Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-02-22
Guiding mahogany. teak. and also q
kind Of cedar and species of pine.
THE MOUNTAIN COUNTRY.

Guiding mahogany. teak. and also a
kind Of cedar and species of pine.
THE MOUNTAIN COUNTRY.
THE mountains, are beautiful; as
States. Clear. cool streams break out
everywhere with water almost as cold
as the Pecos. Water power can be Sc
cured almost anywhere along the foot
hills. and any amount Of 1t, too. Good
grass grows everywhere In the noun
| tains, and what cattle there are are
| kept fat all the year around. Dame tells
| me that 1t Is the finest cattle and sheep
country that he ever saw. All kinds of
vegetables are raised the same as at
home, and the fruits of the temperate
zone flourish.
Gold is found in many places, both
in placers and Lodges. Copper is found in
large quantities as well as iron zinc
lead and immense deposits of coal and
sulphur; in fact, all kinds of mineral
deposits which have thus far only been
scratched. This main mountain range
rises 5000 to 5000 feet above the sea
level.
Crossing ove.' the mountain range, In
the shadow Of Caraballo Sur, looking
east, the country is most beautiful, con-
sisting of a number Of smaller ranges
and charming valleys, reminding me of
the valleys of New Mexico, only many
times larger and more beautiful. Every
little valley has river nearly all Of
them deep enough to swim horse, with
water as clear as crystal and as swift
as millrace.
Crossing the range from here by
way of Canauglan, one reaches Nueva
Viscaya, the finest province of the is
Is raised, comparing favorably with
| Mocha and Java. Much Of the coffee
| grows wild. Passing down the valley
by the capital, Bayombong, the largest
| valley Of Luzon Is reached, that of
Cayagan, along the large river of that
| name. Isabella province Is the greatest
tobacco district of the Philippines, and
there is more tobacco raised in this
province than In any other, and yet 1t
Is almost entirely undeveloped, as is
Nueva Viscaya. These two provinces
are the garden Of the Philippines, They
are very inaccessible, however, and
therefore development has been retard-
ed. The great Rio Grande del Cagayan
is navigable for 300 miles. with good
harbor at the mouth, at Aparri, In the
northern part of the island. The noun
tain streams are filled with fish, and
deer can be seen anywhere; also quail,
grouse, pheasants and wild chickens.
Cocks crow in the widest parts, and in
the early morning one Is awakened by
them.
II have seen no large snakes as yet.
Lizards 8 to 4 feet long are found any
where. Bats as big as buzzards and
black as pitch may be seen by the thou
sands clinging to trees tanning them
selves in the heat Of the day with their
uncanny wings. They are vampires,
but have not heard of any one being
harmed by them. Monkeys and parrots
Of all colors are everywhere. The for
mer come into the houses here every
day and night, and some Of them are
getting quite tame. Every soldier here
has a monkey. There are many beau
tiful birds here.
1.-THE country is as healthy as any
To-. IL =,
conditions. The mountain part in win
ter Is truly delightful, and as healthy as
New Mexico mountains to persons taxi
ing care of themselves. The rainy sea-
son, of course, Is unhealthy in the flat
country, where the whole land is SIM
ply a mudhole without bottom. In the
mountains the water runs off rapidly.
The rainy season commences about the
Of October varying In many localities.
None but the most primitive tools
and implements are used. For instance.
all the rice is transplanted by hand, and
yet it pays a big profit at cents
pound. Floors in houses are whipsawed
out OF the most beautiful hardwoods,
including mahogany and ebony. There
Is no sawmill on the island, and there
is splendid opportunity for enterprise
to make money with little capital.
But before anything can be done the
people must be taught that their future
lies in American domination.
PEOPLE OF THE ISLANDS.
"The people Of the Philippines may
be divided into three large classes: Ma
lay, Chinese and Spanish, with a mix.
ture Of all three and many counter
crosses. There are more than thirty
different tribes, speaking as many diff
ferent tongues. The Tagals are the
largest tribe, and certainly the predom-