Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-21


they can see,' and may the contact
with good and true men in our con.
gressional halls open their eyes to tho
hlessedness of civilization and educa.
ton.
School Question Is Agitated.
The school question has lately been
brought up in Manila and many prom
inent Spaniards desired to have the
Catholic religion predominant. This
was, however, voted down as rightly
it should be, for am strongly of the
opinion that the place for religious in
struction is in our homes and church.
cs and not in the schools. Nearly all
the inhabitants over here that have
religion belong to the Catholic faith,
and honestly believe that those that
belong to it are true followers of its
teachings In some parts of the is
lands, understand the. Mohammedan
is present, but as yet have not come
in contact with any of that sect. Pos
sibly ] may before long and then
will have chance to study them and
find out what class of people they are.
Supply of Books.
We have received supply of books
for school we are about to open
here and it will be very interesting to
watch the. children. Around camp we
have large number of children look
ing for washing, selling us bananas,
oranges, cigars, etc. They seem to
pick up the English language very
readily Altho the unfortunate part
is, they seem to remember the Swear
words" all too we'll.
Railroads Are Limited.
Railroads are very limited over
here, and we only have one road. It
runs from Manila about $50 miles
northward. think if we had few
electric roads running from inland
towns to the coast they would pay. OF
course 1t is impossible to do this in
some sections,as the mountains would
prevent it. Over these they simply
have mountain trails, end there are
some places where they are just wide
enough for a small pony to get thru
with pack These ponies are really
beasts of burden, and it is surprising
to see the large quantity of merchan-
disc and other goods they can carry.
We also have an animal called the
cariboo It is somewhat like an OK,
and goes also by the name of "wa-
ter buffalo, They require to live near
the water and it is a very pretty sight
to see herd of them swimming in
the pools.
The Mule Is King.
At present the American mule is
king, and it is this class of animals
that We nave to rely upon when era
ton day" comes around. Every ten
days we get two large wagon loads OF
provisions brought out from Taal; our
headquarters about five miles distant.
Our cavalry men have horses, which
are brought over from the states. But
by the time they get here. am told,
they are worth about $500. A sea
voyage goes hard with them especial
ly if they run into any rough weather.
hear that ship arrived short
time ago with only one live horse out
of large consignment.
Native Police Force.
AS you are police judge. you will
be interested in our police here Ev-
cry town of any Importance has native
police, and they have these words,
Native Police" stamped en- their hat
bands. They recognize officers when.
they meet one, and come to attention
and salute them with all military re-
spect. / understand in Manila some
of the police did not refuse to take a
bride and as result new organiza-
ton has been instituted to be known
as the metropolitan Police of Mani
Ia" 1t will consist of American Off
GERS, both commissioned and non-com-
missioned, and is expected to be the
finest equipped in the world. The new
chief is to be man from st. Louis
and is reported to arrive in this coun-
try very soon, if not already here. The
soldiers are to be Withdrawn from
Manila, when The new force is organ
lied and will be sent to the surround
ing country.
Well. ! have written pretty long
letter; il you care to read it to the
lodge, you are at liberty to do so, as
cannot write to them all, altho I
have promised to write to few.
Yours .raternally,
Harry J. Watson.
| Care Chief Surgeon, Department
Southern Luzon, Manila, P. I.