Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-11-19
Philippine ODDS AND ENDS.
Interesting Odds and Ends of the
Philippines and Manila as
Collected by Our Cor
respondent.

The discovery of the Philippine is
iands antedates 1850, and the foundation
of Manila 1910.
The islands extend over is degrees of
latitude; from degrees 81 minutes to
q degrees, North; and number about
500 counting the islets. Luzon and
Minda are the largest of the group.
The Northern part of Luzon is Noun
ttainous and several peaks are more
than 5000 feet higher than the sea
level.
The most of the mountains are thickly
covered with forest and underground
and many of the stately trees are gaily
festooned with clustering creerers Of
brilliant hues.
The volcanoes are bare because none
have been extinct long enough to grow
living plants. Between the ranges of
mountains are luxuriant valleys glow
ing in all the splendor of tropical vege-
tation. These valleys are of rich fer
tility and many of them are in cultiva-
.tion.
There are numerous rivers but few
are navigable by sea going ships. The
Pasig ct whose mouth is situated the
city Of Manila, furnishes 10 feet of water
and this is partly due to artificial
means.
The fiat country is pretty generally
laid out in embarked rice fields and
sugar cane plantations.
The climate is continual summer.
theaverage temperature being about 81
degrees. The hottest season is said TO
be from March to May. In the dry sea-
son there are distressing drouths; in the
wet season destructive overflows from
mountain torrents and rivers.
The lower natives are indolent in the
extreme. They never grow tired OF
sitting still and gazing at nothing. They
demand advance pay aud are never
satisfied at the price paid for any work
they may do. You cannot afford tc
grow familiar with them. They stand
fogging like a plantation mule They
may feign friendship but are without
loyalty.
In agricultural pursuits, sugar, rice
coffee, hemp and tobacco are the cheaI
money crops. Rice is the staple fooC
and its growth is the only branch o.
agriculture in which the lower classes
take visible pleasure and which they
really understand. The implement
used in cultivation are the crudesi
kind; the natives know nothing of the
improved machinery used in this day
and time.
The islands are very rich in hard
woods. The varieties in demand are
many and the applicability so numerous
as to make the shipments to other
countries quite large. Some of them
are susceptible of the finest finish and
polish.
Coal, gold, iron, copper and sulphur
are found by the prospector:
who struggle into the interior
Owing to the tropical climate and the
few main factory establishments but
little coal is used. No very rich gold
mines have been found.
Manila, the capital of the Philippines
IS situated at the mouth of the Pasio
river. 1t is surrounded by water. It t.
fortified city, being encircled by bas.
toned and battlement walls, built in
the 18th century. The walls are abou,
It miles long and bear mounted cannon.
Meats extend all the way around the
city and these are filed with mud. muck
and water. They have not been cleaned
out for ages and while protection in
one sense are menance in another.
Tons OF miasma are buried in them.
Ihe walls are very thick, perhaps
70 feet in thickness, They are moss
covered, vine covered and strong for
protection. The entrances through
these walls are eight in number and
oVer drawbrldges. With the walls
manned by American soldiers and the
bridges raised, the city would be safe
against invasion and capture.
Manila is dull capital. The streets
are narrow and have heavy sombre
appearance. 1t is without first-class
motel or restaurant Accommodations and
has no cheerful places of recreation. The
Manila bay has circumference of I2O
miles but is so shallow that large boats
have to communicate with the shore by
steam launches.
owing to the narrowness of the streets
they present crowded condition and
great activity during the day. The re.
tail traffic is largely in the hands of the
Chinese whose shops are grouped so
close together as to form bazars. One
Chlnaman.may own several bazars. The
English do the largest import and ex-
port business. Street cars are drawn
by ponies and these little fellows are
taG..