The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-08

Report of the Opportunities and In
dustries of the Islands.

Washington, April 7-(SpecaD.-T ag
tuntles in the Philippines are discussed in
detail in the monthly summary of COM
merce and finance, just issued by the
treasury bureau of statistics. This dis
cussion shows that although agriculture
is the chief occupation of the Philippines
cultivation. The soil is very fertile. and
even after deducting the mountainous
areas, it Is probable that the area of eul-
tivation can be very largely extended and
that the Islands can support population
equal to that of Japan $4,000 ,00O
The chief products are rice, corn, hemp,
sugar, tobacco, cocoanuts and cacao Cof-
fee and cotton were formerly produced in
large quantities-the former for export
and the latter for home consumption; but
the coffee plant has been almost exter-
minated by insects and the home made
cotton cloths have been driven out by
the competition of those imported from
England. The rice and corn are primer
pally produced in Luzon and Mlndoro and
are consumed In the islands. The rice
crop is about 765,O00 tons. 1t Is insuhl-
Client for the demand, and As 900 tons OF
rice were imported In 1884, the greater por-
ton from Saigon. and the rest from Hong
Kong and Singapore; also 1868 tons 10000
barrels of -four. of which more than two
thirds came from China, and less than
one-third from the United States.
The cacao is raised in the southern To-
lands, the best quality of Il at Mlndanao.
The production amounts only to $50 tons
and it is all made into chocolate and con-
sumed in the Islands.
The sugar cane is raised In the Visayas.
The crop yielded in 1894 about 235. 600 tons
OF raw sugar, of which one-tenth was con-
sumed In the Islands. and the balance, OF
10000 tons, valued at 81 900 900, was ex-
ported the greater part 10 China, Great
Britain. and Australia. The hemp is pro-
duced in Southern Luzon, Mindoro, the vi
sayas, and Mindanao. IL is nearly all ex-
ported in bales. In 1894 the amount was
96 900 tons, valued at $4,000 900. Tobacco
is raised in AL the islands, but the best
quality and greatest amount in Luzon. A
large amount is consumed In the Islands
smoking being universal among women as
well as men, but the best quality Is ex.
ported. The amount in 1894 was 1000 tons
of leaf tobacco, valued at 81 10000 Spain
takes 10 per cent and Egypt 10 per cent
of the leaf tobacco. OF the manufactured
tobacco, 10 per cent goes 10 China and
Singapore, 10 per cent. 70 England, and
per cent. 10 Spain. Cocoanuts are grown
IN Southern Luzon and are used in various
ways The products ore largely consumed
in the islands, but the exports in 1894 were
valued at S2,i0O000.
Cattle, goats, and sheep have been in
troduced from Spain, but they are not
numerous. Domestic pigs and chickens are
seen around everywhere In the farming
districts. The principal beast of burden is
the carabao. or water buffalo, which Is
used for blowing rice fields as well as
drawing heavy loads on sledges or on
carts Large horses are almost unknown,
but there are great numbers Of native
ponies from 3 TO y hands high. possessing
strength and endurance far beyond their
size.
Gold is found In a vast number OF locali-
ties in the archipelago from Northern Luz
zon 10 Central AIindanao. In most cases
the gold Is detrital, ana found either IN
existing water courses or In stream dolHs-
rs now deserted by the current These last
are caHed "alluvlones" by the Spaniards
II is said that IN Mindanao some OF Tho
grayels are In an elevated position and
adapted to hydraulic mining There are nc