The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-05
10000, POPULATION
COVERS AN AREA OF 150,0U
SQUARE MILES.
IMMENSE TRADE WITH UNITED STATES
There are Twenty. two COnsuIa'-- Representa-.
tNes The Business Of The American
Consuls is More than all the
Others put together.

Washington. d. c., May 1.-The un-
slerstanding ut the State Department is
that Consul Oscar +, Williams, our rep
resentative at Manila until the recent
war began. is now aboard the Flagship
Olympia in Manila harbor. having ac-
companied Commodore Dewey from
Hong Kong, so that advices may come
from him to the State Department as
well rs from Commodore Dewey TO the
Navy Department. n mail report from
Consul Williams reached the State De
partment recently under date of Manila
February 18th last 1t gives a full de
scription of the Philippine Islands, their
resources, growth of American trade,
etc. and will be Incorporated in the next
volume issued by the Bureau of Stats
ties of the State Department.
Mr.. Williams report says:
Local and European authorities esti-
mate the area of the Philippine Islands
at 100000 square miles and their popula-
ton ut 15,000.000 The island Of Luzon,
on which the city of Manila is situated
is larger than New York and Massachu-
sets and has a population of 5,OO0,0OC
and the island Of Mindinao is nearly, il
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 sin
New England Statss and New York
New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware
have ten per cent less area and popula-
ton.
Mr.. Williams states that twenty-five
consulates, representing the leading com
lnercial countries of the world. are estab
lished lit Manila. He adds the surpris
ing statement THE volume of the OK
port trade, coming under my official su
peryision. equals that Of my twenty one
consular colleagues combined.
He then shows in detail how the trad,
Of the Philippines with the United States
exceeds that of al other countries com
bined and is growing Mt a remarkable
rate. As indicating the extent of thi,
trade he says:
To-day | have authenticated invoices
for export to the United States amount
ing to S13S,066."
IIe says the exports to this country
average Sf,000,000 month.
In previous report, dated February
10, Mr.. Williams stated that Manila had
just passed through a most devastine
fire, the total loss being S2,J00,000. He
said the city would have been totally de.
stroyed had it not been for the splendid
service of an American fire engine
brought from Seneca Falls. y. Y.
In another report Mr.. Williams gives
the railroad and ocean steamship facili-
ties of the Philippines. The main rail
road from Manila is first class, having
steel rails. stone culyerts and English
engines which make Al miles an hour
There are four steamship lines to Hong
Kong and a monthly line from Manila
TO Liverpool.
Beside these direct reports from the
United States Consul, the State Depart
ment also has gazetteer published at
Hong Kong which gives full account of
conditions in the Philippines. 1t shows
that by the last census the population OF
Manila was 100000 natives. 81, 900 Chi.
nese, 4. 100 Spaniards and $50 Europeans
other than Spaniards. The town is made
up of low buildings, as the people are in
constant dread of earthquakes. One OF
these commissions killed 800 people. and
the last one, in 1880, wrecked most of the
town. The city proper is within walls
here the government buildings are loca
ted. The residence and business por
tions are in the suburbs. There are six
daily papers, three banks, a mint, q
chamber of commerce and complete elec
tric light and telephone plants. The
Mexican dollar is in general use.