The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-10-11
MONEY In MANILA.
A Health Resort for Free Silver
Fanatics.

dar was worth $500, Mexican. Last
year the English bank and Chinese
merchants undertook to discrimi-
nate against American silver and
currency, but published order stat-
ing that the chief paymaster would
at any time give gold coin in ex-
change for silver and currency put a
stop to this steal A few weeks ago
the rate of exchange dropped to SO 90
Mex, then.to 81 9S and last week to
S1.97. There is scarcity of the Mex
lean coin and the old bills issued by
the Filipino-Spanish bank have al
most ceased to circular. They are
at slight premium too, because of
their convenience, though their back
ing is not all that could be desired.
The recent difficulties finally led TO
the issue 70 the opder that establishes
the pesoIat fifty cents gold and in
structs disbursing officers to provide
themselves with the Mexican money
as well as American. Strangely
enough until the present month US.
money was not accepted at the Gus
tom house, though Americans have
been in charge two years. This was
due to the general system adopted,
under which all existing laws were
to be enforced. Other things have
occurred just as strange as the re-
fusal by the government of it's own
coin in the custom house over which
it's flag floats.
AS l spent the whole winter until
March in New York and east it was
May % when we finally reached Ma
Mia. Nearly all the tim esince has
been spent in the city, where we now
occupy large government building,
and handle large quantities of sup
plies for the army and navy. The
troops are all very widely scattered,
Occupying over 400 stations, land only
in fewiplaces can more than two
or three companies be found to-
gether, while in great many places
a singlescompany will be divided be-
tween three or four "bauios" or viii
lagos.
We have several travelling secreta-
ries who visit these isolated stations,
taking supplies and holding meetings.
In the month ofaJuly more than 2OO,-
600 pieces of-stationery were sent out
to the garrisons, and large quantities
of books, magazines and periodicals.
1t is literally impossible to supply the
demand for reading matter. Organs,
song books, and testaments are also
sent out to the garrisons and the hos
pitfalls, the chaplains and missionaries
using all supplies for the soldiers just
the same as the employed secretaries.
One secretary and full equipment of
supplies went with the China expedi-
ton, and he has probably opened up
headquarters in Tien Tsin. This man
is also a competent physician and has
field surgical outfit. The affairs in
China arouse a far greater interest
here than the recent outbreaks in
Samar and Mindinao.
In Manila our building is crowded
all the timeI with soldiers from the
regiments on duty here and men GO
ing from the hospitals or in the city
on pass and sailors on liberty. We
have we'll supplied reading room, a
library of over 1000 volumes, cores
pondence rooms, games, baths, dor
mitory of forty beds, and good hall
where meetings, lectures and enter
tainments are held. A piano, gramo-
phone, music box and stereopticon
are regular attractions. The last three
were special gifts of Miss Helen Miller
Gould, as well as some fine pictures
that adorn the walls.
have seen quite a number of the
'lst Iowa boys, several holding clerk
ships in the Quartermaster's Depart
nent and some in other positions.
Capt. Will H. Point is now stationed
1t Lingayen and is making an excel
ent record for himself. Ed Fisher
md" Shorty Kramer, of G company,
18th Unfit, are in very lonesome
own-Alaminas, west of Lingayen.
Elmer Orvis and w. p. Brown are at |
Santa Cruz, Laguna province, in L
Troop, 18th Cavalry. Orvis is quar-
ermaster sergeant and Fisher is a
corporal. 1t is hard to get passes for
Manila and Fisher is the only one of |
hese | have seen, though l have |
leard from all the others. 1t was his
irst trip to town since October, '99.
would like very much to be home
o vote for Major Lacey and McKin-
ey and Roosevelt. But l have no
ears as to the election of all three
Il them. If any one comes around
he HERALD Office talking free silver,
end them over here. A few hours
inging "dhobie" dollars to pick out
he Chinese counterfeits would close
heir faces on that question forever.
The HERALD comes regularly and
3 read with eagerness and sent on to
ONE of the oskaloosa contingent.
you for it and with regards
0 all the HERALD family, and wish
ng the staunch old paper second
alf century of prosperity, remain
Yours sincerely,
e. w. HEARNE.