New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-29
MANILA AND SURROUNDINGS.
OLD WALLED CITY POORLY PROTECTED
DESCRIPTION OF CITY AND
ITS SUBJ RIBS.

Hanila June 27-ManNa consists Of an ancient
walled citadel a large struggling business town
sod wide fringe Of suburban townships where
The business men have their private residences.
The citade! contains now only oficiaidom in all
its glory: the government officers. the Governor
Generals Palace the Treasury the army ana
nav headquarters, and-more potent than all
others-,he head establishments Of the rival
religious orders the Cathedral, and the Arch-
bishops Palace. which Is more imposing ana
more magnificent than any other building IN
Manila
The citadel was built in the early days OF
snanish colonization. when there were frequent
alarms and assaults from all sides from the
soa by the British and Dutch and sometimes
bv the pirate fleets Of Mahometan Malays
from the southern islands. while the natives OF
Luzon have never been quiet for long at time.
The Old walls. armed with guns as old. would
do very well - keep out an enemy in those
davs hi, Of all the scores OF guns on the walls
,he,o IS not one which could have been called
modern in Nelson's day. As ornaments, relics
Of antiquity or picturesque features Of the old
city they are very appropriate. but as serious
hope Of salvation against a powerful! mooerh
feet they are pitiable and ridiculous
There are some better batteries along the sea
front under the walls. all apparently modern
breechloaders But It is palpabe that even
with good guns. there IS absolutely no hope Oh
saving the citadel If Admiral Dewey chooses 10
lombard He has a squadron full OF guns that
are good UP to six thousand yards and at that
range walled city Is good enough marx 20
insure every shot telling.
ONLY FEW LARGE GUNS.
IN the other hand the Spaniards have not
more than half a dozen guns that can DO any
thing at six thousand yards and they would not
have a whole city 20 aim at; only six small gray
specks. very easy to miss and not easy 10 hurt
even when hit.
The walled city is in the angle OF land at the
south Of the rivers mouth. Along the sea front.
facing westward. is narrow strip OF low land
on which reclamation works were started some
wears ago and left The idea TO make
breakwaters and a fine artificial harbor Two
breakwaters were begun and extended a little
way out stacks Of concrete blocks. iron rails.
derricks and other things were accumulated
several fortunes were made by officials con-
cerned but now the work is at sandstill
At one corner Of the city. up the river a little,
is the Santiago Fort Of solid masonry with good
guns well able to repel any enemy trying to
enter the river. but in the absence Of any such
attack the fort seems 10 be rather wasted.
At the other end of the city the southwest
whole bay and the landward approaches as well,
and this is supplemented by the Lureta Battery.
little way along the shore from the city wall,
with two powerful guns. apparently or 10
inch which fired on the American ships ineffec
lively until Admiral Dewey sent word that II
they fired on him again he would have no option
but 10 proceed with a bombardment The threat
suffced 10 silence the Spanards.
A FLOURIsHING BUSINESS TOWN.
Across the river. north of the walled city. is
the large and nourishing business town. The
central part is called Binondo. which name is
often Eoplied to the whole, though the city has
grown so big as to include nearly dozen other
wards. Driving in any direction, it Is about
three miles before one gets away from buit-up
streets and reaches the open country.
Even then the rural townships found full
of the residences OF Manila business people. and
so It is difficult to say exactly what should be
considered part Of the city and what should not.
The city is as badly built as can be The
houses are much too close together and the
streets too narrow. For the metropolis Of a big
country. for a city Of quarter Of million in
habitants. rich and prosperous mart. a centre
Of education and luxury, as the buildingC in the
walled city indicate. 1t is a dsreputable i'll
arranged and unsightly town. The principal
business street is narrow, wretchedy paved.
crooked, and filled with the most commonplace.
mean looking structures.
So are the other streets but further from the
centre there are trees to hide the ugness. In
excuse. the Manila people plead earthquakes,
typhoons. thunderstorms and foods as their rea
sons for not having passably presentable town.
but Manila Is not the only place visited by
earthquakes and all the rest. Toxic is infinitely
better paved.
BRIDGES PRIMITIVE AND FRA1L.
The Pasig Is river sixty or seventy yards
wide and perhaps twelve feet deep yet the
bridging Of it has never got beyond primitive
stages There is one narrow bridge. connecting
Binondo with the city. but the bridge is far TOO
narrow for the traffic, and would never be con-
sidered sufficient in a civilized country. There
IS another bridge near H. but IT is seldom. II
ever. used by vehicles.
And the Manila bridges. both those Of the
Pasig and others over smaller streams
frai! that nobody is allowed to drive over them
at anything faster than a walk.
There are tramways running into outlying
parts OF the town. and steam tramway to the
northern suburb of Maabon. There is also
railway from Manila to Dagupan. about
hundred and twenty miles north. run by an Eng
lish company.
In the rural township Of Santa Mesa about
three or four miles out. is a big powder maya
zine. close b. the north bank of the Pasig. On
the opposite side OF the river is the village or
Santa Ana a mile or two away. 1t was about
here that the first shots fred in the insur-
rection OF 1886. and several English people hav-
ing villas in these parts were driven from their
homes
Another powder mill is at Malate. on the sea-
shore lust south Of the walled city. These two
are the only powder magazines the. Spaniards
have in the immediate neighbOrhood OF the city,
excluding OF course the forts own stores.
THE DRIVEWAY TO MALATE.