River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-10-24
Letter from the Philippines.
Calasiao, Sept. 4, 1901.
DEAR BROTHER:

Calasiao, Sept. 4, 1901.
DEAR BROTHER:
am located at Calasiao, Pangasi-
nan Province, about 100 miles north
Of Manila, on the railroad. 1t is stu
ated about four miles from the ocean
and probably is not more than 80 or
100 feet above sea level. Rice seems
to be the chief product OF the vicinity.
Cocoanut palms are very plentiful but
the cocoanuts are green at this time.
Everything here is very primitive.
There are no wagons, no horses, ex
cept the small native horses which are
only to ride, and no machinery. Ey-
cry native threshes his own rice and
does 1t as he needs 1t to eat.
Water buffaloes and Australian
cows are the chief draft animals.
They are always driven singly and
hitched to two-wheeled cart or to
sled. There is no tim Der in this part
OF the island. Labor here is cheap;
| give my boy S. gold month to
cook for me and that is big price.
Natives live ON about SO gold a
month and keep family usually Of
s or 10. Rent is cheap; | pay Sc gold
for iye-room cottage. 1t faces the
plaza and has lovely view from the
| front window. Ia Manila everything
Is very expensive. They all impose
upon the Americans and charge them
double prices for yerything. This is
truly from tier country, and | believe
that there is money to be made here,
but one has TO give up so many pleas
ures that l should not advise anyone
TO come. AS yet am not sorry that
came, although am practically the
only American in this city OF $4,000.
The only time that / see an American
is when | go down to the train and see
the train guard and usually one or two
tirst-class passengers.
Less than three years ago these very
people were insurgents, fighting the
American volunteer army across the
river not mile from here. They are
very pleasant, aud very anxious to
learn English. Apparently they are
very friendly to me. My native
teachers, II in NUM- Der, cannot speak
English, so | have started them In,
giving them an hour a day In which
we read and talk. Next Monday,
Sept. 8, school begins. We will teach
from 500 to 1000 a. N. all boys
and girls; from 1000 to HOO a. IN
| American teachers teach native
teachers; from 200 TO 400 p. m. we
will teach all of the boys and girls.
BY that arrangement the native
teachers teach -four hours a day, In
English as much as they can, other
wise in Spanish They go TO school
one hour each day to study English.
They receive $40 a month In gold.
hope TO establish night school here
in a few weeks, which will add some
$l5 month to my salary.
The government was very kind to
US, paid all OF my expenses from Peta-
luna TO Manila and started my full
pay July 10Th, three days before l left
San Francisco. The fare alone is
$3.50.
am besieged with callers, having
from eight TO ten day, so / have no
opportunity TO get lonesome. The
climate has been delightful so far.
This is the rainy season-July, Aug
ust, Septem Der, and October. 1t has
rained once or twice every day so far;
sometimes they are heavy showers
Novem Der, Decem Der, January, and
February will be the cold months,
and mparatively dry, so | anticipate
a pleasant winter. am To have two
American lady teachers and another
American man teacher, hence more
company after while.
| trust this will find you all we'll and
prosperous.
Your affectionate brother,
CHAs. F.. PUTNAM.