Evening star., 1901-10-14

The land area is one-half the size Of New
YORK. In population the numbers exceed
any one OF forty states in the American
Union, having trif1e more population thar
Michigan and exactly 100000 more thar
California.
The entire group is of volcanic origin
the average altitude of it's peaks being from
1,00O to 1900 feet. The greatest elevation
is Mount Copton, 10, $50 feet high, in Bohol
All the islands are well provided with
rivers and indented with numerous bays
and harbors, five of them being the largest
IN the archipelago. Bohol, Cebu, Leyte
Negros and Iloflo, in Panay, have a num-
ber of fine roads. The sea channels be-
tween the islands, particularly the southern
route across them for vessels plying be-
tween the United States and Manila, are
well lighted. The United States maintains
the finest system of maritime lights in the
far east. In the entire group are $50 towns
ranging from ], 800 to $1,000 inhabitants and
1,364 villages.
Among the dependent islands, numbering
49O charted and named, are many of ge-
ographical importance, both in area and
economic conditions.
The mineral wealth is also great. In Bo-
hol iron, copper, gold and coal are found.
In Cebu are deposits of coal which scien-
tif1c investigation has shown yield a prod
uct equal to the best grades of English
and superior to that from Australia. Gold
and silver-bearing lead ore and petroleum
are among the other mineral products In
Leyte are gold, iron, magnitite, lead silver
leum. In Masbate Ignite and gold. In Ne
gros valuable seams of coal. In Panay iron
gypsum, mari, anthracite COAL gold and
marble of varied colorS and fine structure
All the islands abound in forests of the best
varieties of wood, including teak, ebony,
juniper. molave and bamboo. Also medici-
nal and dye plants are numerous. Damar
(pftch), resins, gums. mastic or wax and
honey are produced in abundance.
The mechanical industries are we'll repre-
sented. among them weaving of fabrics in
silk, pineapple (pina cloth, cotton and
hemp; the manufacture of blankets nap
kins and mats as specialties in Bohol;
sugar, salt, cocoanut wine, pottery, textiles
of silk, Sinamay, hemp, cotton, sugar sacks
and cheese as specialties in Cebu; abaca
and canonegro or boat cables from hemp
chocolate and cocoanut oil in Leyte bay
ones or sugar sacks of bari and palm mats
in Masbate; sugar sacks, palm-leaf hats
baskets and alcohol in Panay. In Leyte the
women are particularly skilled in lace max
ing and embroidery. The raising of cat
tie, caraboas, horses and hogs gives occu-
patton to a large number in all the islands
The fisheries are also important the chief
products of the sea being beche de mere
drepang). sponges, shell. particularly the
glass sponge of Venus flower baskets the
rare Gloria Maria and pearls.
The caverns along the coast produce the
finest edible birds nests known 10 COM
merce in the far east. In all the islands
weekly fairs are held at important towns
The commerce of the group in all the
products Of agriculture manufacture and
fishery Is extensive, the exports Of hemp,
sugar and copra In 1889 amounting 20 527,-
9S5 piculs (32, ,997 tons); sugar, ,40S 4SO pf-
culs (SS,O79 tons); copra, 75,503 piculs a. ,71S
tons).
The occupation of the visayan group was
among the earliest military movements
after the signing of the treaty of peace
with Spain. The garrisoned points were
selected on account Of their commercial
importance and the value of productive in
dustries in the surrounding regions.