The Mena star., 1898-08-17
s5sonRcEs OF PHILIPPINES.
[. Vast Weslth i'm the Is- lands Awaiting Gull
 @fvatfOm.

me most iAn PoA 4SuAeuHaA
 aS,,ct is what is known to commerce Tanila hemp. Thousands of tons of ss aher is raised annually on the , nasisc slopes of the southern islands. Is sars it also grows wild. That this V ND The leading product of the Philip ,uas is due to the fact that its cul- pI".ion requires the least effort. With ',r careless attention it Is possible to O Oa,se many tons to the acre. The ss ssnr ;s obtained from species oA ulantain called abaca, tree which Pys to the height of from 1b to 20 se4 and is from 8 to 12 inches in ,,areter. The trunk may be as cas- .~ senarated as stalk of celery. An a,rdinary knife only is required to Snt down the tree, and a rude instru- esar+ is used to press out the juice D -a shred the fiber. After a little s-r,n0 in the sun, and packing 1t into SaIes of 240 pounds each, it is ready sor shipment. The United States and Enoland take almost the entire crop. uamp of this kind Is grown nowhere aIsa in the world. It is said that a sortune awaits one who can invent a rochine which will accelerate the nrocess of pressing out the juice and pulp. leaving only the fiber. A rude inife and a lever for holding 1t strong ,v in position are the instruments now in use.
 Next in the order of importance as nroduct of the soil is sugar. The noorest sugar in the world is produced in the Philippines, and yet the islands are capable of producing the best. The reason for the poor quality lies in the method of manufacturing, and not in any disadvantage of soil, climate ar character of the cane, which is superior in saccharine. The methods of sugar manufacture which prevailed in the fifteenth century are still in vogue in the Philippines.
 The third product of the Philippines in the order of importance is tobacco. While the United States furnishes market for the hemp and sugar of Manila, scarcely any of it's tobacco or cigars is brought to this country, except now and then upon sailing yes sels engaged in eastern trade. But the crop is an important one, and to- bacco and cigars have long held the same reputation in the east that the Havana product holds in the west. Lately the industry has shown ten dency to expand, owing to the fact that the Spanish government, realiz- ing, in one instance at least, the effects of an evil policy, has abandoned its monopoly of the trade.
 There are few other products of az rieulture to be mentioned. Fruit Is not cultivated. but grows wild in abundance and variety characteristic of a tropical country. Bananas of de- lcious flavor, oranges of poor quality, mangos, guayas, and many other na- tive fruits grow wild. There are no olives or figs, and there is no vine culture. Dairy farming has not yet been established in the islands, al- though there is said to be great op- nnortnnity in that direction. Butter Is imported from London in bottles, and, naturally, Is held at very high price. Throughout all the islands of the archipelago agriculture is yet in an undeveloped state. Vast opportunities may be found for exploiting modern methods of farming. There is not farm in any of the islands which will compare fayorably with even the worst on the American continent. Flowing is done with sharpened stick, and nothing Is known of agri- cultural labor-saving implements such as are used in the United States and other civilized countries. Only the most primitive methods are em- ployed.
 The mineral resources of the islands nave never been developed, although they are known to be considerable. There is coal in abundance in Cebu and segros. Gold is found in the alluyial deposits along the streams, and at the mouths of rivers, particularly in Luzon ana hindanao. Copper exists in the central districts of Luzon, and lead Is plentiful in Cebu. Immense deposits oi sulphur are found in the craters of extinet volcanoes, and in some of the ,Siands there is found good quality of iron ore.-Hon. Frank A. Vanderlip, in Century.
 When You Meet in Japan.
 4l 4