Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1901-03-07
PHILIPPINE MINERALS.
Rich Deposits of Copper and
Coal Found In the Islands.
MANY AMERICAN PROSECUTORS.

Obtained From Practical Tests of
Philippine Goals They Do Not
CIinker-VaIuabIe Deposits of Gold
and Iron Ore Found.
The Philippines commission in it's
report on the mineral wealth of the is
lands says:
according to the chief of the mining
bureau, there are now some 1920 pros
pectorS and practical miners scattered
through the different islands of the
archipelago. OF these probably 90 per
cent are Americans. They are pushing
their way into the more. inaccessible
regions, furnishing their own protec-
ton and doing prospecting Of a sort
and to an extent never before paral-
leled in b history Of the Philippine
Islands. The result it that our knowl-
edge Of the mineral Of the
GROUP is rapidly increasing. When all
due allowance is made for prospectors'
e-Xaggerations, it is not too much to say
that the work thus far lone has DEM
onStrated the existence of many val
liable mining fields. The provinces Of
Benguet, Gepanto and Bontoc in par
ticular form a district Of great rich
ness.
"In the province of Lepanto at Man
cayan and Suyoc there are immense
deposits of gray copper and copper
sulphide, and running through this ore
are veins of gold bearing quartz, which
is more or less disintegrated and in
places is extremely rich. This copper
ore has been assayed. and the claim is
made that it runs on an average 8 per
cent copper, while gold is often present
in considerable quantities. The de-
posts are SO extensive as to seem
almost n~eXhaustible.
"Lignites are known to exist in Lu-
Zon, Batan (the island, not the prov
ince), Mindoro, Masbate, Negros, Cebu,
Mindanao and other islands. Some Of
the deposits are very extensive. AS yet
they have been worked at or near the
surface. It is therefore remarkable
that the samples thus far obtained
should prove to be as good as is shown
by actual analysis. Testimony is unan-
imous to the fact that the Philippine
Goals do not clinker nor do they soil the
boiler tubes to any such extent as do
Japanese and Australian Goals. Some
of them have been given practical tests
in steamers engaged in the coasting
AAooS VI LIZ ASAApSAo9 "ACA NSAJ SNO
isfactory results as regards their steam
making properties.
"The extensive fields near B~u1acacao,
in southern Mindoro, are within four to
six miles of a harbor which gives safe
anchorage throughout the year and
which has water deep enough for the
largest ocean going vessels. Some OF
the Cebu deposits are also conveniently
cif1o4o6 with roforon1a RI horhor fo0i1
tiles. It is to be confidently expected
that the Goals will play a very impor'
tant part in the future development OF
the archipelago.
"The outlook as to gold mines grows
more favorable as the operations OF
prospectors are extended. Modern golG
mining machinery has never been USED
In the Philippines. Igorrote miners il
the Benguet- Lepanto- Bontoc distric
discard all rock in which there is no
visible a considerable quantity Of fret
gold. Prospectors in. this region claim
to have located very extensive depositI
of low grade, free milling ore, which
will yield large and certain returns a
soon as concessions a be secured an
machinery put in place.
UNLESS the statements Of those VIII
have been working in this region ar
utterly false, it is r that very valu
able deposits. have been located ant
that extensive operations will be IN
dertaken as oon as claims can b
granted and machinery placed. At a.
events it is certain that the men VIII
have located these deposits have stuff
cient faith in them to camp on Their
and wait month after month for tn
time to come when they can establis
their claims.
Extensive deposits of high grad
| iron ore are known to exist, but
would seem that their development
must be preceded by the development
Of the coalieldS."
The commissioners say that it is G
great Importance that some tribuns
! should be established at he earlies
possible date by which the legal statu
of hundreds of claims may be detel
mined. The island government is IL
o terested in the clearing up of titles
these mining properties on account
9 the revenues which would result. III
owners, or would be owners, are int
: ested on account of the possible prof
;. to themselves. The people at lars
are interested on account of the il
creased opportunities for the emplo.
ment of labor which would accompan
the active development of mineral d
:, posits. There is every reason, Their
= fore, why a mining code shoul be e.
y acted for these islands at the earle
:, practicable time and suitable provisiC
- made for determining the rights Of g
. claimants, to mining properties. 1t
- believed that this whole matter shou
i e be dealt with here by the legislati7
" body at present existing in the island
but the commission has held that
- cannot determine questions arising
~ to existing claims nor consider app