The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-23
ONE PHILIPPINE RAILROAD.
1t Runs From Manila North to the
Port of Dagupan.
From the Railway Age.


The Manila and Dagupan railway,
the only railway in the Philippine
Islands, is running along smoothly as
II peace prevailed throughout the land,
says the Manila correspondent. Ordi-
narily railroads suffer as much incon-
venience and loss in business and dam
age as any other line of business at
times when comparatively small coun-
tries are in a state of rebellion. This
loss is not only because of demoraliza-
tion in freight business and from COM
mon disinclination of people to travel
where the existence of social disorder
creates an additional element of risk
| in travelling on public carriers, but be-
cause of destruction of railroad prop
erty as matter of proper warfare
and military strategy, as has been the
| case in Cuba. The Philippine railroad
| has been remarkably fortunate in the
respect of enjoying immunity from in
| convenience and violence at the hands
| of the insurgents-so fortunate, indeed,
as to agreeably surprise and disap-
| point the management Of that prop
| erty.
The road is of 3-feet 6-inch gauge
and runs from Manila. with a popula-
| ton of over 100000, in an almost north
| erly direction, l25 miles, through sew
eral large municipalities to pagupan,
| reasonably prosperous seaport OF
| about 10000 souls. The island of Lu-
| zon, of which Manila Is the capital,
has population of about 3,500,000,
| nearly half the entire population of the
| twenty-one Islands that form the Phil
| ippine group, and with an area Of near
| ly double that of Great Britain. The
| railroad as might be expected, runs
| through the most pOpulous section of
Luzon.
While the railroad is private prop
| erty and owned and managed by Euro
| peans other than SDaniards, it was
| thought the insurgents would never
theless try and prevent its operation,
at least spasmodically, inasmuch as it
was proving of so great advantage to
the government in the effort to quell
the revolt. There has, however, been
no trouble with the road as yet. The
forbearance of the rebels has caused
no little surprise among Spanish oftic'
ials. The insurgents derailed a pas
senger train several months ago. Since
that time there has been absolutely no
violence. The rebel leaders were very
much displeased when they learned
that some of their subordinates had
molested a train, and at once gave or
ders that the personal and property
rights of foreigners other than Span
iards should be respected and that this
order was intended to apply particu-
larly to the railroad, which they vel
understood was the property of Eng
lish capitalists. The fact that the rail.
road company has not since been sub.
jected to the slightest trouble or in.
convenience. while the immediate coun
try is involved in very serious and for
midable revolution, demonstrates these
facts: l. That the Filippinos are not
savages. warning just for the excite
ment OF the thing. 2. That they are
a peaceful and easily governed people
and are regarding with respect thu
wishes of their recognized leaders.
That they value the good will and sym
pathy of Europeans who live in tn,
Philippines and will unquestionably Sc,
to 1t that these foreigners are pro
tected to the fullest possible extent.