The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-07-21

is estimated at $4,000 square miles
or one and q half times the size of the
State of Minnesota. OF the total
Luzon has Al 900 and Mindanio 81 900
square miles and these two, with nine
other islands, have over ninety per cent.
of the whole land surface. The islands
have wet and dry season which are
controlled by the monsoon, wind
blowing for six months in one direc-
ton and then the same length of time
in the opposite direction. During the
rainy season the country is flooded =
bridges are carried away and roads are
almost impossible. When it is dry on
the other hand it is very dry and the
ground becomes parched and SEEM
ingly entirely dried out. During the
dry season the houses, which are con-
structed of light, indamable material,
often burn and the greatest caution is
required during the season. Very de
structive fires have occurred at Manila
and other large towns during the dry
seasons. Typhoons and hurricanes
are of frequent occurrence during
September and October. In October
1875 typhoon destroyed $500 houses
in Manila and killed $50 persons.
OF earthquakes Sir John Bowrig
writes that "the destructive ravages
and changes produced by them are
nowhere more remarkable than in the
PHILIPPINES. They have produced
great changes in the geography of the
islands. They have overturned
mountains, filled up valleys, desolated
extensive plains and opened passages
from the sea into the interior and from
the lakes into the sea-
The city of Manila, of which we
knew so little until the eventful May
morning so familiar to US all when
Admiral Dewey caught the punctil-
lious Castillian mapping in the Bay of
Cavite, is the capitol and by far the
most important city in the islands.
Manila is not only the seat of govern
ment but the religious centre from
which the monks, friars and q host
of dignitaries manage the religious es-
Enlistment of the country.
The population of Manila is esti-
mated at from $50 to 100000 of which,
according to Foreman, 60 per cent are
native Indians, 80 per cent Chinese
and Chinese half breeds, and not over
two per cent are Spaniards. Cavite,
some nine miles down the harbor and
near it's entrance, has about $4,000
people, making for the bay an aggre-
gate population Of $4,000. The bay
has shore line of 12O miles and
though there is area enough to accom-
modate all the "Navies of the World"
by reason of shallow water in shore
and being exposed to the southwest
monsoon it is far from an ideal harbor.
The harbor of Cavite is fairly protect
ed from the winds but there are no
deep or bold shores on the bay.
If the PHILIPPINES remain in the pos.
session of the United States, at the
termination of our present controversy
with the Dons, an interesting problem
will be before the country for solution.
The commercial and trade relations
will readily yield to well-known laws,
but how to assimilate or manage eight
to nine million people, of an inferior
civilization, and of q variety of races,
q part of whom are practically bril-
gands and who have been in a chronic
state of rebellion against the Spanish
government, will be the question. To
my mind the Problem of the Phil
lipines" is the people and their reli-
gion and to this phase of the question
I hope to call your attention in my
next letter. 0. B. TURRELL
T,,,r 1c 1000