The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1899-09-15
RICHES Of OUR ISLANDS
Streams Full Of Placer Gold and
Lodges in the Hills.
A LAND OF BEAUTIFUL TIMBER
A Wonderful SOil-FOOd Grows Sponta-
taneou usly-Tribes of FerociOus In
dians-M Modern Railroads To
BE Established Soon.

While the flag floats over the Philip
pine Islands It will be interesting to
know something of their resources and
mining possibilities. A mining man
ager of that part of the world says OF
them: las mining country l have
never seen Its equal; there is gold every
where. The little streams are full OF
placer gold and the mountains net
work of small lodges, some of them run
ming as much as from four to six ounces
per ton; but the people are at least one
thousand years behind the times; no
work has yet been done here in salts
factory manner, and for several reasons
it is almost impossible to prospect here.
The government does not give proper
protection to justify any man spending
his time prospecting. Another reason is
the interior of the islands, which. in my
opinion. is the richest portion of them,
are peopled with wild tribes Of Indians
that are almost as ferocious as wild
beasts, and no prospecting could he done
in their territory unless the prOspectors
went in large parties; and another rea-
son is that the foliage, which is regu-
lar jungle, is so thick that man can
not get through it. If any other nation
90 earth had this country, 1t would very
soon be the largest gold.producing coun-
Try in the world, but everything is SO
han dicapped that it is impossible to get
capital TO come in here, ard 1t will take
capital to make success of IL. The ore
is all high grade, but am little afraid
it cannot be successfully worked by free
milling process. have the machinery
on hand for 100-stamp mill, and, if il
is success the company will at once In
crease their works."
An interview with another gentleman
who just returned from the islands il
published in the Salt Lake Tribune. He
says that no one who has not been there
can appreciate what the United States
received in the acquisition of those
prnws spontaneously: here is the mos
lieves the islands will be found exceed
ingly rich in minerals. He does not be
lieve the rebellion going on there count:
after all is the labor question. The
Filipino can get living from an acre OF
two of ground. When hired out to work
for white man he does not care whether
be works or not. and if the white man il
the least bit urgent about Fie earning
his money, he quits. Why should gen
Al L. oil hn 70 in
world is ooard? Clothes are no obJec'
to him, and the country produces tn
board. He says there is little old saw
mill there that can saw board. but mo-
one that can saw log. The juice OF thu
sugar cane is expressed by beating j
with clubs and rocks. His thought II
that when the rainy season is owe
things will be settled there quickly. ant
then there will be rush of American
that no one dreams of now, to take ad
vantage of the immense opportunitie'
offered by those stands.
It is qui'e evident that others, asid,
from American capitalists have an ey'
on the opportunities for profitable in
vestment in the Philippine Islands
Even Spanish investors do not feel lik
leaving every hing to their successors
but propose to be in on the ground floor
and several railroads may be constructed
with Spanish capital.
| Agents for company Of Spanish cap
italis's, some of whom 1--we in Manila
announce that arrangements have beel
completed for the building of moderI
railroad line in Luzon that will connec
Manila with all the important town
along the west coast of the island a
far north as Laoag. The roSte is KEEP
secret, but it is understood that it vii
be tie same as proposed in 1875. whel
the scheme for government railroads il
the Philippines was officially projected
Three lines were planned at that time
only one of which was COMPLETED, th
present railroad, which runs FROM Ma
nilla TO Dagupap, distance Of u
miles.
The cor pany b keeping iss mov(
nents eecfet to prevent the two or thre
conpanies that are said 10 b OrGani.
ing 10 the United States tot the purpoe
of building railroade in LusOn from ai
ticipa,ine It in securing the Same fout
The Americans who have talked raj
I roads here generally believe that ne
town and port will be established eitht
/ on the north coast of LuZOn or u
4 northern part Of the west coast OF tt
. islands as terminus of the road. Tn
, would save $50 miles 10 sailing to Mani
for ships from the United States I
from Honakong, and, with rapid cor
) munication to Manila through the ric
est provinces of the island, would
reasonably certai: to grew rapidly.
Struck ON the Head.
Frank Harris, an employe of the f
metallic mill, was injured while