The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-09

tell about the coffee plants. About "a
years ago several Spaniards began the
cultivation OF coffee in the little valley
away at the north OF Luzon. They
were the first coffee plants ever known
on the island. A little wild animal re-
sembling the civet Of Africa Ga cross
between a weasel and a fox) began eat
ing and scattering the growing coffee
| berries. In a few years the plants
growing from the scattered coffee ber-
ries were over all that part of Luzon.
For years past there have been Wild
coffee bushes all over the island. and
all came from the clvets' scattering of
the coffee seeds. Thousands of pounds
are gathered by the natives from these
wild bushes.
Nowhere else does rice grow so pro-
ILLEGALLY as in the Philippines. The
Chinese control the rice industry of the
island. hut the Negritos do the work.
There are n dozen Chinese m~illionaires
in Manila. and they have made their
wealth chiefly In the rice and
trade. n American management
the profits OF ~rice-growing could be
easily enlarged. l think | am conserva-
tive in saying that by the crude. lazy
ways of harvesting 80 per cent. OF the
yield Is wasted. 1t would make a thrift
~ Yankee farmer groan to see the
reckless waste OF the natives.
Tobacco grows on all the princi-
pal islands. Vanilla, pepper and cassia,
which are cultivated elsewhere in the
world. grow wild and in great clumps
on the Philippine islands. Wheat and
corn may De grown at the extreme
north OF the archipelago. Oranges.
lemons n guavas flourish IN the for
ests and "A hills; not the least hor-
ticultural science has been exerted to-
ward making the superior varities OF
these fruits. i have seen in the dense,
tropical forests OF Mindanao thousands
OF the trees OF costly woods. as log
wood, ebony. mahogany and ironwood.
Great fortunes await the men who
shall get a concession to go and oper-
ate there. Sailors who have ventured
far into these forests tell me that the
ebony and mahogany trees there are
the finest they have w seen. Pine
apples inc bananas abound in damp
spots, and are a source OF revenue ON
some islands. but the Central Ameri-
can products have kept these fruits
out of the American markets.
The sea coast is rich in many forms
of FISH. The natives. like the Hawaii
ans, know how TO catch them, toe All
the natives I'm the Philippines that I
ever knew about Except the rich and
aristocratic people in Manila) are fish
ers. They catch a species OF mule.
there that Is delicious. When these fish
come up the coast from the China sea
In schools the natives will abandon any
occupation and even leave a sick ham
mock 20 go out and angle off the coast.
The greatest manufacturing industry
In the Philippines is cigar making at BIZ
nando. The Industry has been monopo-
lized by the Spanish. and sever penal
ties are imposed upon any one who en-
croaches upon the monopoly. IL yields
great to the government. Two
brothers OF General weyler were in the
tobacco business al Binando for a few
years, n they went back to Madrid
live like princes. Tobacco grows ev-
erywhere on the islands. on Samar
of the finest wrapper-leaf tobacco
In the world is grown. One field there
covers nearly 1000 acres. At Binando
nearly $4,000 men, women and boys are
employed i'm the cigar and tobacco
shops. Under one roof and on one floor
are 1000 workers. Their pay averages
about Is cents a day. They leave the
shops at shutdown in droves. A good
share OF them go for a swim in Manila
bay before going home TO eat. All the
in the Philippines love the water.
times / have glanced along the
front at Binando at early even
and have seen hundreds, yes, thou
sands. OF the tobacco factory employees,
men and women, old and young, mar
ried and single. laughing, shouting.
plunging and rolling In the surf with no
more clothing h when they were
born.
II have never seen a Manila man
smoking i'm church. It's about the only
place where he does not smoke. He
smokes In the street cars. he smokes at
he public dining table. he smokes ev-
erywhere. The presence of women is
not considered at all. When coffee ~
on the table the Spaniard or
Filipino lights his cigar or cigarette and
begins TO send up clouds OF smoke. He
never even thinks of saying to the la
dies. by your leave for the custom
~ the country Is TO smoke everywhere.
n he is not smoking his neighbor will
Dffer him n cigarette. The driver Of
your coach will smoke. and very likely
1ffer you a cheroot. At the opera the
men will walk and smoke between the
in the spaces behind the boxes or
o will see finely dressed.
well-bred men with ladies i'm
full evening dress entering the theater
and smoking as they go. In the pri-
vacy OF their home men and women
smoke from the same q Of cigars, or
cigarettes. You never see a pipe in
IL is the country of the cigar
anu the cigarette. one Of the a sights
10 a stranger Is that afforded by a bal
rony in front Of an aristocratic resi-
ience. filled with fashionably Gowned
Spanish women, the mother and her
and nieces all smoking ciga-
rettes or small cigars.
Some OF the Spanish managers of big
,igar factories have plantations of their
,wn aud options on the product of other
famed for the quality of
heir leaf. One can not get "A very pleas
int impression from "A visit To a cigar
In the large factories the
plumbing and sanitary arrangements
ire unusually bad. and the buildings
ire filled with bad odors, which. ming
ing with that of the tobacco. have any
hing but a pleasant effect. Two or
hundred men will be at work in
4 poorly ventilated room that does not
,fford proper breathing space for more
100. Neatness and cleanliness are
not conspicuous characteristics either
II the men at work rolling the cigars or
" the hundreds ~ girls and children
. nnfp ~ the nhnAan n M Wanfg e,