The sun., 1901-09-02
rBE PROVINCE OF ALBAY.
One sf the Nest Important ef our Ac-
auisstfsus On the Phi,ippines.

quisftteus On the philippines.
WAuuxoros Sept. i.-From Official
material complied in tho Division 81 Insular
Ahairr II the War Department. the follow
ing abstract has been prepared concei ming
the Province of Albay. which. In Part.
occupies the narrow neck Of land connecting
the Province Of Sorscgon In tho extrerue
southeast with the rest OF the great island
Of IAizon. The province has an area OF
sae square miles, exclusive OF dependent
islands. representing au acreage of s5S,SNo.
only 1000 less than the State OF Rhode
Island The chief product Of the province
is hemp. II has a population of isS. l7s.
The province. aside from its agricultural
and commercial importance. has ercep-
tional interest from a scientific point OF
Wow. Near Its eastern sea-bore. out of
an expansive plain. rises the volcano OF
Mayon, or Albay, In an elevation OF $500
feet. II IL constantly crowned with
plume-like halo OF vapor. which In visible
for ruiles at SEA The summit Of Masaraga.
another mountain. reaches an elevation
% 5,,u foet.
The maya River traver.es the province
from southeast 20 northwest. emptying
into Lake Bato, a beautiful body OF water.
ibuf Uniitr tn 'h WV
boundary. In the northeastern part OF
the province are some Of the most re-
markable thermal springs In the world.
particularly the hot springs OF lsabo and
the stslactite springs OF Naslebeng. Scien-
tihc men who have visited them refer TO
similar examples In Iceland and New Zea-
land. but the springs Of Tibi, which Ia the
general name for this group. they say are
more varied and beautiful The bays OF
Tabaco and Albay on the east coast are
capable Of arording shelter 10 large fleet
Of vessels engaged In the important trade
of the region.
The province contains % towns and
2e0 villages. Among the former II Albsy
the capital, about u. miles inland from
the bay Of the same name. IL IN well built
with a church, town hall. parochial resi-
dcnce and many other well-const ructed
houses. The population il h.coo. In the
eruption Of Mayon volcano, ia 1874, the old
town was seriously damaged, which led
To- a change Of site protected by hills. le-
gaspi, n port OF entry, telegraph station,
gsrrisoned town, and tho port OF Albay,
alt hough having but $50 population. In
one of the most important hemp ship
ping ports in the Philippines " shares
this trade with Tahaco. which lies about
eleven miles north by east. and has n pop
ulstion OF ls.o0o inhabitants. The latter
town is Also a port OF entry and has United
States garrison. Camalig. an inland gar
risoned town on the maya River. has a
population of 1888 Inhabitants. Guino-
batan, on the same river. nine miles west
10y north Of Albay. has a populatIonof
70, 40 and II surrounded by one OF the
mos, productive hemp districts in the
islands The town Of Gas. on the night
bank Of the Inaya River. with q popula-
tion Of 1881 commands an extensive
river trade. particularly IN the product
Of the fine hemp plantations in the vicinity.
There are other towns Of equal popula-
ton and activity
ON the east coast Of the province lies
a chain Of four islands. with an aggregate
area of ninet weight square miles, three
Of which. Cacraray, Batsn, and Rapu kapu.
are celehrated for valuable mines Of coal.
which are being worked The quality
of coal for streaming purposes, az a result
Of experiments. IL reported as equal TO
the Aust ralisn article. II h expected that
scientific investigation and American en-
terprise will make the output valuable
commercial acquisition 20 tho important
natural wealth of this province.
In January. 1900, after the clo~e of the
campaign In Luzon. Gen. kobbe. at the
head Of an expedition. took charge Of this
province. driving the insurgents out and
establishing garri-ons since that time
the government has been entirely peace
full On April 20. 1901. under the Pro
yincial Organization act the Philippine
Commission established civil government
In the province.