Evening journal., 1898-08-29
RESOURCES OF PHILIPPINES.
There Is Vast wealth I'm the IA-
lands Awaiting Gull
tivation.

The most important agricultural |
product is what is known to commerce
as Manila hemp. Thousands of tons of |
this fiber is raised annually on the |
Pacific slopes of the southern islands,
where it also grows wild. That this
Is the leading product Of the Philip !
mines is due TO the fact that its cul-
tivation REQUIRES the least effort. With
only careless attention it is possible to
raise many tons to tho acre. The
fiber is obtained from a species of
ulantain called abaca, n tree which
grows TO the height Of from IS to 20
feet and is from TO - inches in
diameter. The trunk may be as cas-
lly separated as a stalk of celery. An
ordinary knife only is required TO
cut down the tree, and a rude instru-
ment is used to press out the juice
and shred the fiber. After a little
drying in the sun, and packing II into
bales Of 240 pounds each, it is ready
for shipment. The United States and
England take almost the entire crop.
Hemp Of this. kind is grown nowhere
else in the W Drld. IL is said that a
fortune awaits one who can invent n
machine which win accelerate the
process of pres sing out the juice and
pulp leaving only the fiber. A rude
knife and lever for holding it strong
ly in position are the instruments now
In use.
Next in the order of importance as
product of Tive soil is sugar. The
poorest sugar in the world is produced
| in the Philippines, and yet the islands
are capable Of producing the best.
The reason for the poor quality lies
in the method of manufacturing, and
not in any disadvantage Of soil, climate
or character OF the cane, which is
superior in saccha~ine. The methods
of sugar manufacture which prevailed
In the fifteenth century are still in
vogue in the Philippines.
The third product of the Philippines
in the order of Importance is tobacco.
While the United States furnishes a
market for the hemp and sugar of
Manila, scarcely any of its tobacco
or cigars is brought to this country,
except now and then upon sailing YES
sells engaged in eastern trade. But
the crop is an important one, and to-
bacco and cigars have long held the
same reputation in the east that the
; HAVANA product holds in the west
Lately the industry has shown a ten
dency to expand, owing to the fact
that the Spanish government, realiz-
I ing, in one einstance at least, the effects
of an evil policy, has abandoned its
monopoly of the trade
There are few other products of ag-
) riculture to be mentioned. Fruit is
, not cultivated, but grows wild in
- abundance and variety characteristic
p of tropical country. Bananas of de-
= licious flavor, oranges Of poor quality,
e mangos, guavas, and many other ma
e tive fruits grow wild. There are no
n olives or figs, and there is no vine
!, culture. Dairy farming has not yet
f been established in the islands, al
though there is said to be great OPP
- portunity in that direction. Butter Is
] imported from London in bottles, and,
- naturally, is held at n very high price.
Throughout all the islands Of the
: archipel ago agriculture is yet in an
l undeveloped state. Vast opportunities
> NAV be found for exploiting modern
methods of farming. There is not a
farm in any of the islands which will
compare favorably with even the
! worst on the American continent.
Flowing is done with a sharpened
stick, and nothing is known of agri-
& cultural labor-saving implements such
y as are used in the United States and
= other civilized countries. Only the
/ most primitive methods are en-
70 ployed.
g The mineral resources of the islands
?. have never been developed, although
they are known to be considerable
at There is coal IN abundance in Cebu ant
le Negros. Gold is found in the alluvia
/ deposits along the streams, and at thu
III mouths of rivers, particularly in LUXOR
as and Mindanao. Copper exists in thu
he central districts of Luzon, and lead il
Id plentiful in Cebu. Immense deposit'
of sulphur are found in the craters o
extinct volcanoes, and in some of th
islands there is found good quality o
iron ore.-Hon. Frank A. Vanderlip, II
Century.
W., In