Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-22
THE PHILIPPINES VALUE.
Their Importance to This Country
Cannot BE Overestimated.

Their Importance to This Country
Cannot BE Overestimated.
Gen. Frederick D. Grant In LeslIes Weekly.
The value OF the Philippines to the United
States cannot be overestimated. 1t will in
crease with the development of the islands
and the growth OF our trade with Asia. 1t
Is greatest. therefore, from a commercial
standpoint. but is remarkable also as
strategic basis in time of war. We have
added a vast area to the United States Of
incompatible richness. natural resources
and fertility. The climate Is saiubrtous
and the Anglo-Saxon can live in any part
Of the country with comfort and little ex-
pense comparatively because of the warm
weather. man with a small income can
build up a competence there more readily
than in this country, and the field is full of
opportunity for the industrious and the
thrifty. The soil is capable of supporting
three times the present number of in
habitantS. and of doing it much better than
they are now supported, when there are
better facilities of transportation.
Anything that grows in the temperate
and tropical zones can be raised some
where in the mountains or plains of the
Philippines.
A great many Americans went out to the
Philippines on prospecting tours but were
disappointed at the passage of the Spooner
bill with its amendments. which pre-
vents the granting of any franchises until
Congress makes laws to regulate them l
am told that surveys have been made for
several TdllrOduS, winch would aDDrOXi-
mately cover the following routes: One
2D miles to the south of Manila; another
40 miles through the eastern part Of the
great valley of Luzon, directly inland to
Benguet in the mountains, and a third 10
miles to the north. being an extension of
the present road. This will make the pres
ent line 80 miles long. If the extension is
built.
manufactures in the islands, and the whole
trade of the archipelago will come under
our exclusive control In a few years: that
Is, as soon as the clause of the treaty of
peace by which We agreed to give Spain
equal trade privileges in the Islands with
ourselves expires
The FillpinOs belong to the thirteenth or
fourteenth century. but are a kind. peace
/ loving and intelligent people. This Is true
! OF the whole, SO far as I have observed and
Is not confined to any particular locality or
class. The people are loyal are fond of
displaying the stars and stripes, and look
| upon the Americans as a race of benefac-
! tors little less than wonderful in their In
genuity. And why not? We have liberated
and not enslaved them. We are taking
| them out OF their medieval lethargy and
| giving them work at better wages than
| they had before. We are giving them mar
kets for their produce, schools and educa-
! ton for their children, and better govern
| ment than they could have under any other
| system. We have restrained the predatory
| tribes who think nothing OF descending on
neighbors who may be weaker or unpre-
! pared for defense. and stripping their fields
| of harvests and cattle and carrying the loo,
| to their homes. This, however. indicates a
| primitive state of civilization. and does not
| conflict with what have said Of the intel
! ligence and peaceful character of the Fiji
pinos.
The timber lands nearly all belong to the
/ government. There are forests of ebony,
/ mahogany and other rare hard and valu-
| able woods that will be used some day In
the United States for furniture and house
trimmings. OF these woods should Say
| there are at least one hundred varieties
| many of which are wholly unfamiliar to