The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-18

tor $3.50.
probable that the auriferous formation,
from which the alluvial deposits Were
stocked by the process of erosion, contin-
ues throughout the backbone of the island.
But for practical purposes mining enter
prise must keep near the coast for years
10 come. until. in the progress of events,
more distant mines can be reached with
convenience.
THE question is often asked: How is it
that SO little is known of Philippine gold?'
The answer is simple. There is no Off
cial control of the output, or tax on II.
The miners live in isolated districts and
villages with rare communica ton between
them. And the universal man of business
is the omnipresent Chinaman, now store
keeper with a fixed abode, now perambu-
lating peddler, who penetrates the most
distant settlement buys the gold with his
wares, and sends it out of the country over
to Hong Kong or Annoy, or elsewhere. 1t
is not his business to swagger over the
volume of his trade; in fact, he keeps 1t
dark. Those who know are aware that
the gold export Is considerable and very
much exceeds the official computation,
,wha tever that may be.
Gold is found in many other islands
of the group. Senior Abella found traces
of alluvIal workings in Cebu Mindoro,
rich in gold. Panaon, small island north
of Mindanao, has at least one well-defin-
ed vein of auriferous quartz, while Min
danao itself is the center of a considera-
bic trade in alluvfal gold. From speci-
mems brought from that island the occur
renee of rich quartz veins cannot be a mat
ter of mere conjecture. Mindanao, though
the first discovered island of the group, is
the least known and least settled of all.
Many points. especially on the south coast,
are still held by Malay sultans and ra-
jahs, who, while acknowledging the suze-
rainty of Spain, have not the power nor
the inclination to keep their lieges from
their traditional piracies. 1t is from some
of these Malay strongholds that one pra-
hus of the Orang Laut imam of the seal
sally forth on plundering cruises.
This Ubiquitous trade has been stopped on
the coasts of Sumatra and Borneo, and 1t
will soon be stopped in Mindanao where
the Spanish government is now taking
drastic Fepressive measures.
Copper is found in many parts of the
Philippines. The coal which up to pres
ent times has been found in the Philip
pine Islands is not true coal, but Ignite,
probably of the tertiary period, and of a
variety which can scarcely be distinguish
ed by the eye from true coal There Is
no reason why true coal should not event
ually be found, for 1t is found and worked
in Japan, whose geological formation has
much in common with that of the Philip
pines. There has been no systematic
search made in these islands for coal, and
wherever it has been found 1t has betray-
ed its presence by outcrops. Thus, in the
island of Masbate, a local steamship own
err drew his supplies from a bed of coal
which Is SO tilted as to have the appear
ance of a vein. He supplied himself as
long as his native laborers could get the
coal with crowbars. Mr.. Hilton, who ex-
amined this bed cursorily, estimated the
available quantity of coal at about &C.,
90 tons in that particular concession. He
is, however, of opinion that very much
larger quantities are available In adjoin-
ing concessions.
mo systematic search for banks of pearl
shells has been made within the limits of
the archipelago. but from indications It
would be well worth while to bestow lit
tie attention to that branch of industry
Beautiful pearls are found in the neigh
boring Sulu archipelago and pearls of very
fine quality but of unknown origin are
some times brought to Manila, where they
meet with eager purchasers.
Few outside the comparatively narrow
circle who are directly interested in the
commerce and resources of the Philippine
Islands know anything of them. The Phil
ippine merchants are a rather close COM
munity which only in the last decade or
so has expanded Its diameter a little There
are number OF very old established firms
among, several of them being British
Among them also are drms-perhaps
as far as wealth and local influence go.
the most important firms-whose chiefs are
partly, at least. of native blood.
"In the old days money was made more
easily than nowadays. 1t used somehow to
flow into the merchants Golfers without
any particular effort in directing the flow
on his part But those times are no long
er. Gables. weekly mails and the influx OF
younger men with modern ideas have dis
turbed the somnoient complacency of mo
old times. And the fall in the value Of the
dollar has added its own particular bitter
ness to the trouble caused by the inroad of
competitors and by the equalization OF
chances by the tale-teliing cable Neverthe-
less, the field is still a good one, and with
the era of progress which seems to have
set in in the Philippines, there will he
room for many more
In 1891 the Philippines exports 10 Spain
amounted to 500 479.CO0 In 1891 the pbilin-
pines imports from Spain amounted 10 sf7-
$4,000 The total exports from the Philin-
pines In 1892 consisted of 95.016 tons Of
hemp, 553,l4S4O0 pounds of sugar. 2.g7l .22o
pounds of coffee, S,G04 go pounds Of sam
panwood, Ty,SC) pounds of indigo, sc. O9t 1g7
pounds of tobacco leaf. 1877 0590O0 cipars
The total exports in 1892 were of the vaIua
OF $4,000. Total value Of inporfs h,
1892 were Of the value Of S27.OOOOOO.
manila hemp is the fiber of a species Of
banana (Musa textiis) which thrives only
in certain localities, where ii Is cultivated
by the natives. The fore is still produced
IN the ola native way, by scraping the