The evening times., 1900-06-28
THE FUTURE OF MANILA
4 British Consul Writes of Trade
in the Philippines.
+. Improvement Visible in Every DEcc-
tfon-Lasv and Order Rapidly he
prise Warmly COmmended-LnzO
to he n Great Commercial Power.

Marshal Halstead. the American Consul
at Birmingham. England. has sent to the
State Department an abstract OF the an
nual report OF the British Consul at Ma
Mia. which treats OF trade conditions in
the Philippines. It follows:
The collapse Of the insurrection last
November and the opening Of the ports
since January having restored confidence.
great activity in commercial quarters has
ensued: but the continuation Of this pros
porous state OF affairs is very much de-
pendent upon circumstance, for. though
the ports are safe. the interior OF this
island and of many Of the others is quite
the contrary. When the accumulated car
goes Low u these Vcrts are disposed o..
Il viii depend on tbs state Ct the country
whether any further exports are fortacon-
Ing Law AID order are being restored Is
rapidly as possible. but the immense size
Cf the country renders il a difficult task
The natives. l believe. would willingly re-
turn 70 their agricultural pursuits, but the
influence OF their leaders appears sum
ciently strong 10 keep them from surren-
derirg
Prices have increased to such an extent
that Manila. which till recently might be
eIaSsad as q cheap place to live IN.
must now be considered the reverse As
yet the provision markets are 70. seri
Ously affected though fruit. vegetables,
game, etc. are 20 per cent deeTer- but
house rents. servants. carriages. horses,
launches. and labor Of every description
are already treble the price CT last year.
In consequence Of the great demand.
launch hire and everytEAS connected
with shipping com EaEds its own price.
Improvements are visible in every di-
rectiOn. and already the town has quite
different appearance <rCn last year. The
work OF draining the filthy town ditches
and stagEant pools, which IS in contempt
ticn, may possibly entail an epidemic. but
the advantage TO poste-ity is iaestimable.
The recovered land of the city walls and
1,cat viii provide building sites which
american enterprise viii kn0w how to util-
ize; and although Manila viii never be-
come a fashionable watering place. II may
become q great commercial power in these
waters before the first quarter of the cen
tury is passed
The two wei-kaOwn leading industries
of Msnila-hemp ana tobaecO-wiil. I fear.
suffer very severely for some tiT1e from
the late insurrectiOn: but there are no
doubt at present golden opportunities for
the employment OF capital and talent IN
many local trades. Ice manufactures. IIv-
cry stables. hotels. and general enterprise
are much wanted; but ] most strongly
deprecate young men without capital Cno
matter what their education may bel com
ing here in search Of employment. The
telephone, the water supply. and the eIec,
tric lighting sre Spanish. and also deserve
great praise. TIE electric-Iighting plant
is being enlarged. and Manila viii soon BE-
one OF the best lighted towns in the East
The Chinese labor question is one OF
great Importance IN these Islands Ameri-
cas- experience OF ii in California not be-
ing satisfactory. there is strong influence
against il; but, taking into consideration
the natural incidence Of the Filipino, il
will probably be found impossible 20 DO
without the Chinese. One of the principal
objections is that by their Industrious hab-
its they gradually obtain a monopoly in
all retail trades; but this may be rene
died by cCnfning their enterprise simply
TO manual labor. and for this they are
most admirably adapted, and in the hot
season positively necessary. The Filipiros
make excellent clerks If they can be wen
overlooked; but if allowed. they Will
spend their time in gaubling and cock
fighting. They have no idea Of putting
energy into any OF their pursuits, and
have no commercial instincts; they also
care little for money, loss, OF gain being
to them apparently a matter Of indiffer-
ence-
A copy Of the report to which Mr.. Hal
stead refers having been received by the
Bureau Of Foreign CoInmsr cree the follow
ing extracts are added The British Vice
Consul at Hoilo says
The Crited States forces having now
successfully occupied the better part Of the
island, the end OF this year auguTs well
fer a happier future, ard. when once
peaceful rule is established. many import
ant Improvements win tSke place.
The island OF Negros is in a more sat-
istactory state. and, although the crops for
1900 may not be very large. owing to the
difficulties which had TO be overcome in
procuring labor. the planting for the 19o0-
1901 crop, 1 have reason to believe. is ex-
tensiVe."
The British Vice Consul at Cebu reports