The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-09-23
There Is Every Indica ton Of a Boom in
Trade Circles.
The Hercu1ean Task of Restoring
Order From Chaos Due to Shift
1essness of Spaniards Slowly but
Surely Being Accomplished by
the American Officers Detailed
to Undertake It.

Correspondence of Associated Press)
MANILA Up. -. Aug. 30.-From an
American point of view, the situation
here to-day is simply one of expec-
fancy, the authorities awaiting instruc-
tons from Washington, and their SUI
bordinates hoping for relief from their
onerous duties and speedy return TO
their homes
The Spaniards, firm in the belief that
Manila was surrendered after the peace
swagger about the city with an air of
confidence that it will soon be restored
to them.
The PHILIPPINES, with characteristic
nonchalance, are making hay while the
sun shines, relieving their American
friends of their hard-earned cash by
every conceivable means, and wonder
ing how much longer their good for
tune will continue.
What the insurgents, under Agui-
naldo, think of the situation no one
seems to know, or care. They are on
the outside, and not seriously consid-
cred as a factor at this stage of the
game by either side, apparently. At
the same time, as a measure of pre-
caution, they are not allowed to carry
arms into the city, although no other
restriction is placed upon them.
While all the banks have been open
for business for several days, ard most
of the stores are open, there are still
many prominent merchants who have
not yet resumed operations, apparently
hesitating until the future of the city
and islands have been definitely deter
mined.
The herculean task of restoring order
from the chaos due to the shiftlessness
of the Spaniards is slowly but surely
being accomplished by the American Of
ficers detailed to undertake it. The
brunt of the dirty work is borne by
Brigadier General Macarthur, whose
duties as military commandant and
provost Marshal General of Manila are
as multitudinous and far-reaching as
those of the Ubiquitous Koko in THE
Nikado.,' The appointment Of Colonel
J. S. Smith of the First California and
s. Overshine, Twenty-fifth United
States Infantry, as his Deputy Provost
Marshals for the districts north and
south of the Pasig River, relieved him
very materially of outside work; but
still leave him work enough for dozen
men in the city proper
Brigadier General F. V. Greene, who
has charge of all fiscal affairs of the
local government, and Lieutenant Colo
mel c. A. Whittier, the new Collector
of Customs. have their hands full, but
Brigadier Anderson, who has been as
signed to the district of Cavite, seems
TO have been shelved.
Despite the lack of any definite know
ledge as to the future of the Philip
pines, business is decidedly brisk in
Manila at present, and there is every
indication of the approach of a boom.
The fact that everything has been prac-
tically tied up for the past three
months necessarily occasions an i'm
mense amount of extra work, now that
the embargo has been removed, but
apart from this the advent of the
American administration of affairs and
the prospect of it's being prolonged in
definitely have lent an impetus to trade
which nothing else could have given it.
One of the first official acts of the
new administration was to clear the
channel at the mouth of the river Pa
sig of the distractions placed there by
the SpaEiards, thereby reopening the
port of Manila for commerce. Imme-
Giately after this had been done she
fleet of inter-island steamers which by
an arrangement with Admiral Dewey
had been anchored out in the harbor,
and used as refugee ships by the vari-
Gus Consulates, returned to their berths
at the river quays, and after discharg-
ing their passengers, proceeded to re1t
for their former occupations, pending
the decision of the prize court as to
their ultimate fate. This has caused an
enormous amount of traffic along the
water front, and both the custom house
and. Captains of the port office have
been deluged with business for the
past ten days.
In accordance with the requirements
of international law, no change has as
vet been made in the customs regula-
tons. hence the tariff in force before
the war is still maintained, and the COZ
fers of the treasury are being replen-
ished very materially. 1t was natur-
ally expected that under the new re-
gime the import duties would De con-
siderably reduced. and many merch-
ants laid their plaDs accordingly, put
in spite of exorbitant duties. the de
mand go far exceeds the supply that
the merchants are only toe giad 10 get
their goods through as fast as they
arrive. SeNeTdl AlIltllNeiAS
ready announced their intention OF en-
barking in business here, and an Amer
lean newspaper is among the possipln-
ties in the near future.
The reopening of the cable to Hong
kong and resumption of traffic along
the inter-island telegraph lines mas
placed the merchants once more IN III
rect communication with their agents
but up to the present little news mas
been received, the small force employed
in the local office having been MADE
quate to handle the volume OF outgoing
messages filed every day. 1t was, now
ever, learned to-day that Senior Don
Diego De Los Rios Nicolau, the FRO
vinical Governor of Iloilo, had issued
proclamation, declaring himself Gov
ernor General of the islands, in accord
ance with instructions from his Gov
eminent, and that the seat of the Span
,sh Government had been established at
Iloilo.
The only impeachment in the way OF
restoring absolute confidence is Aguin-
aldo. who has informed Governor Cen