The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-18


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Editor Louisiana PIanter:-Much has
been written and said about the mining
possibilities of the Philippine Islands, the
vast forests of mahogany woods, the un-
limited resources for the cultivation of
hemp, the development of the rice trade,
and excellent authorities have proclaimed
the value of the country to Americans
from the standpoint of commerce and
manufactures. / do not know why there
should not be mineral wealth in the ISL
ands, but during the three years 1 was
there I did not see much of it. 1t seemed
to me that the real wealth of the coun-
try lies in the soil, from which sugar,
hemp, rice, corn and other products may
be produced. The leading exports of the
islands have been and are now, sugar
hemp. tobacco and rice. During recent
years the sugar industry has been de-
veloped considerably, but not to such ex-
tent as to keep up with the general prog
ress of the islands. The situation is very
different now from what it was when
your correspondent first arrived in the
country in 1885, AT that time the sugar
plantations were at a standstin owing
to the war and sugar crops were per-
mitted to decay on the ground because
no one harvested the rich products Hun
dreds of sugar mills were burned by the
fighting armies. The walls of these su-
gar mills may still be seen standing and
in many cases the native owners have
rebuilt on the remnants of stone wall
work The machinery in most cases is
ruined by the burning or by the expos
ure to the elements.
SUGAR CULTURE CAPABLE OF EN-
TENSION.
In order to give your readers an idea
of the sugar industrial situation in the
islands. it will be necessary to begin at
the beginning. Your correspondent had
the opportunity of visiting the principal
sugar districts on Luzon, Panay, Negros
and Cebu islands, during the years 1898,
1899 and 1900. In most instances the SUI
gar plantations were idle. Vast fields
We're unworked because there was no en-
couragement for the Filipino to operate
his plantation only to have the crops
seized by the insurgents or destroyed in
the process of war. In conversation with
managers of the plantations, as regards
finances, l was informed that the costs
of sugar production were lower than in
Cuba. The difference In freight rates,
however, on raw sugar from the Philip
pines to this country, of course bars the
product from competition with Cuban
and Hawaiian products. Notwithstand-
ing this, considerable sugar is being
produced in the islands for export to Am
erica. The facilities for working the
plantations in the Philippines are more
favorable than formerly and this tends
to extend the markets for consumption.
The soil is excellent for the cultivation
of the sugar crop, and vast tracts may
be seen producing crops. The extensive
destruction of crops and sugar refneries
which occurred during the troublesome
times of the past few years has nearly
ceased and one may see many workmen
restoring buildings and planting new
crops. The work at the plantations is
carried on in very crude fashion. The
big water buffalo is employed to haul a
wood pointed pillow through the SOIL and
two or more natives guide the plow and
they make hard work of it, A few Am
erican plows for these plantations would
be very acceptable. There are no shovels,
hoes. picks, or other tools available and
the natives may be seen by the dozens
upon their hands and knees turning and
preparing the soil with their hands, Or
with little bambo sticks. Sometimes they
have iron bars made from wheel tires.
They use a ''bolo" knife to advantage in
this work The crop is cared for on the
same crude plans. Machinery for farm
ing purposes is not available, although
! understand that there has been good
call for it since Americans began buying
these sugar plantations and cultivating
them.
BEET SUGAR.
The production of beet sugar In the
islands has received the attention of both
the natives and foreigners, and is car
ried on in some of the interior sections
! of the islands of Luzon and Panay. The
conditions of soil, climate and other ad
yantages appear to be favorable to tht
planting and growing of the beet sugar
] crops. I understand that the planters
who have produced beet sugar in the
/ past estimate that the beets yield abou
| Is per cent. The beets are grown by the
I natives, the Chinese coolies, and the for
eigners, under contract with buyers Of
the crop, and paid for according to tht
7 saccharine contents of the article. Their
are means employed for determining tn,
value by chemical tests, and you can SEE
! testing performed at the offices of the
buyers where the beets are taken from
the baskets of the native carriers an(
weighed, sliced and chemically proven
| The mechanical devices employed in tn,
! working of the beets are of course in
I ferior in their construction, and the fin
! ished crop of sugar is not always up t
] the standard. However, the outlook Il
] bright for improving the brand by usins
! better and more up-to-date mechanical
! apparatus. Most of the sugar produc
! of this grade is sold to the local mer
] chants. I have heard of none being ex
! ported as yet.
y AS TO PLANTATION HELP.
One OF the advantages possessed by til
Filipino sugar planter is that he ca
hire help very cheaply. The averag
sr Filipino farm hand will work for tie
~ cents per day and board himself Ma
=. tive boys may be hired still cheaper. TIL
Chinese coolies overrun the farming sec
Z lions and they are first rate laborer:
" steady and reliable working for abou
eight cents per day. American soldier
who have been discharged in the island
and who are familiar with pIantatio
work. are securing positions as foreme
on the sugar plantations. receiving fror
g to 81 per day for their services.
pays the rich native sugar mill and plan
" tation owner to have two or three super
! intendents or foremen who are Amer
cans, for then better protection is as
- sured, and also means introduced for tn
e improving of the plant by putting
u American machinery. Many of these 81
gar planters own extensive r,-py,ar+f.