The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-08
PHILIPPINE OPP0RTU NITIES.
The Openings are Good in ASricultu-
RAJ. Mineral and Commercial Lines.

The Openings are Good in A2ricultu-
RAJ. Mineral and Commercial Lines.
WASHINGTON. April 7-SpeciaL-The
agricultural, mineral aud commercial OPP
portunities in the Philippines are dis
cuscd in detail iu the Monthly Summary
of Commerce and Finance just issued
bv the Treasury Bureau OF statistics.
This discussion shows that although ag-
ariculture H. the chief occupation OF the
Philippines. yet only one-nnth of the
surface is under cultivation. The SOIL
is very fertile. and even after deducing
the mountainous areas DO is probable that
the area of cultivation can bee very
largely extended and that the Islands can
support population equal to that OF
Japan 42.ooD,cJO.
The chief products are rice. corn, hemp
sugar tobacco, cOCOanuts and cacao.
Gomez and cotton We're formerly pro-
ouced On large quantities-thc former for
export and the latter for home consump-
ton. but the coffee plant has been al
most cNterminatcd hy insects and tho
homemade cotton cloths have been driven
out 10y the competition OF those imported
from England. The rice and corn are
principally produced I'm Luzon and HIM
dOrO and are consumed in the islands
The rice crop IS about 165 900 tons. 1t Is
insufficient for the demand. and 5000
tons Of rice were imported in 1894. the
greater portion from Saigon. and the
rest from Hong Kong and slneapOre,
also $500 tons 5000 barrels OF flour,
Of which more than twO-thirds came from
China. and less than One-third from the
United States.
The cacao is raised I'm the southern
fef.vHa Of az
danao. The production amounts only TO
one hundred and fifty tons and It is all
made into chocolate and consumed In
the islands.
The sugar cane Is raised I'm the Visa
vas. The crop yielded IN 1894 about g'5tp
tons OF raw sugar. of which one-tenth
was consumed in the islands. and the
balance. OF 2lNoo0 tons. valued at 81 Co.,
olN was exported. the greater part 90
China. Great Britain. and Australia. The
hemp is produced I'm southern Luzon,
Hindoro. the Visayas, and Mindanao.
II IS nearly all exported I'm bales. In
1904 the amount WAS $500 tons. valued
az sl1 0C0.O00. Tobacco is raised in all
the islands. but the best quality and
greatest amount in Luzon. large
amount Is consumed in the islands. smOk-
ing being universal among women as we'll
as men. but the best quality is exported
The amount I'm 1891 was 100 tons of leaf
tobacco. valued az 81 80 00. Spain takes
50 per cent. and Egypt 10 per cent Of the
leaf tobacco. or the manufactured to-
bacco. 10 per cent. goes 10 China and
Singapore. 10 per cent 10 England, and
> per cent TO Spain Cocoanuts are
grown I'm southern LuzOn and are used
I'm various ways The products are
largely consumed In the islands. But the
exports in 1894 were valued at $4,000
Cattle, goats and sheep have been MIRO
Guced from Spain, but they are not num-
erous. Domestic pigs and chickens are
seen around everywhere In the farming
districts The prncipa beast OF burden
IS the carabao. or water buffalo. which
Is used for plowlng 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
ponies from nine 10 twelve hands high,
possessing strength and endurance far b.
yond their size.
Gold Is found I'm a vast number of To-
calines In the archipelago from north
ern Luzon to central HindanaO. In most
cases the gold is detrital, and found either
IN existing water courses or in stream
deposits now deserted by the current.
These last are called "aIluvlones" by the
spaniards. 1t IS said that I'm Hindanao
some Of the gravels are in an elevated
position and adapted TO hydraulic min
ins lhere are no data at hand which
intimate declsively the value OF any OF
the placers- They are wasnea by natives
largely with cocoanut shells for pans
though the batea is also In use.
In the Province OF Abra. at the northern
end OF Iuzon. there are placers. and the
gravel or the river Abra Is auriferous,
In Lapsnto there are gold-quartz yeirs