Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-05
PHILIPPINE FACTS.
CONDITIONS IN THE ISLANDS THAT
DEWEY HAS CAPTURED
AMERICAN TRADE OYERSHADOWING.
il Equals That of All Other Countries
Combined, and IL Growing Fast
urea of Islands 10000 square
MIcs-POpuIation, 15,OOO,OOO.

uASHINGTON, May 4.-The under
standing at the State Department IS that
Consul oscar +. Williams, our represen-
ttve az Manila until the recent war
began. is now aboard the flagship Olym-
la in Manila harbOr, having accompa-
med Commodore Dewey from Hongkong,
s.. that advices may come from him to
tas state Department, as well a from
Commodore Dewey. to the Navy Depart
maut.
mail report from Consul wilnams
reached the state Department recently,
under date Of Manila. February 18th last.
j. gives a full description of the Philip
pine Islands. their resources, the growth
of American trade there, etc, and will
boz Incorporated IN the next volume IS
sued by the Bureau of Statistics of the
state Department.
Mr.. Williamss report says: Local and
European authorities estimate the area
Of the Philippine Islands at 10000 square
miles. and their population at lo'OOO'OW.
Tho Island of Loz0n. on which the city
Of Manila Is situated, is larger than New
York and Massachusetts. and has a pOpu-
IdtlOn OF JsVjNiNttt ana tllt l9ltillu VI MIN
CauaO is nearly. If not quite. as large.
There are scores of other islands. An
idea of the extent and population OF the
philippines may be formed when 10 IS
aid the six New England States ana
New York. New Jersey. Maryland, and
Delaware, have 10 per cent. less area ana
population
Air. Williams states that twenty-five
consulatcs, representing the leading com
mcrcial countries of the world, are es-
tabushod NJ Manila.
SURPRISING STATEMENT.
He adds the following surprising state
mcnt: THE volume of the export trade
coming under my official supervision
equals that of my twenty-one consular
colleagues combined
bee then shows in detail how the trade
o.. the Pnnppnes with the United states
,Ncceus that with all otner countries COM
tred and is growing at a remarkable
Tate. AS indicating the extent of TINS
trade. he says: To-day l have authenti-
Gated invoices for export TO the United
states amounting to Sl3S,O66."
he says the exports 10 this country
average 100000 a month.
Iu "a previous report dated February
,o.h. MT Williams stated that Manila had
5I-t passed through most devastating
Ir. the total loss being S2,JU wv lie Sdlu
tho city would have been totally destroy
al had 10 not been for the splendid ser
vice Of an American fire-engine brought
from Seneca Falls, y. Y.
MAIN RAILROAD FIRST-C CLASS.
Ia another report Mr.. Williams gives
the railroad and ocean steamship facili-
ties of the Philippine Islands The main
railroad from Manila is flrst-class, having |
steel rails. stone culverts. and English |
engines. which make forty-fve miles an |
hour There are four steamship lines TO |
Hlngkong and a monthly line from Ma |
I.4 to Liverpool
Beside these direct reports from the /
United States Consul. the state Depart
Eeut also has gazetteer published at |
Aougkoug. which gives fun account OF
conditions in the philippines. 1t SHOWS
that by the last census the population OF
Manila was 100. 900 natives 6l,0o0 Chinese,
4'H Spaniards. and 250 Europeans other
Than Spaniards The town is made up OF
low buildings. as the people are in con
stnt dread OF earthquakes. One of these
cnyulsjons Killed 800 people. and the
ast one. in 1850, wrecked most of the
town
The city proper Is within walls, where
ife -oyornment buildings are located The
residence and business portions are in the
suburbs. There are six daily papers. three
ranks. a mint, a Chamber Of Commerce,
trd eectric-nght. telegraph. and tele-
phone plants The Mexican dollar is In
general use