The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-08

clerk, and the trainmen receive but
little more than half this amount. But
the natives give good satisfaction in
every capacity in which they are em-
ployed, in spite of their inclination to
make extra money when the chance is
presented.
ORIGINAL COST.
AS to the original cost of the road
there are few reliable statistics, and it's
present financial standing is unknown
to others than the officials. But it is
evident that the cost of construction
per mile must have been much lighter
than the cost of similar roads would be
in America, and the running expenses
are much lower. From all appearances
the road is at present in a very flour
ishing condition, and since the capture
of Manila the traffic has been heavier
than ever before
This single railroad line of our new
oriental colony traVcrses some of the
finest country to be found in all these
islands. For probably ninety miles it
runs daEOnally across a continuous
level or slightly rolling area, separated
from the sea and hemmcd in by noun
tain ranges which in places rise to
the height of 5000 feet. The north
western corner of the valley opens on
the shallow gulf of Lingaycn, where
ON is situated Dagupan, the ter
minus of the road. ON the southern
end this ideal valley region is bounded
by Manila bay, the Pasig river and
Lake Bal, the most important lake
Ia. 4,
is included all of the six provinces
wherein was begun the Spanish subju-
cation of these islands, and today they
are the most important part of Luzon.
These are Manila, Bulacan, Pampagna,
Tarlac, Nueva Ecya and Pangasinan,
all of which are traversed by the Man
lila and Dagupan road.
PICTURESQUE SCENERY.
The scenery along the line of this
railroad is most picturesque. For tif-
teen miles out of Manila the land rises
in irregular, long, sloping hills, scarce
ly half a hundred feet in height. On
one hand is a succession of rice fields,
and on the other the hillsides are ter
raced with queer native bamboo huts.
At Caloocap are seen the first signs
of civilization. Twenty-Five miles
from Manila is Malolos. the capital of
the so-called Filipino republic. Like
many other native towns, it is stretch
ed out for a considerable distance
among the bambOOs and ponds. Be
tween MalolOs and Calumpit, dis
tance of nine miles, there are twelve
bridges across streams of sufficient vol
ume to be called rivers Ten miles
from Calumpit is San Fernando, and
ere we reach this place we have left
behind the bordering hills of Manila
hay. Twenty miles beyond San Fer
nandO we pass through cut about
800 yards long and fifty feet deep, the
only one of any consequence on the
road, and here at Bamban We have
reached the mountains. Beyond Bam-
ban the landscape changes and cocoa =
nut groves begin to supplant the bam-
boo tlats. Tarlac is one of the most
important towns on the road, 1t is
located in the province of Tarlac,
The remaining forty five miles of the
road to Dagupan run through fial
lands. we'll drained. and there is a sue
! cession of rice fields. cane fields and
coCoanut groves. The only important
TOWN. on TINS part III the lodu !" nay ant
bang ON the river Agno. The English
firm Of Smith, Bell & CO., has large
rice mill there, and at Calasias, the
next station 10 Dagupan, are made the
finest of the Manila hats. such are tn,
scenes along the only railroad line in
the Philippines, and in spite of its in
significance this road has done much
toward improving the country through
which Il passes. Ere long American
energy and capital will begin the grand
work of development so long delayed
through Spanish msrule, and the toOt
of the American locomotive, eChcina
through the bamboo jungles and cocoa
nut groves, Will soon awaken these op,
pressed islands from their long sleep.