The sun., 1901-05-26
We learn from Mr.. Sawyer that IT Is mis-

We learn from Mr. Sawyer that II 10 A mis-
take to suppose that nothing &. known OF
the geology or mineralogy Of the Philippines
or that no attempts have been made to ex-
plOit the mineral treasures As a matter OF
fact the maps Of the archipelago are marked
In hundreds Of places where deposits OF coal
copper. lead. iron and gold are known or be-
lieyed to exist number OF works treat
ing Of the subject have been published Some
Of the most important reports. however.
are still In manuscript, for the revenues Of
the islands were almost entirely absorbed
in paving the salaries Of tho officials. and
there was much dislnclinatOn 10 spend money
in any other way. great many mining
companies hnve been formed in Spain or AT
Manila at different times. but they have nll
failed. owing either to bad management
or to the difficulty Of securing suitable labor
or because the richness Of the vein or seam
has been exaggerated. In our authors
opinion the principal reason why mines have
not proved lucrative In the Philippines is
that slavery has never existed there unlcss
that term may be applied 20 the system OF
forced labor which obtained untl recently
in Cagayan. While. however. Mr. Sawyer
has no illusions touching the profits likely
TO accrue from working other mineral de-
posts. he takcs n more favorable view oi
the pros spoCts of gold mining Tho enrly
writer's agree that gold was plentiful in the
island. II "a certain that for centuries large
quantities have been collected or extracted
mostly no doubt from placers, but some rich
veins are known TO exist Mr.. Sawyer had
occasion, he tells US. about twelve years
ago. TO inquire how much gold was annually
collected in Camarnes Norte. and a we'll
Informed person computed the value Of 1t
at $4,000 In 1900 our author took largo
number OF samples OF dlsintegrated quartz
from point near the boundary OF the Prov
ince Of Manila and the district Of Moron. an
assay " one Of these samples showed seven
teen pennyweights Of gold TO the ton
considerable quantity OF gold Is obtained
from the lRorrotcs and Mr. Sawyer has no
doubt that these people have for centuries
worked quartz veins or pockets. only ex-
tracing enough to meet their modest re-
quiremens In the way OF cattle cloth and
tools. They do not hoard any gold. for they
say that It is safer in the mine than in their
houses When they hnd a rich pocket they
build a house over tho pit, and take pre-
cautions in disposinG Of the detrtus 40 that
It shall not excite attention In 1883 our
author examined a number Of pieces Of gold
weighing in the aggregate several pounds,
which were notwater-wornI but had'evidently
formed part Of n seam Of lace gold" such
IA * encountered in Colorado
II appears that tho influence Of the Angus
tnian, Dominican and Recollet orders has
always been cxertcd against any mining
company. whether Spanish or foreign The
frinrs did not want "a rush of miners 10 the
mcnt mining will be free from this hindcrance
Our author predicts that among the California.
Colorado or Nevada miners will be found
men having the courage, tho knowledge Of
prospecting and the physical strength needed
for success In the quest Of gold. If they can
obtain permission 10 undertake H. The pros
poets are so good. he says. that such men
should not have any difficulty in getting
capitalists 70 back them They will need,
however, to go In strong party TO avoid
being cut on by the savages and 20 guard
their supplies Of provisions.
In 1854 a Spanish company was formed
70 work the copper mines OF Mancayan, and
they ultimately produced about one hundred
and eighty tons In one year Owing TO the
scarcity OF labor the works we're closed In
1878 Iron ore IL plentiful In Luzoa The
ore IL very rich, yielding 10 10 so per cent OF
iron when polished, II is OF beautiful, .i-
very white color. very tough. and of the finest
quality Red hcmhtite in found In Cehh
brown hematite in PHracale and other parts
OF CGmarines Norte. and both red and brown
hematites are found In Capiz. In Massmls
oxidlzed iron IA encountered Some OF the
iron about San Miguel de Mayumo Ia mag
netic Mr. Sawyer does not believe, how
ever. that AZ present, or for many yenrs TO
come these ores can be worked and made
20 yield iron and steel capable OF competing
with American or British products II Is
common to see coal mentioned among the
mineral resources Of the Philippines. but 40
fnr as our author was able 70 learn no true
coal has been found therc There are beds
of Ignite Of varying quality. which might
ho used on land. but there is no demand for
this Combusthle on board ship Some ~
II ls liable to spontaneous combustion In the
bunkcrs and some Is 30 charged with sulphur
"a 10 be bnd for the furnaces Mr. SAWYER
doubts IL thcro is any good coal between
Japan and Australia
vi.
chapter ia allotted tn the manufactures
and industries which are carried on in the
islands The making OF gars and ciga-
rot "a IN nlDva Soma n pOl nnCuln n . Io