New-York tribune., 1901-11-08

-.hle 10 cope with the dlfhcult!es which seem
= formidable to these critics I cannot forget,
!. snort, that these are the same critics that
..u,.nstrated the foIy-and they proved It by
go. too-of the attempts introduce the
.'.,,ste Industry in the United States We over
rs that little difficulty. II recollect rightly
a, imagine that others can as successfully
he overcome here.
row transportation rates AKA an economical
,,s,rfbution ara the main considerations which
iii determine the success. of the Introduction Of
.nertean goods IN the Philippine Islands Not
Outstanding the disturbed conditions OF part
g sha archipelago and the uncertainties which
ssset the framing Of the new tariff the increase
n the volume of business both export and TN
amt steadily continues. With order restored
md the tariff problems out of the way there
g every reason for believing that conditions
xsr still further improve.
MANILA HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.
The greatest benefit TO commerce however
xsn he the completion OF the Manila Harbor i'm
movements. Up 10 this time cascos and light
rs have been employed IN discharging the car
g,.s er vessels. It is not only a very tedious
bn, also very expensive process. The ware
,eu.,ng facilities. too. have been inadequate II
-a, indeed primitive. All this Will be changed
r,on the completion Of the breakwater inclosing
h,.sn inside its lines. At present It is no ur-
,s,,aI thing for vessels 10 have 70 lie idle for
,ssk, during the typhoon season, because Il Is
,oo rough In the bag TO unload them. 1t has
enormously increased freight charges, and IN
o-der 10 reduce them as far as possible recourse
has been had 70 & system under which goods
were landed in Hong-hong. ari whence local
r-.,ghters brought them over at reduced rates
er ouly when wanted, OF when the condition Of
the weather seemed TO favor prompt discharge
ct the vessel upon arrival. II requires no
ruraent 10 show that everything that favors re-
spctior In freights and a consequent lowering
of The prices al which American goods can be
nlaced on the market in Manila will greatly in
crease their use among the common people
Herein indeed. is found full justification for the
comparatively large outlay-over S2,et0Veo-au-
tborized by the commission for harbor improve
rents
Leaving fer another letter discussion of the
lines that the industrial development OF the
Islands is likely to follow. 1 shall only briefly
refer to some American goods which are sure TO
and ready market here. The Fiipinos are not
ouly an agricultural but also a very initiative
people In the initiative they are wholly lack
ing and they seem TO possess talent for in
rention. Travelling through Northern Luzon,
indeed you cannot help being struck by the al
most grotesque simplicity Of their processes for
cuitivating the soil Rice is planted by hand,
Of course, and il is doubtful whether machinery
will ever be devised to su2plant human labor
al this stage Of the process. In the preparation
Of the field, however, or the paddles, as they
are called il would seem possible 10 employ
labor saving machinery. The fact that these
patches OF ground are most Of the time while
being planted under water makes the use Of
steam plough impossible, Of course. It might
be practica BILE though. TO employ stationary
engine that should run a cable with cultivator
attachment, such as is used, am told. in some
French and Hungarian vineyards
HARVESTED BY HAND, TOO.
But not only is rice planted by hand. it is also
harvested by the same method. and most Of II
Is tareshed under the feet Of men or animals
The hull is removed by pounding in wooden
nortars and wiunowing IS usually accomplished
hy tossing UP grain and chaff in fat wooden
baskets and allowing the wind TO carry the chaff
away Quantities Of rice are often spoiled in
the fields al harvesting time for lack Of sufff-
Gent labor. Portable threshing. pearling and
winnowirg machinery, therefore, should hnd
ready sale here On the line Of the Manila and
pagupan Railway l saw the other day large
pssrling mill. recently built by a Chinaman,
whose venture / am told. has proved a very
profitable
The large sugar estates Of Luzon ana Negros
nosseSs nothing but the most antiquated ma
rhinery Yet even with these. sugar is grown 10
advantage and marketed at profit Experts
assure me that the introduction Of modern meth
DDS and machinery. such, for instance as 7a-
xaiian planters employ, would result IN very
short time IN doubling the Philippine output
and increasing the demand for subsidiary ma
csinery, portable tramways. etc Naturahy' All
cher implements and tools in common use
night not unreasonably be expected to follow
suit American edged tools are hndlhg areauS
sconstantly increasing market
Tor some time plans have been under way Tor
ha erection Of extensive cotton mills IN the
Islands Cotton is not grown here 10 any great
.x,eut but there is no reason why 1t shouldn't
s Trn-u it is however American cotton Is
rs,lv n he the raw material of these mills The
he that capitalists are seriously entertaining
nsidea OF erecting mills in these Islands Would
Ssn 20 dispose Of the exceeding seriousness
e1e labor question, and more especially oI the
sss-ge that the native will not labor Win tllat
issee Of regularity and diligence on winch
Commercial and Industrial success so largely
aeptnGs"
4 CHANCE FOR LEATHER
n,oa -bo. q, ner cent Of the people now
70 iarefooted. and that Il may propapiy DC
mani wears before Lynn and Brockton VIII niiu 1t
necessary 10 run overtime in order TO Keep up
with their Philippine trade. 1 yet nollce 'h
there is large and increasing deInaho ioi a-i
sorts Of leather goods. for the reason thal 'iie
native leather obtained by tanning the NOES
Of water buffaloes is porous and soon Tots IN inns
damp .iirnate while the American tanned iea'h-
e. wristbands to some extent the ravages OF
nleer
Thee is -four too, for which. am told 'he
oernaid is steadny increasing. and that cheap
A;of,o