The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1901-02-16
THE PHILIPPINES
VALUATION oF<oUR RECENTLY
ACQUIRED POSSESSIONS.
An Interesting Let, or f. ON San Fernando
de Ia Union Stating Many Facts not
Hitherto Generally Known III This Coun
SPECIAL TO THE APPEALj

SPECIAL TO THE APPEALj ....t
Luzan, P. l., Jan. 5, 1901.
"A long time will undoubtedly elapse
before the character and resources
OF the Archipelago will be fully known
MY own opportunities for gathering in
formation have been excellent. AS
the regiment is stretched to cover this
department. each battalion has it's head
quarters, subject to orders, per tele-
graphic instructions.
I have been acting as commissary
purchaser of fresh beef, which neces-
states my taking extra trips to diff
ferent provinces for the purchase of
same.
I spent three weeks in the Island of
Negroes and another two weeks in
Panay, studied and examined the en-
virons of the towns of Jolo and Visug-
bu Liam. I derived much information
from natives as to localities I was
unable to visit. Invariably one of the
first questions that people ask about
the Philippines concerns the climate
When in San Francisco, Cal, pre-
vious to embarkation I learned from
various ex-soldiers and sojourners in
the Archipelago many different opin-
ions on this subject, which, however,
is not a matter of opinion, but of rec
ord. The climate of Manila is almost
identical with that of Santiago de Cuba.
1t seems less uncomfortable to most
people than July and August in Chi
cago, because the climate is a very
equable one. We have no sudden
changes to fear. Men can, and do,
habitually dress in the lightest of
underclothing, wearing over it only a
thin unlined duck coat and trousers;
and in as much as the variations are
very moderate one soon becomes ac-
custOmed to the warmth.
The mean temperature of the year
1900 was about 80 degrees F. The cool
season (the present time) lasts from
November until March list. In the
cool months the rainfall is very small.
only occasional thunder showers. The
hot season includes March, April and
May, the last being the hottest month.
The hCt season ends in June with the
exception of the Southwest monsoon
and the beginning of the rains, which
last till about November 31st.~ July
31st to August Sth, 1900, it rained with
a violence which is maintained in our
showers at home; for only or 10
minutes.
The total rainfall during the entire
wet season is about 1870 inches, of the
| day about 10 inches. The chief food
| staple of the Filipinos is lowland rice
! and the population is densest in those
half areas, where campaigning
during the wet season is extremely
! difficult | am aware Of this from ex-
perience.
On the 30th of. July left Baloean
de la Union with detachment CT II
)smen and one corporal to escort rations
| up the river by the aid of cascoes Ga
! native lighter for shallow waters).
Rain set in on the evening of the Both
and continued, day and night for 228
! successive hours. Nearly all Of the
raticns were destroyed or damaged to
! such an extent that a. board of sur
| vey was appointed by the department
| commander upon their arrival at
| Tagudin
| This is why our army attempted and
effected so little from June list to
| October list, 1899. All the larger
| towns of the Philippines are on the
! lowlands, plain or on the seacoast
| but some Of the mountainous REGIONS
are also settled
Where the altitude is from 5000 to
1000 feet, as in the province Of Ben
! guet and parts of de la Union, the tenn
| perature is magnificent, sinking as
| lew as 20 degrees in the evening and
early morning, and rising no higher
than Is degrees. This region is only
! 200 miles from Manila
Whenever Y,ra h1o Vxro c1oop md n,
mosquito nets and although they are
| not very troublesome it is a safeguard
and a comfort. In our campaign the
dysentery and allied disorders, some
small pox. Insanity from excessive
drinking is very prevalent among the
troops in the Orient
The U. S. A.. transport, Hancock
sailed on September 18th, for San
Francisco, CAL, with .125 insane SOL
diers, taking them to the states for
treatment.
Under the circumstances which at
tend active military operations men
will drink water without making any
choice, while when in camp all water
is boiled and sterilized before allowed
to drink.
Fatty foods are most injurious and
the chief article OF" Uncle Sans ration
is (sow belly) bacon.
People who are in need Of the brac-
ing effects of the cold will not thrive
here, but with due prudence it can
be said you have nothing to fear from
the climate Of the Philippines. ;.
The Philippines offer field for skill
ed labor, such as mechanics, mining
foremen, railway men, agriculturists,
stock breeders, professional men, man
ufacturers, in fact commercial men
of all grades could thrive with great
or small capital. In short, all ca
reers are possible in the Philippine Is
lands.
1t is easy to see that the Archipelago
must be a fertile region. Igneous rocks
of various species and lime stone are
abundant The rain fall is copious,
the mean temperature is high and
frosts are unknown with the excep-
ton Of in the mountains of Northern
Luzon. Under such conditions plant
food is rapidly generated and fertility
is inevitable. When we were station
ed in San Gabriel in April, '99, where
bamboo, the. native material used for
building purposes, thrives extensively,
took the measurement of some ham