The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-12-06
TRADE GOOD
IN MANILA
Many Chances for
American With
Cash.

There is an excellent opportunity OPP
ened for men with capital and good ideas
to make money, and plenty of it, in the
Philippines" said X. II. Brotherton yes
terday. Mr.. Brotherton, who was here
for two years as secretary to Colonel
Rubin, when that officer was the depot
Nuartermaster, arrived in the Peru from
the Orient. Oh his way to San Francisco.
after stop of some weeks here.
During the past three years there have
been many good things opened UP by
Americans who have gone down to the
islands, and there are still many just as
good awaiting the arrival OF the man
who has the energy and push to make
the opening. The fact is that every kind
of labor saving utensil is needed, and
wanted too, in the islands For CEN
fury the people have stood still, and now
they turn their soil with bent limb of
= tree. There was not a steel plow in the
group until an American took one there.
American capital has been introduced
in many directions, though ii is not go
ing in with the rapidity expected and the
Investments have not been In the lines
which the older residents looked for. In
the valley of the Cagayan two rich plan
iati9ns, ranging above 25,000 acres in ex-
tent. have recently been bought by Amer
leans. and IT is undersoo to be the in
tcntion to improve them at once. There
have been other purchases In the north
ern end of the island, too, and the capac-
ity of the islands for production of SUI
gar and tobacco VIII bc taxed soon.
with characteristic enterprise, some
americans have already taken M the
plan of making "A syn1i2a:e for tho plir-
pose, of controlling the oiipu; Of hemp
1t is easicr to control "a. crop than to
take care Of the growing Of it. 50 the
men behind the enterprise have been
consolidating the old IGteros'.s, Which in
the past used to control the m trket. This
viii affect the southern islands much
more than the island of Lus IN, 'i"h is
not heavily in the hemp growing bust
ness.
The timber business Is one of the most
rcmuneiative owing TO the high price of
lumber Of every kind. There is a little
ant which eats through Il large timber
stick, of any soft wood. within n coupl.
of weeks. rendering it impossible to use
other than the hardest OF woods in the
building of houses. There are not enough
houses in Manila and the rents are cX-
ceedingly high. Few houses are being
built on account of the high prices of
lumber Of all kinds There are few saw
mills, and again there are few licenses to
cut timber from the public lands Fol-
a few months early in the year, the IL
censes for timber cutting were not re-
newed. but the prices of lumber went
so high that the department allowed the
taking off of trees under the old plans.
This branch of industry employs many
men, but was hampered by the destruc-
ton OF so many of the caribou, which are
the only beasts of burden OF the country.
The timber most in use Is hard wood
something like oak, while there are 9TH
ar trees of the mahogany varieties which
enter largely into the trade
There are good deposits of minerals
in sight, the principal one being of
course the Goals, which are found as
close as fifty miles to Manila. This coal
is found also in other parts of the archi-
pelago, and while it is not of the very
best, it is as good as the Eagasaki, or
usual grade of the Japanese Goals. There
are, too, large measures of iron ores,
while 1t Is known that there is gold, for
the Spaniards for many years took gold
out of old mines. but the product was
small on account Of the methods follow
ed The Goals are being worked, but the
development of the mineral wealth Is
only desutory as yet.
Great things are expected from the
syndicates which are being organized for
the purpose of exploiting the country,
the Elkins company, which has been rep
resented planning the establishment
OF a bank with a capital of 5000, 900, be-
ing one of the greatest in sight. The
outlook for the men who have money
and will 20 into business is good. The
climate is not TO compare with Honolulu
but there are men there whose health is
of the very best. Governmentally, the
situation Is improving, and the people
nave confidence ia the administra ton of
Governor Taft" i
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