The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-13
A Letter Descriptive Of These
Fertile Islands.
THE SOIL SURPRISINGLY RICH.
RepuIts Accomplished BY Crude
Hopning Methods Give an Inter-
estfng Idea of the Future POSI-
bilities-LuRoa Not the Richest
Jsland-Why the F'fIipinos Main
tain Their Army-Fear of spain.



To the Editor: / used 20 think. and am
sell OF the same opinion for that matter.
that we hae very good country in Wash
Sngton, but having made a little excursion
into this Island OF LIzon, i believe that IN
the matter OF amount Of land ready for
cultivation and richness OF the soil this
island surpasses the state Of Washington
North os Manila for 10 miles extends
valley about rich "a one would wish 10
So. II IS from fifty TO geventy-ave miles
Wide. very level and the so. Is from over
Rows Of the numerous rivers which flow
through II.
Branching from this valley is another
Of similar character tina. extends 10 the ex-
trerne northern coast Of the island, abou,
30 miles. And then To the south and In
the southeastern part Of the Stand are sim
Lar valleys. The soil Is rich ard capable
OF producing anything that can be pro-
duced In these ATTITUDES. Rice. tobacco.
coffee and cotton are what might be called
the staples. though the cocoanut might DO
Included. Excellent bananas are grown
here and the oranges though uncult.gaied,
have q good flavor.
There Ri no question that as fine favored
oranges can be raised here as In Florida or
California. sav some excellent lemons
OF size larger than medium. There Is
considerable yellow corn grown here. bu,
IS have never tasted any of IL / cannot
ought TO have been named as a stap pie.
There are immense fields OF sugar cane,
and some English firms have quite ex-
tenaive sugar plants with modern machln-
cry.
Forests of Hard Woods.
There are seemingly inexhaustible for
oets OF hard woods. hard that / have
tried In vain 70 drive into some OF them A
wirs nail The woods take fine polish and
r Hkx ma FnYx 10 apfr-
Eng In soft woods and In firewood An Of
hcer told RE today thar - cents a stick
was pad by the commieary department
for firewood. Now that I have written this
down II has occurred TO me that did not
ask as TO the size Of the stick. and con-
sequentIy cannot say how much a cord
this would be; but I got the impression
from his manner Of telling Il. that firewood
was probably kept in safe with the fam
fly jewels
but better and more extensive mines on
other islands Of the group. In the northern
part OF this island are. am Informed by
an Englishman who has lived here twelve
years and is In a better position to know
about Il than almost any other man here.
Immensely rica gold fields. A tribe Of ma
tives Of decidedly larger stature than 9TH
ers on the island occupy this territory and
are inclined 20 be savage Ny informant
says gold can be f0ind-good colors--n the
creeks in the central part OF the island, and
natives nave washed cut as much as So in
gold day. with part of a cocoanui shell
for miners pan.
Bamboo fiouris1es everywhere here and II
Il really wonderful TO see the uses 10 which
II IL put.
Primitive methods prevail in farming. as
with most other Industries. and, seeing
what has been accomplished by crude
methods. one is able 20 form some Idea OF
what could be accomplished here BY modern
methods. Statistics for the past are Of no
use In estimating the possibilities OF the
future
Manila has at this time large trade with
the other islands and with Hongkong. and
when conditions are more settled this viii
be greatly Increased.
l have g.vesl nay estimate Of I.uzon ISL
and. / am told thu; it IL by no means the
richest OF these islands The hemp IA
grown on another island. and the best coal
mines. as have said. are not on Luzon
Urges Retention of Islands.
Ought the United States 10 retain pos
eession here2 I should answer Yes IN
fact. /. appears 20 me that this IS A case
where we have had greatness tArus. upon
es. whether or no. The reasons that moved
Us 10 act in the case OF Cuba apply with
equal force here and stand as an lnsur-
mountable moral obstacle ~ our again sur
rendering possession - Spain I, would be
IN act or treaeherY unparalleled in the his
tory o. civilized nation. after the manner
IN which the insurgents have been encour-
aged by us
Much has bean sad about the hostile
altitude ~ Agsina'do in maintaining his
organization ard keeping up his army.
have met the gentleman and while ! was
mot favorabiy impressed | must 10 him.
or HIS advisors she justice - say that II TN.
sru,s. when the papers and many az cur
own officers state that the United States
vii! turn tire islands back - Spain tt
would he conclusive evidence that ;hty
were not qualified - govern themselves
Under the present conditions they mus,
of necessity najnt un and strengthen Their
army
What action VIII he taken hv them tn
case W. hola oa here can only ~ guessed
at but Il is my opnion that IN ihat event
thsse viii b. bur llt;le opposition. villa
the United States in possession aorc the
metropolis II eastern Asia w0uia soon bs
transferred ~ Manila For the Pacific
coaei state 4 would mean a commerce
rsvssnw that of tine Atlaniic states.
All ar None nj Al.
II has been stlKseS 90 ,hat we may keep
Luzou AMI ies Spain hold the rest This
think. wola te a serious mistake and he
the caNss for much future troglble. NOT
with Spain alone. hut with other powers
The tNApluus OF the other islands are
hcgri "a kecp up the agitation for yelirf
from spanish rule uUtil they are free Ne
would have a. Cur doors here the same
tnss'ttfd ceu ilt.aus that have prrva ~ for
a. long tsTuc in C8ha 11le fg3tp'uas on
i.uzUp .S.anj wou1t cquip H.lhustertre sx-
petition snd tt wcea ~ simply a rcpet.-
siaEs or late FU'san his oTy. Oar commerce