New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-08
THE PHILIPPINES RESOURCES.
AGRICULTURAL AND MINERAL WEALTH OF
THE ISLANDS

The lSLANDS
Washington. April (SpeciaD.-The agricultural.
mineral and commercial opportunities in the Phil
ippines discussed in detail in the monthly sum-
mary OF commerce and finance. just issued by the
Treasury Bureau OF Statistics This discussion
shows that although agriculture is the chief occu-
patton OF the inhabitants OF the islands. yet only
one-ninth OF the surface OF the islands is under
cultivation. The soil is fertile and even after de-
Quoting the mountainous areas it is probable that
the area OF cultivation be largely extended. and
that the islands can support population equal to
that OF Japan 92.c1c,ooo
The chief products rice. corn. hemp sugar
tobacco cocoanuts and cocoa. Coffee and cotton
were formerly produced in large quantites-coffee
for export and cotton for home consumpton-but
the coffee plant has been almost exterminated by
insects. and the homemade cotton cloths have
been driven out by the competition 81 those i'm
ported from England The rice and corn are prin-
cpally produced in Luzon and Mndoro and are
consumed in the islands The rice crop is about
$4,000 tons 1t is not sufficient for the demand. and
IS 90 tons OF rice imported In 1884, the greater
portion from Saigon and the rest from Hong Kong
and Singapore also $3.50 tons 5000 barrels OF
-four OF which more than two-thirds came from
China and less than one-thrd from the United
States.
Cocoa is raised in the southern islands. the best
quality OF 1t in Mindanao The production amounts
TO only $50 tons and II is all made into chocolate
and consumed in the islands
The sugar cane is raised in the Visayas. The
crop yielded in 1894 about 2S5,r tons OF raw sugar
OF which one-teuth consumed in the ISLANDS
and the remainder Of 20 900 tons valued at Nln-
oOO was exported the greater part to China, Great
Britain and Australia. The hemp Is produced IN
southern Luzon. Mindoro the Nissyas and Min
danao 1t is nearly all exported in bales In 1884
the amount was 5000 tons valued at sl2"o,on
Tobacco is raised in all the islands but the pest
quality and greatest amount in Luzon. A large
amount is consumed in the islands smoking being
universal among women well as men, but the
best quality Is exported The amount in 1894 was
700 tons of leaf tobacco valued at Sl.I5ODo Spain
takes cent and Egyp 10 per cent q 5 5ne de ea
goes 10 China and singapore ~ per Cen are 10 prow
in southern Luzon, and are used in various ways
The products are largely consumed IN ne isianus
but the exports in 1894 were valued at .tOtpl
Cattle goats and sheep have been introduced
from Spain. but they are not numerous Domesuc
farming districts The principal beast Of burden len
is the carabao or water buffalo which is used tor
ploughing rice fields. well as drawing neavy
loads on sledges or carts. Large horses are al
most unknown but there are Eea 6anda Sh Oh
sessing strength and endurance far beyond the'r
Gold is found in vast number Of localities IN
the archipelago from northern Luzon TO central
% dnnd either In osl xs2s Wa
stream deposits now deserted by the current heSe
is said that in Mindanao some Of the grayes ar. are
in an elevated position and adapted 10 nydraunc
ns RsTS f he T Value Of any Of the pace
They are washed by natives largely with cocoanut
shells for pans. though the batea is also IN US.
In the Province OF Abra, at the northern emo o.
Iuzon there are pacers. and the gravel o. tne
River Abra is auriferous. In Lapanto there are
gold quartz veins as well gravels Gold Is Cd
tanned in this province close 10 the copper mines
In Benguet the gravels OF the River Agno carry
gold There is also gold in the Province OF bontoc
and in Nueva Eciia. The most important OF tne
auriferous provinces is Camarines More Here
the townships OF Mambulao. Paracale and La :aT 20
are especially well known gold-producing local-
ties Herr Drasche well-knoTn German geolosisi
saws that there seven hundred natives al Vork
on the rich quartz veins OF this place az the tnle
o. his visit about twenty-five years ago A. Pard-
Gale there are parallel quartz veins IN granite one
OF, which is twenty feet in width and contains a
chute in which the ore is said 10 assay thirty
eight ounces OF gold TO the ton. One may suspect
that this assay hardly represented average sam
OF this province have been worked by the natives
The islands Of Mindoro. Cstanduanes Suhuyan.
Panay, Cebu and Bohol are reported to contain
gold. but data are available. At the south
end OF the small island OF Panaon. which Is Just
10 the south OF L@yte. there gOld-quartz veins,
one OF which has been worked to some extent II
is six feet in thickness. and has Yielded from s.
TO s. a ton. In the island OF Mindanao there are
known gold-bearing districts. the Province OF
graVels and veins and the Province OF Misamas.
Near the settlement OF Imponan and or the Gulf
OF Macaja lar there said TO be many square
kilometres OF gravel carrying large quantities Of
gold. with which platinum is associated. The
product OF this district estimated some years
ago az 80 ounces month. all extracted by natives
with bateas or cocoanut-she dishes.