The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-15
THE ISLAND OF LUZON
GEM OF THE PHILIPPINES, WHICH
MAY BE KEPT BY UNCLE SAM.
Largest and Most Productive of the
Spanish Possessions i'm the Pa
cifc-The City of Manila.
st. Louis Republic.

st. Louis Republic.
The Island of Luzon, which is to be ac-
quired by the United States from Spain, is
the largest and most productive of the
Philippine group. Its area is 40S85 square
mills From the mountains known as Cara
ballos Of Balar Nueva Ecija two ranges
bifurcate and stretch northward-the Sierra
Oriental slxirting the eastern coast as far
as Cape Engano, and the Sierra Occidental
keeping all the way at distance of TWEEN
ty-fve or thirty miles from the western.
Between these ranges lies the basin of the
Rio Grande de Cagayar, which with its
tributaries forms large river system. On
the western slope of the Sierra Occidental
two other winding rivers take their rise
and after a winding course fall into the
Gulf of Linagan.
South of these mountains a fiat region
extends to the Bay of Manila and forms a
rich agricultural district, well watered and
adapted by nature for thorough cultivation.
To the west of the fiat region the country
rises into the considerable Cordillera de
Zambales. which contain a number of peaks
5000 or 5000 feet high. To the east and
south of Manila bay the country is billy,
but the large area of $50 square miles is
occupied by the Pasig on which small
steamers ply.
In the valley of the Cagayar are great to-
bacco fields. which rival those OF Vueta
Abajo of Cuba The greater part of the
sugar exported from the islands comes from
Luzon. Hemp comes mostly from the
other islands. Rice is a staple crop. but
none is exported, and notwithstanding
abundant territory suitable for rice it is
neglected.. Coffee abounds. The better
class of natives have little coffee trees
which produce four or five bushels of cof-
fee berry year. Only small portion of
this is exported. Swamp grass takes the
place of hay as food for buffalo cattle, the
draft animals of the islands. The sugar is
very poor. because fifteenth century meth
DDS of refining are employed There are
on the islands $500 cattle sugar mills, 239
steam power and thirty-five water mills
most OF them being on Luzon. The esti-
mated crop for 1898 is 10000 tons.
The tobacco crop is important Manila
tobacco and cigars are in the Eastern
World Sra d 1 what Havana tobacco and cigars
la. employs 10000 hands and has capital
of H5,Q00.OO0 There are more than 2O,OOo
men, women and children employed in and
about Manila in this industry
THE ANCIENT CITY OF MANILA.
Manila, the capital of the Philippines
is situated on the Island of Luzon, at the
mouth of the River Pasig, which empties
itself into the bay of Manila. The city was
founded in 1911. In 1916 1t was almost en-
tlrely destroyed by an earthquake, in which
upward of 300 lives were lost. In 1863 a
great part of the city was again destroyed
from the same cause, and in July 1885, an
other terrible upheaval made wreck of a
great portion of it, The inhabitants are
naturally in constant fear of these vista
lions Ihe dwelling houses are built with
speciaI reference to safety under such cir
cumstanees, and, although large possess
lev lev pIetensIons TO architectural beauty
Inc city proper within the walls is small
ana contains a scanty population hut the
larger government buildings and religious
INSTITUTIONS III are grouped there. The suburbs
vI Mnlch Blnondo ranks first in order of
Importance, are centers of trade and in
dustry. The Escolta the main business
- IT, ~ traveIses this suburb, and in it most
OF the European stores and baZars are to
De found. The Rozario. another broad
thoroughfare in Binondo, is occupied chiefly
San O RTias,o1 SHOPS, ana is busy quarter
ing the seat of the residences Of the
wealthy merchants and other residents.
me architecture of Manila is not imnos
ing, successive earthquakes having wroIIpht
mueh damage, and the city has an old-world
aspect tempered by its tropical surround
lnss: The streets present the greatest ami
matlon In the evening. when the cigar fac
tories are closed and the carriages of the
upper classes are out for the customarv
promenade There are several anc;ent
churches which worthy of notice The
cathedral, founded originally in 1878. has
ana did not escape in 1853. 1t has since been
rebuilt. but again sustained considerable
Damage IN 1880, wlfep the tower was so much
shattered that IT had to be pulled down
There are several theateFs. but none worthy
OF tne place. The opera Swell supported in
Ma Manila, statue OF Charles<Iv stands in
the center OF the Palacio square. and one of
lSabeila III opposite to the Variedades The
observatory admirably managed Bly, the
There is a good English club. OF the b eas1t
the Hotel de Oriente is the principal.
line Inc city CT "a and its suburbs contain popu-
siderable and yearly increasing commerce
me principal articles of export are hemp
sugar tobacco cigars. coffee and indigo
cnlet item. The anchorage is distant some
thfee miles from the shore. The river pre-
senIs g scene of great animation. being
croW9eo win native craft, interspersed with
vessels of foreign build.
CRIMINALS ARE FEW.
The police force of the city is under mill
tary discipline and is composed of natives
A new department of the police has recent
ly been formed, called the municipal guard
There is also a force of watchmen. who
patrol from 10 O'Clock at night until )
o'clock in the morning through the more
populous parts of the city, and are paid
by the merchants and tradesmen A very
low average OF crime Is said to exist, but
the native classes are much addicted to
gambling. an offepse punishable bv law al
though the government reaps large por-
ton of its revenue from the sale of lottery
tickets. A race meeting Is held in the
spring. There are five daily papers-El
Dario de Manila, La Oceania Espanola. la
Vox Espanola. El Espanol and FL Noticero
which are published in the evening The
hot season begins in March and continues
until July. The rains begin in August and
continue until December, during which time
he do aud 81 TT.
The maximum annual rainfall recorded Is
ia inches and the minimum 81 INCHES The