The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05
WE NEED THE PHILIPPINES.
Our Trade with Them Greater than
All Other Countries Combined.

All Other Countries Combined.
WASHINGTON, May 4-The understand
ing at the State Department is that Consul
Oscar F. Williams. our representative at
Manila until the recent war began, is now
aboard the flagship Olympia in Manila har-
Dor, having accompanied Commodore
Dewey from Hong-Kong, so that advices
may come from him to the State Depart
ment as well as from the commodore to the
Navy Department. A mail report from Con-
sui Williams reached the State Department
recently under date of Manila Feb. % last
1t gives full description of the Philippine
islands, their resources, growth of American
trade, etc, and will be Incorporated in the
next volume issued by the Bureau of Sta
tistics of the State Department. Mr.. Will
liams's report says:
Local and European authorities estimate
the area of the Philippine islands at l5O 900
square miles, and their population at H.
100000 The island of Luzon on which the
city of Manila is situated, is larger than
New York and Massachusetts, and has
population of 100000 and the island of
Mindanao is nearly, if not quite as large
There are scores of other islands An idea
of the extent of the population of the
Philippines may be formed when it is stated
that the six New England States and New
York, New Jersey Maryland and Delaware
have 10 per cent. less area and popula-
tion''
Mr.. Williams states that twenty-five con-
sulates, representing the leading CONNER
cial countries of the world, are established
at Manila. He adds the surprising state
ment: The volume of the export trade
coming under my official supervision equals
that of my twenty-one consular colleagues
combined" He then shows in detail how
the trade of the Philippines with the United
otdteS exceeds that of all other countries
combined, and is growing at a remarkable
rate. AS indicating the extent of this trade
ne says: To-day have authenticated in
voices for export to the United States
amounting to $l98,O66." He says the
exports St to this lis country average slOOo,OOo
216,0OO bales of hemp were exported
during the last three months. During these
lSS .s2 went to the United States ard $4,000
to Great Britain and other countries Mr.
Williams shows from this that the United
states has ga Per cent. of the export trade
from the Philippines as against So per cent
Tor Great Britain and other countries. He
says that last year the increase of ship
ments to the United States was $4,000 bales
ana an the decrease to Great Britain $4,000
from the Philippines, those to the United
states were "a per cent. greater than to all
other countries combined" He also gives
IL
cigars, tobacco woods, hides, Shells in
digo ard coffee. In the item of sugar. which
is second in Importance the shipments to
the United States were SO per cent. of the
total to all points
In a previous report dated Feb 10. Mr.
Williams stated that Manila had just passed
through most devastating fire. the total
loss being 2,500.O00 He said the city would
have been totally destroyed had it not been
for the splendid service of an American fire
engine brought from Seneca Falls, N Y
In another report Mr.. Williams gives the
railroad and ocean steamship facilities OF
the Philippines. The main railroad from
Manila is first class, having steel rails.
stone culverts, and English engines which
make forty-fiVe miles an hour There are
four steamship lines to Hong Kong and a
monthly line from Manila to Liverpool.
Besides these direct reports from the
United States consul, the State Department
also has a gazetteer published at Hong
tions in the Philippines. 1t shows that by
the last census the population of Manila
was 10000 natives, 81 900 Chinese, 400 Span
lards and $50 Europeans other than Span
iardS. The town is made up of low build
1ngs. as the people are in constant dread
of earthquakes. One of these commissions
killed 300 people, and the last one, in $780,
wrecked most of the town. The city proper
is within walls where the government build
ness portions are in the suburbs The
Escotta is the main business street and is
lined with European stores and baZaars
The RoZario is lined with Chinese shops
There are six daily papers, three banks, a
mint, n chamber of commerce and complete
electric light and telephone plants The
Mexican dollar is in general use.