The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-06
OF THE PHILIPPINES.
FACTS PRESENTED by
THOUGHTFUL VISITOR.
Health, Government and 0pportun-
ity Of the Islands Of the
Archipelago.

It is necessary that one should Visit
the Philippines in order to compreneno
the magnitude of our new possessions.
To the ordinary citizen of the United
States the Philippines are a group OF
islands situated somewhere in the ia
cific Ocean, and, unless he should
chance to be remarkably fresh IN ms
geography, Manila represents to ms
mind all that is worth knowing about
the islands.
This ignorance as to the nature and
extent of this archipelago also extends
TO Europe and it is only in certain COM
mercial and diplomatic circles that any
one knows anything about the F1liplnos
and their country. Such ignorance,
however. is somewhat excusable, Tor,
until a few months ago Manila, to all
intents and purposes, did represent the
philinpjnes. Now that we have as
sumed control of the islands and VIII
probably in time gain possession Oh
them it may interest the readers OF
this paper if I devote my last letter TO
a description Of the Philippines outside
of Manila.
During the three centuries of Spanish
occupation scarcely port was opened
on any Of the islands, it being the pol
icy of the authorities to limit foreign
commerce as much as possible to Ma
Mia.
During the last half of the present
century. however. a few cities, like
uoilo. Sulu, Cebu and Zamboanga, were
made open ports, but the long estap-
lished trade monopoly was so strong
that as trading places they have re-
foo ny 70 otn
other condition that tended to detract
from their Importance has been the en-
tire lack of modern means of communi-
cation with the interior of the islands,
so that what little development there
has been has been limited to these sea-
port towns.
The most important of these island
ports is unquestionably Iloilo, which
has been open to foreign commerce
since 1855. Unlike Manila, there is
nothing attractive about it. Before 1t
was discovered that the island was an
ideal spot for the raising of sugar cane
il was a slovenly little fishing village,
and to-day it is just as slovenly. In
the dry season it's streets are always
dusty and in the wet season they are
a mass of filthy mire In addition the
CITY Is not u neditHS OHc. IL IL SUI
rounded by marshes and would be in
tolerable as a place of habitation If 1t
was not for its excellent port. AS it is
nearly 1900 people make their home
here, but nearly all are engaged in the
shipping interests.
The island of Panay, as a whole, is
not SO unattractiye, however. Jaro, a
few miles up the river. is rather pleas
ant than otherwise, and there are large
districts in the highlands where pretty
and smart little towns break the mo-
notony of the miles upon miles of fields
that are devoted to agricultural pur-
suits.
Cebu, the place where Magellan land
ed in 1921, is on the eastern coast OF
the island that bears the same name,
and is an attractive and picturesque
town. Owing to the more convenient
location of Iloilo it has never been a
great commercial center, but as the ISL
and is extremely fertile there is reason
to. believe that it will yet become an
important colonial port. From one end
of the island to the other there is
scarcely an unhealthy spot and this, in
addition to the fact that it's inhabi-
tants are an extremely peaceful people,
will commend it to Americans seeking