The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-08-12

are now turneu py old-fashioned water
wheels. while others which are run by
steam engines and buffaloes. are near to
splendid water powers. Power to move
railroads across the Island of Luzon might
be gotten from the mountain streams, and,
indeed. all the manufacturing OF this island
could be done with the aid of dynamos. In
the past cotton was successfully raised in
Ilocos. one of the Provinces of the North.
but the Government discouraged 1t and
caused plantations TO be turned over to
tobacco. II cotton should again be planted
In that region the power for factories could
easily be had from the streams and the
great market Of China might be partially
, supplied from here. The same might be
done in other parts of the islands.
Railroad Investments.
] see that Mr.. Barrett, former Minister
! from the United States to Siam. estimates
that $l5O, 10000 of American capital might
be profitably invested in the building of
railroads in the Philippine Islands. I can
not give accurate estimates of what rail
roads will cost here, but there Is no reason
why they should cost more than in the
United States. and the lines that might be
proftab!y constructed are many.
Take a look at the Islands and you will
see something of the enormous possibilities
of such investments. Luzon is as long as
from New York to Pittsburg. and wider at
the north than from Baltimore to New
York. 1t is in shape like an immense bird
squatting down upon China. with its great
body toward the north and its long neck,
craw and head toward the south.
1t Is the richest bird in the aviary OF the
universe. Its tail is fat with tobacco and
coffee, its bowels and stomach are loaded
with sugar and rice, and its neck and head
contain some Of the richest hemp, sugar and
cocoanut lands known to man. The best
hemp of the world is raised in it's bill, and
the whole of its body is fcathered IN spcts
with mountains of minerals and most val
liable timber.
The railroads already contemplated em-
brace, l should say. at Il rough guess. at
least a thousand miles, and the probability
is that more than this could be protitab!y
built. The passengers and the freight al
ready in existence Will make the roads pay.
and at the same time they would bring
ABOUT surn i development OF the country as
10 make their stocA increase in value rlgut
a.ong.
The Only Railroad of the Philippines.
At plesrnt there is but one railroad III
Luzon, ard this is the only ore in the Phil
ipp.ne Islands. 1t is 10 miles long, running
from Mania north through the valley IL
the Gui: of Linsayan. 1t taps one of the
rich rice and susar-raising centers of The
Island, but one whiSh Is no better than
much Of tne country south of here ana
which is not So fertile, 1t Is said, as the
rich valley of the cayagan. further north.
The Manila Dagup n Railroad, as 1t IS
called. Is the property of a syndicate of
London capitalists. it was started with Il
capital Of s., 600. GO, ON which the Spanish
Government guaranteed an interest of s per
cent. which guarantee the company ex'
poets the United States to continue. The
term of it's concession WIS ninety-nins years
from about 1855. and at the end of hat
time it was to belong % the Government,
The railroad has not conformet 10 The
terms Of the original concession. The frs,
company failed. and 1t wds NOT completed
as agreed. it has since increased it's CAPT.
tai to Sl7, 900. coo. and It probably can pay
dividends on that amount. The road is vel
built. but is now in very bad repair, having
been torn up again ana again during ths
war. 1t is now being operated by ths
United States Army. two passenger train:
each way passing over 1t every day. Thu
company demands heavy damages Of The
Americans for the destruction caused b!
the war, its claims running up into 1h'
millions of dollars.
Some Possible Railroads in Luzon.
Among the railroads which will probabl.
be planned as soon as the islands have be
come thoroughly pacitied are lines iron
Dagupan north along the west coast It
San Fernando, Vigan, Loag and the ex
treme northwestern end of Luzon. and ais
from Bacolor or Manila through the Prov
inces Of central and northeastern Luzon t
Apart. Both Of these lines could be easil,
built. They would be Of immense advan
tage to the Government in a military wa
and would probably pay from the start. a
they open up some Of the richest lands Q
tho Philippines. They would bring III
Z. ! great tobacco fields of the Philippines with