Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-27

Report of Their Trade and Agricul
tural Conditions and Possibilities.

g.
JARo, Panay Island, Philippines, May q
| Even superficial examination of the condi-
ton in the Philippines affords a glimpse of
| resources and industries marvellous because
| of their wealth and the possibilities that
attach to their future. Manila is, of course
the head and center, and will probably al
ways hold that position. Heretofore her
import trade with nations other than Spain
has been conducted through Hong Kong
where European houses maintain branches
while agents of these branches operate in
| Manila and control, or rather have in the
past controlled the bulk of the trade, both
import and export.
Prior to the advent of Americans in force
anything American would have been re-
earded as a curiosity, and articles of United
States manufacture to be found upon the
Islands were limited TO few patent medi-
cfneS and old-fashioned sewing machines
with the single exception of -four but the
consumption of wheat flour has been slight
in comparison, as the masses of the people
do not know what 1t Is. Yet the foreign
element and the better classes of the ma
tives require it. The trade in this as in
all else, goes through Hong Kong houses
or branches. AS it is with American prod
ucts in the tnilippines, SO it is with Philip
pine products in America What we get
from here goes through foreign houses, and
what we send here traverses backward the
same route. Thus we know nothing of the
lSidHuS, u NAdl we prOnlap1y 1Qr-
nish to them or obtain from them, but We
will know come together, and as the
anchors of the winding chain have now
been irrevocably set either side of the
Pacific, the future of these islands is bound
up in the same bundle with our own fu-
ture.
No effort has ever been made to improve
or increase the products, to supplant anti
quated methods of labor or industry. to ad-
| vance the tastes of the people or to educate
them. One may pass from one to another
over a thousand fields and will not see a
pillow, excepting some poorly shaped wood
en- affair of ancient make. They threSh
their rice in followed log by constant
pounding and beating; they cut the tall
sugar cane with great, rude knives and
carry it on their backs to the nearest mill,
which is almost invariably of the poorest,
most ancient pattern. Artesian or rain
water is used altogether. But a pump is
unknown, and a windmill would be a curl
osity. There should also be a tremendous
sd lie among them of cotton goods of every
description.
There are 5000 young Americans who ex-
pect to remain here. Their brains, their
energy and their labor will be spread and
diffused among the islands and will enter
into every quarter. a taste of better
things viii sharpen the appetites of the
natives; a sight of other things will incite
desire to possess them. Here is field for
American commerce that is illimitable, a
future for American industry that is be-
yond comprehension computation. 1t
seems like great hive about to swarm. A
point has been reached where the future
cannot be judged or measured by the past.
A condition impends for which those who
expect participation must prepare. Prim-
tive methods, primitive utensils and prim-
tive appliances will give way to modern
machinery and appliances under the direc-
ton and control of Americans, whose labor
will bring about regeneration beyond par
allel in history. Exports of raw products
that we can use, hemp, tobacco, coffee, rice,
sugar, spices and all such staple agricultur-
al products are required by us in guam
titles or quality beyond our power to pro-
duce will be diverted into American chan
nels. The work of promotion will early as
sumo proportions almost beyond calcula-
ton. Manila itself has yet to be modern
lied, while the country is almost virgin to
the touch of civilization and civilizing
methods.