The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-14

SStEVVIHs sEVl1s
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wHATA TYPEooN ONCE DIDTo MANILA.
permanently, the Philippines Will be Q
better field for many enterprising A1neri-
cans than the United States. Even un-
der the crushing rule of Spain Ameri-
cans and English have been CONNER
cially successful in many instances An
American house introduced the tele-
phone and electric lighting system of
Manila. A British company has built
and operates q short railway from
Manila toward Dagupan, the eventual
terminus Of the route. Tire China and
Manila Steamship company is British
corporation, as are its two rivals, the
China Navigation Company, limited,
md the Red Funnel Cor Jardine, Math-
eson &, Co. line.
American interests in the islands IN
clude marine, fire and life insurance
companies, ropemaHng, sugar refining
and tobacco practically Insignificant
list. One American mercantile house,
Warner, Blodgett & Co., held a leading
place in the far east, but it was impov-
srishea and finally ruined by the ezac-
lions and extortions of, the officials.
American dentists frequently visit Ma
Mia and other Philippine cities and do
q lucrative business, but all the profit
is taken by the fees and imposts re-
CURED by the government
Other fields which Americans have
occupied successfully are rice milling,
iron construction, ice machinery, drugs
and chemicals, cotton goods, steam ma
chinery and electrical engineering. Few
of these are conducted on large scale:
The entire business in these lines of the
IL. 00O, 900 or IL, 900, coo inhabitants Of
the islands is less than that of an active
city like Cleveland, Atlanta or Denver.
Under good government the open
ings are nImberless. Mining engineers,
prospectors, mine superintendent, mine
foremtsn, assayers and geclogists may be
in large demand. The average Spaaiard
knows little Of these callings and cares
less Even at home half Of the rich
mines are under foreign control Or su-
pervision. The attitude Of the Spanish
mind toward practical science is we'll
shown in the curriculum Of the Manila
college, where the course comprises
physics, chemistry, metaphysics, theol-
ogy, rhetoric, poetry. arithmetic and
bookkeeping.
There is an ever increasing demand
for coal in the far east, and the coal
beds of Zebu and Mindanao are destined
to play an important part in future
commerce. They contain anthracite,
semibitumiaous and Ignite, and there
fore appeal to coal experts from eastern
Pennsylvania as we'll as those from the
larger coal basins of our land. Petro-
leum experts, from producers and well
drillers to refners and chemists, may
also find good employment. At present
the islands import their kerosene from
the United States, Russia and Sumatra.
The trade is small, owing to the duty
and other taxes, but is steadily increas-
ing. The natives use vegetable oils for
their lamps, and the cheapest of these
costs far more and gives less light than
mineral OIL With the cheap labor of
the Philippines it should be easy TO turn
out kerosene at lower cost than is
done in the United States. The market
for kerosene in the extreme orient is al
most unlimited, China and Japan using
millions of gallons annually and in
creasing their consumption every year.
There will be a valuable opportunity
for steam or electrical transportation if
the islands get good government. The
country is fabulously rich, but almost
nothing has been done by the adminis-
tration to facilitate the movement of
crops and other products. There are q
: few good roads near Manila. ALI the
rest are COW paths or trails. Travel is
done on horseback and goods are carried
by buffalo carts or pack trains. The ex-
listing road shows what a harvest there
is for good railways and trolley roads.
Since it started it has never paid a
smaller dividend than 10 per cent.
Roughly speaking, the country is q
series of long valleys separated by lines
of hills or mountains. There are few
marshes and enough forests to supply
ties for the entire road as it is con-
structed. Labor is cheap costing 10
cents a day y native cannot do as
much work as an American, the ratio
being one to two 1t is clear that the
cost of railway construction will be
small and that it will be possible TO
build and operate trolley roads at a
profit when it could not be done at
home There is fine field for steam
launches. river and lake steamers and
small coasters The Malays love tc
travel, and even under Spanish rule
make good business for the CAPITALISTS