Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-05-05
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
Their Resources, Growth of American
Trade, Etc.


Trade, Etc.
WASHINGTON, May 5.-The under
standing at the state department is
that Consul Oscar F. Williams, our
representative at Manila until the re-
cent war began, is now aboard the
flagship Olympia in Manila harbor,
having accompanied Dewey from Hong
Kong, so that advices may come from
him to the state department as well as
from Commodore Dewey to the navy
department.
A mail report from Consul Williams
reached the state department recently
under date of Manila, Feb. 2S. last. 1t
gives full description of the Philip
pine islands, their resources, growth
of American trade, etc. Mr.. Williams
report says:
Local and European authorities es-
innate the area of the Philippine ISL
ands at 100000 square miles and their
population at $1,000, 900. The island of
Luzon, on which the city of Manila is
situated, is larger than New York and
Massachusetts and has a population
of 5000, 900, and the island of Mindanao
is nearly if not quite as large. There
are scores of other islands. An idea
of the extent of the population of the
Philippines may be formed when it is
stated that the six New England
states and New York, New Jersey, Del
aware and Maryland have 10 per cent
less area and population
Mr.. wilson states that % consulates,
representing the leading commercial
countries of the world, are established
at Manila. He adds the surprising
statement:
The volume of the export trade,
coming under my official supervision,
equals that of my q consular col
leagues combined" He then shows in
detail how the trade of the Philippines
with the United States exceeds that of
all other countries combined and is
growing at a remarkable rate. AS in
dicatng the extent of this trade he
says:
To-day l have authenticated invoices
for export to the United States
amounting to s13S, O6G."
He says the exports to this country
average 81 100000 Il month. The report
states that PIG, 900 bales of hemp were
exported during the last three months.
OF these 1892 went to the United
States and $4,000 to Great Britain and
other countries.
the United States has GA per cent of the
export trade from the Philippines as
against sc per cent for Great Britain
and other countries. He says that last
year the increase of shipments to the
United States wGs 1885, 600 bales and the
decrease to Great Britain 22OO0 bales.
He adds: "Of increased shipments
from the Philippines, those to the Unit
ar States
to all other countries combined"
He also gives details of the large
shipments Of sugar, cigars, tobacco,
woods, hides, shells, indigo and coffee.
In the item of sugar. which is second
in Importance, the shipments to the
United States were So per cent of the
total 20 all points.
In previous report, dated Feb. 10,
Mr. Williams stated that Manila had
just passed through a most deyastat-
ing fire, the total loss being So 500 OOO
He said the city would have been to-
tally destroyed had it not been for the
splendid service of an American fire
engine brought from Seneca Falls
N. Y.
In another report Mr.. Williams gives
the railroad and ocean steamship fa-
cilities of the Philippines. The main
railroad from Manila is first-class
having steel rails, stone culverts and
English engines which make 40 miles
an hour. There are four steamship
lines to Hong Kong and a monthly
line from Manila to Liverpool.
Besides these direct reports from the
United States consul, the state depart
ment also has a gazetteer published at
Hong Kong, which gives a full account
of conditions in the Philippines. 1t
shows that by last census the popula-
ton of Manila was 100000 natives, 61,-
900 Chinese, 400 Spaniards and 25O
Europeans other than Spaniards.
The town is made up of low build
ings, as the people are in constant
dread of earthquakes. One of these
commissions killed 300 people, and the
last one, in 1880, wrecked most of the
town The city proper is within walls
where the government buildings are
located The residence and business
portions are in the suburb. The Es-
Gotta is the main business street and
is lined with European stores and baz-
Ears. The Rosanio is lined with Chi
nese shops. There are six daily pa
pers, three banks, a mint a chamber
of commerce and complete electric
light and telephone plants. The Mex
lean dollar is in general use.