The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-08-19
THE CITY OF MANILA.
Facts About the Capital of the
Philippine Islands.
Its Location, Population and General
Aspect-The Seat of Dominican
Learning and Judicial
Authority.

Manila, the capltal OF tDe lSlanu OF
Luzon and all the Philippine islands.
is city of about 100000 population,
not including the adjacent suburbs,
which have total population of about
$4,000 additional. The name of the city is
pronounced by the Spaniards as
though it were spelled Mak,ee-la, with
the accent on the middle syllable. 1t
is the see of the Roman Catholic arch
bishop and one of the great emporiums
of the east. 1t is located on the bay
of the same name at the mouth of the
River Pasig, latitude IA degrees 36 min
utes north; longitude 121 degrees
east.
The city proper forms the segment
of circle between the river and the
sea, and it's suburbs extend over nu-
merous islets formed by the river and
it's branches. The Pasig is prolonged
into the bay by two piers, terminat-
ing, the one in a small fort, the other
in lighthouse. Vessels of some hun
dred tons may come up as far as the
bridge. On the south side stands the
city, having a dilapidated look, but
strongly fortified. On the north is
situated the Blonde suburb, more pop
ulous than the city itself. 1t is the
residence of the foreign merchants
and the great center Of trade.
The aspect of the whole is at once
Spanish and oriental. Long lines Of
heavily batteries, somber
churches, ungainly towers and mass
i've houses OF solid masonry mingle
with airy cottages in groves of trop-
ical trees, raised on posts to permit
the free passage of the waters in the
rainy season and so constructed Us
by their elasticity to stand the shocks
of an earthquake. The streets are
straight, but for the most part un-
paved, and during the rains almost
impossible. In the city the houses are
two stories high and each has its CEN
trail court yard. Here reside the heads
of the state, the church and army, and
all who would be thought to be of the
aristocracy.
A bridge leads across the river into
the Blonde suburb, where a street,
called the Escolta, runs to the right
and the left, lined with innumerable
shops and stalls and crowded with q
strange and motley population of va
rious races. Beyond the Escolta o
swarm of Chinese, Indians and half
castles appear as goldsmiths and jewel
ers, painters and enamelers, oil and
soap merchants, confectioners and
keepers of gambling houses and cook
shops.
Other suburbs have each their special
character. San Fernando is the seat
of great cigar manufactures, and
santo Mesa of cordage mandatory.
At the Alcaiceria the Chinese sampans
discharge their cargoes. Fishermen
and weavers inhabit the division of
Tondo and it's gardens supply the mar
kets with fruit and vegetables. Ma
late Is famous for Its embroiderieS.
Paco is inhabited by artisans and art
lists. Convalescents resort for health
to Santa Anna and San Pedro Macati.
The principal public buildings are
the cathedral, the palaces Of the gov
ernor and the archbishop, beautiful
town house, ten churches belonging to
different religious orders, several
monasteries and converts, the arsenal,
three colleges for young men and two
for young women. the supreme court.
prison, civil hospital, university, ma
rine and commercial school, large
theater, the custom-house and bar
racks. The city has several squares,
in the largest of which, the Prado,
there is a bronze statue of Charles Nv.
The Royal and Pontifical university of
St. Thomas is in the hands of the De-
minicans, and has an attendance OF
about 500 students. The College of ST.
Joseph belongs to the Jesuits; that of
St. John Latern gives plain educa-
tion to Indians and half-breeds. The
Escuela Pia belongs to the city and is
for Spanish children alone. A royal
marine school was established in 1920
and commercial school In 1910. The
colleges of St. Potentiana and St. Isa-
bella are for girls, the latter for or
phans. Manila Is the seat of govern
ment and of the supreme courts. The
municipality dates from 1871.
Manila, which formerly occupied a
rank of comparative obscurity, Is now
regarded as commercially equal to
Calcutta and Batavia. This change
has been wrought by legislative and
political changes during the nine
teepth century. Being the chief port
of the Philippines, all their productions
flow to and through it, and it Is the re-
sort of o great number of colonial
vessels of all sizes. 1t exports sugar.
tobacco, indigo, manila, hemp and
cordage. gold dust, birds nests, coffee,
sapan wood, mats, hats. hides, tre-
pang, tortoise shell, cigars. cotton and
rice. The manufactures of Manila
consist chiefly of cigars and che
roots. q government monopoly which
gives employment to several thousand
men and women; eordage from the
flaments of the abaca and the beau
tiful fabrics called pinas, woven from
the tibers of the pineapple Leaf and
afterward beautifully embroidered.
Manila was founded by Legaspi In
1871. In lG45 1t was nearly destroyed
by an earthquake. In 1762 it was
taken by British feet and held for
* ,,o,,tbe Cb;co0o TimaS- -Harald