Evening star., 1901-04-29
II VAGUE TALK OF GOLD
EARLY ACTION ADVISED

Frank L. Strong in the Engineering Magazine
Alaska possibly excepted, no transfer on
q large scale has ever been made in mod
ern times of land about which so little Is
known by either the old or the new owner
as in, the case of the Philippine Islands
Spain. indeed, left many records. geolog-
ical climatical, agricultural, mining, etc,
many Of which were made with the appear
ance of elaborate painstaking as to facts
But Spanish policy frowned upon manufac-
turing. and no incentive was offered to
develop what the records said existed.
These records present many rosy pic
ture to the new arrival. Clear. explicit,
frequently accompanied by elaborate draw
ings, he feels he has but to follow to sue
cess a track made clear by his predeces-
sors. few months and the illusion is
dispelled; he has learned to distrust all
information derived from Spanish sources.
1t is not asserted that these records were
made to deceive. Not at ALL Terse, clear
cut statements OF fact, arrived at after
painstaking, scientific research, are a mod
ern innovation upon the easy-going guesses
and traditions Of the past. But few ma
tions have reached the point even yet
Spain being one Of the laggards
A Striking Case OF Spanish Guessing.
To illustrate the Spaniards lack of &C
curacy may be cited the case Of the Manila
and Dagupan railroad, some 100 miles long,
the only railroad on the islands. The Span
ish government had the line surveyed by
its own engineers. Elaborate charts were
prepared showing all details route,
grades, filings. borings for bridge founda-
tions etc. English capital became interest
ed. rigid contract was entered into and
the work was begun. It was discovered
neers reporting the survey had never been
upon the ground-that the road as laid out
was impracticable. Marshes and quick
dicated solid ground, and dense jungles
existed on the route where the foot Of
man had never trod. Even rivers were
there of whose existence the engineers
The English company was obliged to ex-
pend largely in excess Of the estimated
amount and had to face many grave en-
gineering problems the Spanish engineers
route from their comfortable office in Ma
Mia.
A surfeit,Of Gold Talk.
To attempt in brief paper to speak even
in general Of all the resources Of the Phil
ippines would be futile. Unexplored
they are as q whole by competent observ-
ers, the islands, from all that can be gath
cred. are extremely fertile in soil and rich
In timber. minerals and all else requisite
for great manufacturing Industries. Easily
controlled water power is found in numer-
GUS places. In this paper 1 will briefly
touch on mining features only.
Gold naturally is of primary popular in
terest. During the year Of the Spanish
American war met many members of the
Colorado volunteers who came here intend
ing to remain after their terms of service
expired and search ,for gold. They were
expert miners and many did remain. Hun
dreds of others have come from the states
and elsewhere on tks- same ,errand- While
4,,S,, aoft t,aS, Go1l
Of search, our local newspapers TEEN with
their wonderful discoveries. 1 meet many
personally. am shown small yials Of virgin
ore. specimens Of quartz Of great richness
and hear the old, old stories so familiar in
Aha states. From the friars, who have lived
for years In the interior; from old resi-
dents who know it all; from Spanish gov
ernment records and from other sources
1 am surfeited with gold talk
Gold in Native Hands.
Possibly 1 am oyerconservative. but
have seen and heard of nothing yet to make
my pulse beat one stroke faster. Gold can
easily be obtained from the natives. One
of the mines most famous in past years is
found to yield an Industrious native about
5 cents worth a day. AS he cannot eat
or smoke it. it accumulates on his hands,
until by several months labor he gets an
amount which will fill tiny bottle half
full. This is the gold my prospecting
friend buys and exhibits his find"
There are many such celebrated mines in
Spanish records.
In dismissng this subject I do not say
gold may not be found here in paying
quantities. Much Is found in Japan, where
geological conditions probably similar
to those here. The insurrection prevents
have passed unnotfced what to Amer-
can would prove bonanza. The new
processes of the day may utilize ore which
is beyond the reach Of the crude methods
~, tod &c,
that we know practically no more than be-
fore the United States took the islands.
Uncertain Land Titles.
Land titles are yet to be decided. and
the numberless claims now being staked
out may not be worth the value OF the
stakes to the man who drives them, even
If the metal is found in the future A
miners exchange has recently been Or
ganized in Manila commencing with 12O
bona hde miners Of those directly inter-
ested This will tend to place matters in
business form. and the mining legisla-
tton expected in the near future will estab- |
lish basis to work on.
The world will doubtless soon know If |
the Spaniard, whose scent for gold in past
centuries was keener than that Of any |
other nation, has slumbered for 300 years |
on his own Ell Dorado. If its undiscovered
richness has fallen into the hands of his |
conquerors this would indeed add to his |
overhowing cup Of bitterness.
Coal.
To the prospective investor subject far
more important than gold Is presented. |
Coal Is king. For the scores OF steamships |
OF the present and the hundreds Of the |
future; for the railroads projected and GER |
tain to be built; tor the coming manufac- |
turing industries-coal is imperative.
have gathered statistics from many |
sources-Spanish records, both public and |
private, have been at my disposal; and 1 |
am in close touch With those owning mines.
There have nevef been found in these ,s-
lands to date anything but lignites OF |
these large deposits exist. widely distrib-
uted among the various islands. Some are |
largest and most Important worked would
require an expenditure Of $1OO,OOO to put
In q railroad and other essentials for |