The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-17
MERRITT'S GREAT TASK
WILL HAVE TO GOVERN 10000
SQUARE MILES OF TERRITORY,
attaining 100000 People, Who
Statistics of the Philippines.

New York Letter in St Louis Post Dispatch.
Now that General Merritt is embarked on
his way to the Philippines as military gov
ernor of the islands everyone is inquiring
about the nature of the great task before
him.
First-The 1.400 islands of the group are to
be conquered. the Spanish forces defeated
and the insurgents pacifed. tropical en-
pire, covering the ATTITUDES of Cuba ami
Venezuela, in extent seven hundred miles
north and south by 1,5OO miles east and west,
filed with scores of races and tribes, en-
hracing every shade of cross-bred humanity
between Spanish, Indian and Chinese. this
territory presents problem of good govern
meht that only a typical American can
pen-.
Some of the islands are yet to be explored
and surveyed. Every grade of barbarism
and civilization, from that of the Malay pi-
rates to the steady-going English business
men, characterizes the inhabitants of those
far-off dreamy isles.
Population, 100000 area, $4,000 square
miles; mountains, two main ranges, extend
ing lengthwise of the islands, highest peaks
from 1900 to 10000 feet; FIVE peaks above
5000 feet Character of the country, chiefly
hiily and mountainous, with plateaus and
broad valleys between. Dense vegetation
carpets the Philippine world from sea to
mountain tops; cuttings" and bare rocks
seldom appear. Geological aspect-Sea
shells in hills and mountains, indicating
volcanic upheavals from the sea. Much of
the elevated country was belched heaven
ward at a comparatively recent date. Gil
mate-There are three seasons: Cold from
november TO March, hot from March to
June wet from July to October. Atmos-
pher1c diSturbanceS-Ferrific thunderStormS
IN May and June; cascades of water fall in
Hoods from the clouds, often devastating
mountain verdure, sweeping down trees and
rocks in earth-shaking avalanches. Mineral
deposits-Rich coal fields, to twenty
foot-thick veins extending great distances
under bays and plateauS. Diamond drills
and American enterprise would soon find
millions Of tons of fuel. Iron ore is in
abundance, of exceptional purity, equal to
the Swedish ore; no works or smelling fur
naces to speak of in the country; extensive
copper mines.
FREAKS OF NATURE
Gold deposits are diffused through all the
islands, though in what the Spaniards call
small quantities" Experts declare that
American skill and industry would develop
millions in precious metals Freaks of ma
ture-alI that is strange and beautiful.
unique and hideous-appear in the Philip
pines At the numerous hot springs flow
ing over slabs of marblelike formations one
may fry eggs, roast chickens or tropical
hummiEg birds on the hot porcelain-like
rocks. chemically enameled a dazzling
snowy white by the waters. Animals-every-
thing that moves, walks, flies and swims in
habits the islands, white monkeys. thirty
kiEds OF bats, wild boars with tusks
loot long, deer, wild horses, buffalo, noun
tain goats, 2S7 species of birds Shellfish
OF varlefie5 as numerous as the stars in
heaven, and Liz snakes and lizards believed
Dy sCperst.t.CUs natives to keep off earth
qudkeS II RESPECTFULLY treated. Add to this
mustltude OF animals wondrous fora 4479
olHerent species of flowers. Products GIN
cluding Amos every KIM of fruit ana
graln)-coffee, sugar. tea, rice, tropical
fruits, with potatoes, European vegetables
hundred kinds of bamboo. and last The
famous Manila hemp, so useful at Amer
w1can haDgings. Manufactures-fabri of
many kinds, including silks and cotton. fine
nats, mats, baskets, ropes and Irvine ex-
Qulslte bamboo furniture, rather clumsy
pottery, carriages, and lastly musical in
struments, on which the natives play with
much skill.
Every Indian must pay tribute to Spain
on xi7; the Chinese pay special fax.
opahlarus and European half-breeds must
pay poll tax of $3.50. Schools-Every
standard is low. The church controls the
EDUCATION of the islanders, the priests uslI-
papers are under strict civil and church
control; discussion of European and Snan-
lsn politics is forbidden by law. Gen Mer-
TIT VIII soon change all that. The chief
newspaper, I'll Diario de Manila, has been
puDhshed at the capital since 1S4S Lam
guages-it is declared that thirty distinct
languages, not dialects, are spoken in the
ISLANDS. There were thirty thousand Chi
nese there in 1880, more or less adding to the
variety OF tongues heard in that land of
numming birds and earthquakes Revenues
Everything and everybody, except a few
OFFICIALS and the clergy, contribute to the
Spanish treasury. The public revenues have
nuetuated between $15,000,0O0 and $4,000 900 a
year Commensurate Philippine trade.
with America particularly would have
grown immensely but for the Spanish re-
strlctions. In ten years, however, Ameri-
can tonnage doubled. In 1895 all the imports
were $29 444 900. All exports were $50 900 900
The following figures show the commercial
business between the United States and the
Philippines alone from 1888 TO 1857: