The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-12
WASHINGTON
CORRESPONDENCE.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special Dispatch to the Post-Inteiiigeneer-
WASHINGTON. April 1.-THE aghieaii-
turaI mineral and commercial cpporruni-
ties IN tie Philippines are discussed In de-
tail IN the monthly summary OF COM
nsree and finance, just ISSUED BY the
treasury bureau o. statistics TITS discus
sion shows that although agriculture is
the chief occupation OF the PaiEfffnes,
VET only Sae-Einsh % the surface IS under
cultivation. The sell Is very fertile, and
ever after deiucting the mountainous
areas il is probable that the area Of culii-
vatsas car DC very Largely extended and
tina. the islands can support population
equal % that Of Japan s2ss.e.ea-
The chief products are rice. corn. hemp,
sugar fu.saccD cucoanGts and cacao. Cof-
Zee and cotton were formerly produced IN
large auansitses-the former fer export
and the latter for home consumptien-aut
the coffee plant has been almost extsr-
minated by insects. and the home made
cotton cloths have been driven out By the
competition az those imported from Eng
land The rice and corn are principally
produced in Luzon and Mindoro and are
consumed in the islands. The rice crop Is
about $500, tons. II is insufficient for
the demand. and s 91 toms OF rice were
imported In 1894. rhs greater portion from
Saigon. and the rest from Hongkong and
Singapore also s69 tons sssa.e11 52rreis1 or
-four. az which more than two-thigds came
from China aad less than one-ihiro from
the United States.
The cacao is raised in the southern ISL
ands. ths. best quality OF IL az Mindanao.
The production amounts only to 40 tons.
and IL is aii made into chocolate and con-
stunned in the islands.
The sugar cane is raised in the Nisayas-
TIE crop yielded in 1894 about Is 60 tons
OF raw sugar. OF which osle-tenta was con-
sumed in the islands. and the balance, OF
10 1910 tons valued at 81 90 9fe, was tx
ported, the greater part to China, Great
Britain ana Australia. The hemp is pro-
oueed in Southern Luzon, Mind6ro, the
Sisayas and Nindanao. II Is nearly all
exported in bales. In 1894 the amount was
as 80 tons valued at So. go go. Tobacco is
raised in all the ISLANDS, but the best quail
ity and greatest amodnt in Luzon. 4
large amount is cons amed in the islands.
smoking being universal among women as
well as men but the best quality is ex-
ported. The amount In 1894 was 900 tons
OF leaf tobacco, valued al 81 .5e.e0. Spain
takes 10 per cent. and Egypt 10 per cent
OF the leaf tobacco. OF the manufactured
tobacco. 20 per cent, gees to China and
Singapore 10 per cent. 10 England. and 5
per cent. TO Spain. Cocoanuts are grown
ous ways. The products are largely con-
sumed in the islands but the exports in
1894 were valued at s. 4neeH
Cattle. goats and sheep have been in
trodueed from Spain. but they are not nu-
merous. 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 po-
MES from nine to twelve hands high, pos
sessing strength and endurance far beyond
their size.
Gold is found in vast number OF locali-
ties in the archipelago from Northern Lu-
ION 10 Central Mindanan. In most cases
the gold is detrital, and found either in
existing water courses or in stream de-
posts now deserted by the current These
last are called ''aliuviones'' by the Span
iards. 1t Is said that in Mindanao some
OF the grayels are In an elevated position
and adapted 10 hydraulic mining There
are no data at hand which intimate de-
cisively the value OF any cf the placers
They are washed by natives largely with
eocoanut shells fer pans. though the batea
is also in use
In the province az Abra at the northern
end OF I.uzon. there are placers. and the
gravel Of the river Ahra is auriferogs In
Lapanto there are gold quartz veins as
well as graveis Gold is obtained in this
province close TO the copper mines In
Benguet the gravels of the river Agno
carry god. There is also gold In the prov
ince Of Bontoc and in Nueva E.ciia. The
most important Of the auriferous prov
inces is Camarines Norte. Here the town
ships OF Mamhulao Paracale and Labo
are especially we'll known gold produc-
ing localities. Mr.. Drasche weIl-known
German geologist. says that there were
.ef natives ct work on the rich quartz
veins Of this place at the time OF his
visit, about twenty-five years since At
paraeale there are parallel quartz veins in
GRANTEES, one OF which is twenty feet in
width and contains ii shoot in which the
ore Is said 10 assay thirty-eigflt ounces OF
gold per ton. One may suspect that this
assay hardly represented an average sam
Pile Besides the localities mentioned
many others OF this province have been
worked by the natives. The islands Of
Mindoro. Cantanduanes. Sihuyan, Panay.
Zabu and BohoI are reported TO contain
gold, but no exact data are available Az
the south end Of the small island of
Panaon. which IL just Ia the south OF
Leyte there are gold quartz veins one OF
which has been worked TO some extent
II fs six feet in thickness and has Welded
from s. IN s. per ten. In the island OF
Mindanao there are two known gold-hea--
tnE districts-the province OF Surigao
where Placer and other townships show
sraveis and veins, ard the province ~
Nisargis. Near the settlement OF Iuat.o,,ar,
and On the gulf az MacaJaiar there are
said 10 b. many square kiiomefers OF
gravel carrying large quantities Of cal1
With which Is associated platinum. ire
product OF this district was sstiyna I'd
some years since al i5a ounces per month.
all extracted ~ natives with hatAas a.,
coCoanut-Sheli dishes
personaI.
D.. III. I. Meriat. who Was rerenssx,
named grand ORGANIZER far .ho 49,