The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-12-02

communications destroyed in many
places, probably requiring a month for
their restoration. The line has opened
and developed a country of most extra
ordinary fertility. Rice is the prin-
cipal product; much sugar. a small
amount of indigo on the northern part
OF the hne; possibilities OF cotton, cof-
fee, and almost anything. The sta
tlons are at short intervals, In accord
ance with orders from the Spanish
government, which subsidized the line
L nave never seen a country OF such
splendid productive power. For the
hrSd hundred miles almost all OF it Is
under cultivation From there to the
terminus a different and prettier co,n-
try, with high cocoanut palm trees of
rare beauty: but not yet so much cul-
tivated as that to the south
With new extensions and lines con-
templated on the Island of Luzon, say,
first, Manila to Batangas, south; sec
ond, Dagupan to Laoag, north; third.
a branch, Corona to Alliaga, eighteen
miles, tobacco district, added produc-
tive power and wealth would be i'm
parted to the island.
A week later I went up the Pasig
river to the Laguna, extraordinary fer
tility of soil being again the marked
characteristic and possibility for the
requirement of large estate if we con-
troll the country and if good titles can
be assured.
The islands to the south, OF which
Panay (Yloilo being tine principal port
and the second of the islands), Cebu,
Samar, Mindanao and possibly the
Sulu or Jolo archipelago, should be in
fixNvpS
with the Spanish permit l am ex-
ceedingly anxious to make this jour
ney under the auspices and at the in
vitation of English merchants thor
oug,hly acquainted with the islands.
If one-half they say of the richness of
these be true it would be a most val.
liable acquisition to the United States.
] trust that | shall not be deemed
intrusive in these remarks and sugges-
tiOnS. Being an army officer, and at
the same time collector OF customs at
Manila, my duty would seem to be to
the Secretary of War and to the treas
ury, and l submit these remarks as
directed to them, as we'll as to your
self. | desire no place here, except
upon the ship to return to America;
but / am so thoroughly impressed witch
the wealth and beauty of the country
and the most peculiar conditions ex-
listing here that / am most anxious for
the success of our Government in
working out this experiment with the
best fruition.
The inhabitants are unique; the ma
tiveS clean and clever; the Chinese
more active and persevering; all beasts
of burden, accustomed to little in the
way Of pay or food or shelter. We
II
satisfactorily, $40 month, equaling
$40 of our money, he furnishing his
own food. The irruption of our army
raised wages temporarily, to the great
disturbance of the merchants here,
but things are about restored to their
normal basis, and should continue so
unless some ill-considered change of
the prevailing currency occurs.
The custom house receipts during
our incumb bency, twentyfour working
days, amount to $1,000 With the in
crease of industries, contingent upon
our occupancy, they should amount
within two years to sS,00O,000 a year
at least.
Mining explorations and ventures
promise very well, especially in coal
and iron. Capital may be profitably
employed in the operation of banks,
cotton mills, paper mills, ice factories,
breweries, inter-island shipping and
trade.
Few of our people consider that ali
OF the customs here are radically diff
ferent from those of the United
States. You can't upset the habits and
traditions of two centuries in two
weeks. The oriental will for long
time yet prefer rice and opium to pie
and baked beans.