Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-03-23
AGUINALDo IN A STRONGHOLD.
The Country Densely Populated -Marshy J
Ground Between Them and
Our Boys.

l Ground Between Them and
Our Boys.
Connected with the Bureau of Mill.
tary Information Of the War Depart
ment there are officers and civilians
who have visited the Philippines, and
who have knowledge of the country
In which Gen. Otis must make his
campaign in his advance against the
insurgent capital, Malolos. From
their knowledge of the country they
are inclined to the opinion that the
advance Of the American troops will
be beset with difficulties and hard
ships, but not such as can not, or will
not, be overcome. Some facts about
the country through which the Amer
lean troops will have to pass In their
movement against Malolos cannot
fail to prove interesting.
Malolos, the city which is the seat
of Aguinaldo's government, is located
in the Province of Bulacan. This is
one Of the smallest but richest prov
inces Of the archipelago. 1t is bound
ed on the east by Neuva Ecija; on the
south by Manila, on the west by the
bay and Province Of Pampanga, and
on the north by the Province of Pam
panga. The area is 965 square miles
and the population is 100000. 1t is
crossed by several ramifications or the
Caraballo Mountains and by the great
Pampanga River, which empties into
Manila Bay by several mouths, some
Of which are navigable. The land is
fairly cultivated.
1t will, no doubt, be a matter of
much surprise to many people to learn
that in this province there are in the
neighborhood of twenty-five cities, all
but one of which have population of
over 5000, and the population of some
of which runs up as high as 10000. In
fact, the province is so thickly settled
that all these cities may be said to be
but slightly separated divisions Of one
great city. The capital Of the prov
ince is Bulacan, with population of
l3, lS6. 1t is situated twenty-five miles
from Manila; has church, town
hall and about 1000 stone houses.
Angat, with population of 5000, is
situated nineteen miles from Bulacan;
Baliuag, with population of IA, l22, Is
situated thirteen miles from Bulacan;
Barasoain, with population Of 9,675,
10 situated six miles from Bulacan:
BIgaa, with population of S,l20, is
situated three and one-half miles from
Bulacan; Bocaue, with population of
10, 345, is situated four and one-third
miles from Bulacan; Bustos, with a
population of 1925, Is situated two
miles from Bulacan; Calumosit, with
a population Of 1902, is situated
twelve miles from Bulacan; Guiguinto,
with q population of 5,1l5. is situated
two miles from Bulacan; Hagonoy,
with a population of 20, 110, is situated
twenty miles from Bulacan; Malolos,
Aguinaldo's capital, has population
OF IA, ,299 and is situated six miles from
Bulacan; Marilao, with population
Of 5,O72. is situated eight miles from
Bulacan; Meicuayan, with popula-
tion of s, ,1l9, is situated eleven miles
from Bulacan; Norzagaray, with a
population of 5,305, is situated sixteen
miles from Bulacan; Obando. with a
population of 7,948, is situated seven
miles from Bulacan; Paombong, with
population Of 10, ,297 10 situated eight
miles from Bulacan; Polo, with pop
ulation of I, $40, is situated seven miles
from Bulacan; Puinga, with a popula-
tion of 1854, is situated seven miles
from Bulacan: San Ildefonso, with a
population of 6,60l, is situated nine
teen miles from Bulacan; San Jose,
with population of 2,277, is situated
sixteen miles from Bulacan; San
Miguel de Mayumo, with a population
of 20, AGO, is situated twenty-five miles
from Bulacan; San Rafael, with pop
ulation of S,469, is situated twelve
miles from Bulacan; Santa Isabel,
with population of s,125, is situated
six miles from Bulacan; Santa Maria
de Pandi, with population Of lO,5oS,
is situated eight miles from Bulacan;
Pulilan, with population OF lO,O5S, is
situated eight miles from Bulacan.
Malolos, Aguinaldo's capital, is sit
uated near the foot OF the range OF
mountains which rise about thirty
miles back OF Manila. All of the
country between Manila and Malolos
is said to be level, and in many places
very swampy. There are canals In
Vulnerable for draining off the water
into the rivers. These canals and the
swampy character OF the country will
make the advance Of the American