The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-15
ALL DUE IO DEWEY
That the Orient Regards the
United States
AS A MIGHTY POWER
Resources and Finances ofthe
Philippines.

/ rived yesterday from Japan and China By
way Of Honolulu. is E. W. Hardin of Chi
/ cago, who went to Manila as the Specia-
| Commissioner of the Treasury Depart
ment to report on the resources OF the
| Philippines. Mr. Hardin has completed
his mission, and is now on his way tC
/ Washington. He said yesterday thai
words failed to convey an adequate idea
Of the gallant work performed by Rear
Admiral Dewey and the men under him
In the Orient America is now looked upon
as great Power, he said. He has col
| lected considerable data as to the finan-
! cial condition OF the Philippines.
Washington, Nov. 14-Charles A. Whit
tier, igadier-Genera1 OF Volunteers, nov
Collector Of Customs at Manila, under
date OF Septem Der IS. has submitted a re-
port OF his observations upon conditions
in Manila and the Philippine Islands,
with suggestions as TO methods TO be
pursued pending any permanent occUpa-
ton OF the country which may be decided
upon. He says that the most important
questions are the currency, revenue Gn-
GLIDING the ceduia or head-tax), opium,
and the admission Of Chinese. The cur
rency question. ne says, is even more i'm
portant than in the United States. All
efforts to remove the Mexican silver dol
lar and substitute another have failed
There is only one bank of issue in Ma
Mia, the Banco de Filipino. Owing to
to Its advances to the Spanish govern
ment of about 81. 70o, 900, it is in a shaky
condition. Two other banks, the Hong
Kong and the Shanghai, and the Charter
ed Bank of India, Australia, and China
are strong. The business people have
accustomed themselves to the notes of
the Filipino Bank as a medium OF ex-
change, and found them a great con-
venience in place Of the cumbersome
method of handling silver dollars Cen
Whittier says that i twould create a finan-
cial revolution to attempt TO substitute at
once any currency to replace the present
one, but national banks of the United
States OF America, chartered under some
new form of law, on the basis of the ex-
sting currency. would be useful and pro-
fitable.
The cedula or head-tax, which has given
an income of $4,000, 600 a year, he says, has
been very unpopular measure. 1t has
varied from s. per mead to $3.50. Com
plant comes mainly from the lower class
Many persons think that a reduction of
81 would be satisfactory and might be
tried for a year.
Of the opium traffic, he says that the
Spanish practice was to sell the monopoly
of the importation. The last concession
aire paid about $4,000 for the privilege
of three years.
Concerning general conditions in the
country, he says:
Manila, of course. is a very small por-
ton of the Philippine Islands, or even of
Luzon. No one who has not gone beyond
the limits of the town can have any idea
Of the wealth, fertality, and resources of
the country. 1t has happened 10 be the
only officer(save one companion of mine)
who has made any investigation of even
the adjacent country. On Saturday, Sep
TENDER 3, went over the line Of the Ma
Mia Railway one hundred and twenty
three miles in length. running northward
from Manila to Dagupan. The country
three miles out from Manila is occupied
by the insurgents for the whole distance
The line is in fair order, telegraphic COM
munications, destroyed in many places.
probably requiring month for their re-
storation. The line has opened and de-
veloped country of most extraordinary
fertility Rice is the principle product:
much sugar, a small amount of indigo on
the northern part of the line: possibilities
of cotton, coffee and almost anything.
The stations are at short intervals. in
accordance with orders from the Spanish
u-bi
have never seen a country with such
splendid productive power. For the first
hundred miles almost all of it IS under
cultivation. From there to the terminus
a different and prettier country, with high
cocoanut palm trees OF a rare beauty but
not yet so much cultivated as that 10 the
south. With new extensions and lines
on the island Of Luzon. saw.
first Manila TO Batangas. south: second,
Dagupan 70 Leoag. north; third. a branch
Corona to Alliaga, eighteen miles. tobac-
CO district, added productive power and
wealth would be impaired 10 the Island.
y week later l went up the Pasig River
to the Laguna, extraordinary fertility OF
soil being again the marked character
istic and possibility for the acquire
ment Of large estates. If We control the
country and if good titles can be assured.
The Islands TO the south. Panay 0loiio
being the principal port and the second
OF the islands. Cebu. Samar. Mindanao.
and possibly the Sulu or Jolo Archipelago
should be investigated as soon as our re-
lations with Spain permit. / an exceed
ingly anxious % make this journey under
the auspices and at the invitation OF Eng
lish merchants thoroughly acquainted
with tie islands. II one-aslf they say OF
the richness OF these be true. II would lie
a most valuable acquisition 10 the United
States.
The inhabitants are unique: the natives
clean and clever; the Chinese more active
and perseyering; all beasts % burden ac-
customed % little in the way Of pay or
food Or shelter; We pay a noUse-serysat
who works most satisfactorily ten dol
lars a month, equall.nz 81 - of our money.
be furnishing his owu food The irrup-
ton OF our army raised wages temper
srily, - the great disturbance 81 our
here, out Vhines are about re-
scored 20 taei- normal bass. and should
continue 50 unless some ni-considered
change % the prevailing currency occurs. +
The custOm-1ouse receipts dur-ur our
-weaty-four working days.
amount 20 Sas.cpf. Win the increase OF
contingent upon orr occupaocy. I
they should amount Vlrhln tWo years 20
s go 90 year a. least
Mining explorations snG adventures I
promise very vel. especially 81 cosl ard
Iron Capital may D. p-o;llab,y employed
In che operation OF banks. csttoz-z1ssls 4
pape--miIs, ice-faoscrias. iHter-Slssd +.
shipping. and irate
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