Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-06
VALUE OF THE PHILIPPINES.

sufficient money to indemnify the
United States for it's war losses we
will have plenty of sources from which
to collect the amount in the Spanish
possessions we have or will wreat
from Spain, or for that matter, we
may tackle Spain itself and seize her
custom houses. The Philippines is
notably very rich archipelago and
one of SPANS most valuable posses
sions. United States Consul Will
Jams at Manila in his last report TO
the State Department says:
Local and European authorities esu-
mate the area of the Philippine islands
at 100000 square miles, and their popuia-
ton at 10 600 900 The island of Luzon on
which the city of Manila is situated, is
larger than New York and Massachu-
sets. ana has a population of oVoo,o wv,
and the island of Mindanao is nearly If
NOT quite Az large There are scores of
n,ael islands. An idea of the extent Of
b. population of the Philippines may
med when 1t is stated that the six
,-n~and States and New York, New
maryland and Delaware have 10
.nss area and population"
n.ams states that y consulates,
. he leading commercial coun-
IN world. are established at Man
ati!s the surprising statement
Volume of the export trade to
states equals that of his twen-
alleagues combined. He shows in
icw the trade of the Philippines
United States exceeds that of all
ourtries combined and is growing
q. a sat.a, kable rate. AS indicating the
extent 81 this trade he says: To-day !
ave auth nitcated invoices for export to
the United States amounting to S13S, 066.
The exports to this country average ST.
$500 month The report states that
PIG 90 bales of hemp We're exported during
the last three months. OF these 13S, 1872
went TO the United States and IS, 0G0 TO
Great Britain and other countries. Mr..
Williams shows from this that the United
States has "a per cent. of the export trade
from the Philippines, as against 80 per
cent. for Great Britain and other coun-
tries. He says that last year the increase
of shipments to the United States was
49,, 600 bales and the decrease to Great
Britain p, 900 bales. He adds: "Of in
creased shipments from the Philippines,
those to the United States We're "A per
cent. greater than to all other countries
combined. There are large shipments of
sugar cigars, tobacco woods hides
shells, indigo and coffee. In the item of
sugar which is second in Importance,
the shipments to the United States were
~ per cent of the total 10 all points
Mr.. Williams says the main railroad
from Manila is first-class. having steel
rails, stone culverts and English engines,
which makes 10 miles an hour. There are
four steamship lines to Hong Kong and
4 monthly line from Manila to Liverpool
The State Department also has data
which shows that by the last census the
population OF Manila was 160. 900 natives.
COO Chinese 41o9 Spaniards and $50
Europeans other than Spaniards. The
town is made up of low buildings as the
people are in constant dread of earth
quakes. One of these commissions killed
three hundred pople. and the last one.
in 1850, wrecked most of the town. The
city proper is within walls where the
government buildings located. The
residence and business portions in the
suburbs. The Escotta is the main bust
ness street and is lined with European
stores and bazaars. The Rozario is lined.
with Chinese shops. There are six daily
papers. three banks. mint, chamber of
commerce and complete electric light and
telephone plants The Mexican dollar is in
general use.
Appropos to the discussion as to the
United States annexing foreign islands
how would it do to include the Philip
pines? If We must annex some Pacific
islands this group are about the most
valuable. They beat Hawaii out of
sight.