from
Xa11s q, ahon, tJrelve hours 10 this desirao BILE
retreat opr
The provinces Of Union Zambaes Paneas'ha"
and Bulacan largely produce TOBACCO susd'
rice etc The Angat Mountains buiacdh o"O
Bosoboso only a few miles from Ndaii''o~ pa
duce IRON ore yielding upward Of q per cent OF
NV. roa,al These mines have been worked
bur little Some iron ore from Angat Is sta Ts
10 nave produced IS per cent Of pure metal - e
latter exists in very large QUANTITIES. oii'i To-
curing capital and enterprise 10 ueVeioP -
producrion Lead silver gold ana coal aie ~
Be found in many parts Of Luzon, He.n', ,ao IN
ana coffee are also produced. the hrst wv a.
large quantities. ..a ~, Furo-
Mtndora' close 70 Manila, is occupied ny Lui as
peans only in small spots. IL Is coSeiv i,, her
are many parts Of Luzon, with vaiuaoe ti' IT,
from me waters edge 10 the mountain Top. -.
variety OF hard and other woods numbers app ',t
Seventy Of known good woods Vat niaore ~.
undeveloped coal beds exist III ii"'
fghes, ,noup,a,r in the group.