The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-27
RICHES OF THE
PHILIPPINES
Vast Possibilities of the Islands
Called by Dewey an Empire,

Sdlleu ny De"ey al IhiPiie'
Manila Letter in the Sun.
From the point of view here, it seems
as If the decision as to the future of
the Philippines has been made already,
so far al the Americans are concerned,
and what may be said by those who
have had the smallest opportunity of
observation afforded by our operations
here can have little weight.
An immense amount of misinforma-
ton has been spread through the
United States by Inaccurate writer's
who have made the brlefest possible
visits here and have had the smallest
possible facilities for gathering trust
worthy information. This misinforma-
tion is probably most widespread con-
sidering the climate. Sc far as Manila
and the country in it's immediate vi
cinity are concerned, the climate bears
small resemblance to the dreadful pic
lures drawn for the soldiers of the
eXpeditonary forces. We iourneyed
hither with the notion that we were
coming into a hell pit where heat and
rain alternated in making men mser-
able and ill. Now the fact is that 1t
is not so bad after all. 1t is hot, but
very frequently 1t is much hotter in
New York. 1t rains, and it rains hard.
No United States rain can compare
with a good, able bodied Philippine
downpour But you go prepared for
rain in the rainy season, and do not
mind il much. And you dress for the
heat and do not mind that much. If
one observes reasonable precautions
and takes fairly good care of himself,
the climate need have no terror. and
in the fall season, which Is now COM
ing on, it is delightful. We have had
the first week or ten days of fine,
clear days, hot, no doubt, at MONDAY,
but cool and delightful at night, with
fresh pleasant breezes and cool air.
AN EMPIRE.
with Cuba. Porto Rico, the Hawaii
an islands and Guam ours, It seems
as if the question of Imperialism, If it
be so called, is already decided. Then
the question of the retention of the
Philippines by the United States be.
comes simply one of specific advan-
tage or disadvantage. There are argu-
ments on both sides; which side has
the preponderance? Admiral Dewey
sat on the quarterback of his flagship
the other day and exclaimed: I'VE
have taken an empire here--an en-
pire."
1t is absolutely true. The Philip
pine Islands form an empire whose
possibilities are beyond the bounds of
computation, The surface has not
even been scratched and already their
commerce amounts to hundreds of mil
lions. The soil is fertile beyond any
thing America knows, and it is suited
TO almost every crop. The manager of
the Manila branch of the Chartered
Bank Of India, Australia and China
said to me the other day that In all
his experience in these islands he had
never seen failure of any crop. What
ever was sown, that was reaped.
Only the faintest suggestion OF de-
velopment of the islands resources has
been made. it has been the policy of
the Spanish to prevent development.
Robbery and personal gain were the
only objects Of the Spanish officials.
Take the single instance of the build
ing of the breakwater and pier off the
mouth of the Pasig river. Work has
been going on at it for two. score years
OF more. There were several special
taxes devoted Ostensibly TO the con-
struction of the pier and the fund was
increased by percentage OF the i'm
port duties, Wharfage duties in the
river lighthouse tax, and other i'm
posts. Yet the pier is hardly begun.
REGULATIONS OF WEYLER.
When General Whittier took over the
public treasury and examined the
books, the first thing he found was
proof that Weyler lined his pockets
well when he was captain general Of
the Philippines. When he left the
islands he stole $500, 900 pesos from the
treasury. He gave 900 pesos to the
judge who had jurisdiction OF such
cases, and 100000 to the treasurer and
other officials who were in a position
to make trouble for him. That shows
one limit of Spanish theft. Here is
| another. The manager Of one OF the
largest English business houses in
Manila desired to build an outhouse in
his yard. 1t was necessary to get a
permit. one almost had TO get a per-
nit to breathe under Spanish rule here.
He went to the governor of the city.
and had to give bribe of 100 pesos be-
| fore the permit could be issued. That
| besides the fee for the permit.
No wonder the resources Of the
islands are not fully known. What is
known of them, however. is enough to
| amaze one. Hemp, sugar, coffee-al-
most nothing done with them now.
Thousands of acres Of the finest coffee
land under the sun lying untouched.
Fertile valleys, wooded and shaded.
| protected against winds, where the
rainfall is tremendous and even, a para
! disc for coffee growers, and the oppor-
tunity for no one to say what fortunes.
In the islands to the south there are
forests Of teak, ebony and mahogany
that have never been touched. In the
| floors of the commonest buildings in
and around Manila one sees teak boards
two feet wide and twenty-five feet long
] Mahogany is used as we use pine. Min