Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-03-11
MANILA.
Chief Commercial City of the
Philippines and Its
Vicinity.

Manila, the capital and metropolis of
the Philippines, is situated OH the Island
of Luzon, at the mouth and OH the left
bank of the River Pasig. The present
Notifications and the walls and embattle-
ments Of the old city were built by Chi
nese labor in 1890. The walls are two
and half miles long and mounted with
old and useless cannon. The old city is
almost surrounded by water. On the
north is the River Pasig, OH the west the
sea, while meats flank the other two
sides. These moats are connected with
the river by sluices. Until 1852 the
draw-bridge connecting the old city with
the new was raised at night and the city
closed, presenting the curious fact of
feudal Spanish city in the heart of the
tropics. In the citadel are the Govern
ment Offices; also the port, telegraph and
custom offices, various converts and col
leges, an artillery depot, the cathedral
and eleven other churches. This part of
the city presents dilapidated and medi-
eva1 appearance. The dull, mario streets
have somber monastic aspect, and one,
therefore, is not surprised to find that the
gloomy superstitions of the fifteenth
century hold Cimmerian sway there, un-
disturbed by the dawn of science.
Manila Bay is thirty miles from north
to south and about twenty-five miles
wide. On each side the entrance are
steep volcanic mountains. Ten miles
from Manila, near the entrance of the
bay, lies Cavite, which contains about
5000 people. Here, also, is the arsenal,
patent slip and garrison of 500 men.
dor, GAO feet high, and just beyond the
Island of Caballo, 420 feet high, both
fortified. On each island stands light
house. Manila, like Batavia and Calcut-
ia, is great trade center. Binondo, on
the northern shore of the Pasig, and OPP
posite the old city, the business quarters.
Here are the large tobacco factories,
which employ about 10000 men, women
and children. One factory alone employees
1000. The Manila wrappers and Manila
cigars and cheroots are famed the world
over. The employees in these factories
earn upon an average fifteen cents per
day. With this they are able to live
we'll, for food is cheap and rent even
cheaper. The main street of Binoudo is
the Escolta, and here are situated the
commercial warehouses. the bazaars and
the European shops. The Escolta in the
daytime presents an animated appear
ance. About 10000 carriages pass here
daily, and great volume of business is
transacted. The commerce is yearly in
creasing. The traffic on the river along
the Binondo shore is considerable, though
the waters are too shallow for ocean-going
craft The laboring class of the city live
in Tondo, separate suburb, and the
fashionables, the Government officials
and European merchants, live at San
Miguel, the aristocratic suburb. The
streets of Manila are for the most part
poorly paved and lighted. In San Miguel
there are elegant residences. A more
contented people than the Filipinos of
Manila do not exist. One day with them
is like another-a part given to business
and a part to amusements. They are
early risers and do not retire at night
before IL O'Clock, There are several
theaters in Manila, all of an inferior pat
tern. The opera is popular and we'll
supported.
Though Manila lies very low, it is by
no means unhealthy. 1t is pleasant
city to live in, but not nearly so pleasant
as it might be made to be. The climate
is thus described by an old Spanish
proverb: "Six months of dust, six months
of mud, six months of everything The
spring months are December, January
and February; the climate then is most
agreeable. In March. April and May the
heat is most oppressive. In June, July,
August and September occur heavy rains.
October and November are either wet or
dry. The population of Manila is not
far from 100000, of which 20 per cent.
are pure natives, Is per cent. Chinese, IA
per cent. Mestizo-Chinos and per cent.
Europeans and Creoles.