The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-01-11
PHILIPPINE WEALTH.
Probably the Richest UnexplOred
Territory in The Known World.

plored territory IN the known world
This is the estimate put upon the
Philippines in a statement which Gen.
Otis has forwarded to the War Depart
ment The maker of it IS a resident
of Manila, whom Gen. Otis describes
as a highly intelligent man. Gen.
Francis V. Greene indorses the state
ment as fairly conservative and thor
oughly trustworthy. To the officials
of the War Department this descrip-
ton Of opportunities explains the in
formation that has recently come Of
the formation Of partnerships and as
sOciatiOns among the American soldiers
now serving there, hav. Z for their
purpose various developIA ent projects
in the archipelago. Considerable num-
bers of these soldiers have banded to-
gether with the avOwed intention to
settle in the Philippines and engage in
various enterprises. Some Of these
American soldiers will send home two
or three representatives to enlist capi-
tai in their respective communities.
This movement among the soldiers has
obtained sufficient magnitude to be-
come the subject Of considerable atten-
ton from the government. The basis
for it is shown in the statement for
warded by Gen. Otis. In the way of
encouragement which conditions hold
out for enterprise and investment the
statement presents the following:
''The River Pasig, dredged out to the
mouth Of the lake, and with its points
cut down to make navigation easy fer
decent passenger steamers, would inn
mediately attract capital to put on
daily morning and evening service.
Then the people of Manila could and
would avail themselves Of the service
to pass the nights in the many cool
spots fringing the lake. No heat in the
daytime would be felt after cool night.
In very short time Laguda de Bay,
twenty-five miles by twenty miles in its
greatest dimensions, would be studded
over with yachts and pleasure craft Of
every kind to afford pleasurable reere-
alton to AL who could spare the time
aud expense.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAPITAL.
"With capital and enterprise the
nearest approach 10 an earthly para
disc is here at beck and call. 1t is per-
fectly amazing the strides made 10y
progress within the last thirty years
since the province steamers began to
run in the islands. Some Of the pro-
mOters Of the enterprise can recall that
as late as 1858 it took two weeks or
more for cne Of the small sehooners
then employed 70 bring in outside pro-
duce distance Of go miles 20 the ship
ping ports. In 1858 twelve capitalists,
principally foreigners, got together a
capital OF $4,000 TO bring out a small
boat to make trips TO the open ports Of
Il0ilo and Ceba. The result was so
perfectly satisfactory that boat after
boat followed, until there is at the pres
ent time a line of fifty province steam
ers, large aud small, running in the
Islands
"The short 12O-mile railway put down
by English capitalists gives but faint
idea of what network of railroads
could do, but it is quite enough to show
what a profitable investment some
roads can be made in this country un-
der liberal, mp to-dab. government.
That which applies t. Luzpn applies
equally 10 all the Other islands, where
the produce in many cases is left to rot
in the fields for want Of adequate
means of c)nvs tnee. Roads, good
public roads an6 kallroads, would send
these islands ahead by leaps and
bounds, and material progress would
be the sure precursor of the light of
civiIizatiqf
why Gropean governments, who
have for /euturies been opening pand
civiliy' ! the darkest countries, should
hays Eeriooked the Philippines with
outf.aving a look into them, and, if
ny kssary, force reform upon the ruling
Lovers, seems inexplicable.
Y e"Tske Luzon first, TO give faint
idea of known resources. In the north
is a rich and extensive tobacco country,
where qualities equal to those grown in
Cuba eau be produced. Coming south,
tNo Iloeos provinces comprise rich
sugar aud rice lands. Indigo also can
be largely produced, anu with more
labor be Increased in quantities snd inn
proved in quality.
"In the long range of mountains,
practically unexplored, copper, gold
and other minerals are known to exist,
aud without doubt in considerable
quantities. Copper has been worked
for many years in the mountains OF
South Ilocos, Maneayan aud Lepanto.
want of communication being the
great obstacle to mining on a large
scale. In this neighborhood we have
the District Of BeBguOt, over 1900 feet
above the sea level, with climate not
to be beaten in Europe. In winter it
borders on frost, and in summer it is
never over 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
'sThere is an extensive pine forest
there, and exquisite potatoes and home
vegetables of all kinds can be grown to
any extent. The Spanish government
had arraDg,d d to put up a sanatorium
there, to save sending invalid troops
and employees TO Europe to recuperate.
A mountain line Of railroad for ascent
and a short level line to connect with
the terminus of the Manila Dagupan
line would take passengers from Ma
Mia in about twelve hours to this de-
sirable retreat.
"The Provinces Of Union, ZambaIes,
Pangasinan and Bulacan largely pro-
dnce tobacco, sugar, rice, etc. The Au-
gat mountains, Bulacan and Bosoboso,
only few miles from Manila, produce
iron ore yielding upward Of Y per cent
Of pure metal. These mines have been
worked but little. Some iron ore from
Angat is stated to have produced s. per
cent Of pure metal. These mines have
been worked but little. The latter
exists in very large quantities, only re-
| qairing capital and enterprise to devel.