The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-14
FACTS ABOUT THE VIOAYAS.
Statement Concerning the Islands
and Their Provinces.
Area. Population, and Other TnfOr-
nation Regarding the Philippine
Group Compiled in the InsuInr Di-
vision of the War. Department.

Group Compiled in the InsuInr Di-
vision of the War. Department.
From official material compiled in the
Division Of Insular Affairs, War Depart
ment. an abstract hes been prepared con-
corning the Visayan Islands. their physi-
cal and economic cha racteristics, and 10
cal civil governments. The Visayas. one Of
the four constituent insular groups Of the
Philippine Archipelago. occupy a central
position in the American possessions in
eastern Asia, having Luzon on the north,
the Pacific Ocean on the east. Nindauao
on the south. and Mindoro and PaIawan
and the intervening Mindoro and Sulu
seas on the west
With the exception Of Samar the Visay-
an Islands have been placed under Amer
lean civil government. according to the
terms Of the Provincial Organization act
Of February 6. 1901" From this list the
returned to military control
The following are the islands and prov
inces, their capitals, area, and popuIa-
ton.
BohoI. Tagbilaran. lob square miles.
$4,000; Cebu, Cebu, 1.7S2 square miles. SIS
90; Leyte. TaCioban. 42lf square miles.
2lo.49l. MaSbate. Masbate, I,7o2 square
miles, 23,0d9; Occidental. Bac0lod. 3Il2
square miles, 23I.512; Oriental. Dumaguete.
l,543 square miles, 1888; Antique. San
Jose dc =, 1870 square miles. 1881. Ca
piz, Capiz, 1861 square miles. $4,000. To-
Ito, IIoilo, 2Iu2 square miles. 462. IA, Rom
blon, Komblon, SIS square miles, $3.50,
Samar, Catbalogan, ass square miles,
1886; total land area. 25.302 square miles:
population, 24S6.2u5-
The land area is One-haIf the size OF
New York. In population the numbers
exceed any one Of forty States in the
American Union. having a Jrihe more
population than Michigan and exactly l.
100000 more than California The entire
group is Of volcanic origin. the acreage
altitude of its peaks being from 1000 to
400 feet. The greatest elevation is Mount
Copton, lo,l50 feet high. in Bohol.
All the islands are well provided with
rivers and indented with numerous bays
and harbors, five Of them being the Iarg-
est in the archipelago. BohoI. Cebu.
Ieyte, Negroes. AMI IIcuo. in Panay. have
a number of nhe roads. The sea channels
between the islands particularly the
syulheTn route across them for vessels
plying between the United States and
Manila, are well lighted. The United
states maintains the finest system Of
maritime lights In the Far East In the
eHllre group are $50 towns, ranging from
1,ouv 10 -5,Fp inhabitants and 2N4 villages
Among the dependent Islands number
ing 40 charted and named, are many Of
geographical Importance. both in area
ana economic conditions. The mineral
"taLlh Is also great In BOhOl. iron. con-
per. gold. and coal are found n Cebu are
deposits OF coal which scientific investica-
tlon mas shown 10 yield a product equal 10
the best grades Of English and superior
70 that from Australia Gold and silver
bearing lead ore and petroleum are
among the other mineral products In
Leyle are gold. iron. ma gnitite lead sill
yer and sulphur. etc. Also indications of
petroleum In Masbate, Ignite and gold
In Negroes, valuable seams Of Goa. I'M
Panay. iron, gypsum. mari anthracite
coal, gold, and marble of varied C-OIors
ana me structure All the islands abound
IN forests Of the best varieties Of wood
including teak, ebony, Juniper nOIave
ana bamboo Also medicinal and dye
P-attlS are numerous Dammar CpItchj.
resins. gums, mastic or wax. and hOuev
are produced in abundance
The mechanical industries are well rep
resented, among them. weaving of IA b.
mes IN SILK, pineapple Cpiua cloth cotton
and hemp. the manufacture Of blankets
napkins, and mats are specIaltIes in Bo-
moi; sugar, salt. COcOanut wine pottery
textiles OF silk. sinamay. hemp cotton
sugar SACKS. and cheese as SpeciaIties In
Cebu; abaca and canOnegrO or boat ca
b!es from hemp, chocolate, and cOcoanut
on IN Leyte. BdyOues OF sugar sacks OF
bari and palm mats I'm Masbate: sugar
sacks, palm leaf hats, baskets. and aIco-
mol In Panay- In Leyte the women are
particularly skilled in lacemaking and
embroidery The raising Of cattle. cara
boas, horses. and hogs. gives occupation
TO a large number in all the islands
The fisheries are also important. the
chief products Of the sea being Beche de
Mere, CTrepang) spOnges, shell, particu-
larry the glass sponge OF Venus flower
baskets, the rare Gloria Maria and pearls
The caverns along the coast produce the
Enest edible birds nests known 10 COM
merce In the Far East. In all the islands
weekly fairs are held al important towns
The commerce Of the group IN all the pro
ducts Of agriculture, manufacture and
fishery Is extensive, the exports of hemp.
sugar, and cOpra IN 1889, amounting to
hemp, 32SZ7 tons; sugar, S.G79 tons: CO.
pra. AIS tons.
The occupation Of the Visayan group
vas among the earliest military move
ments after the signing OF the Treaty Of
Peace with Spain. The garrisoned points
were selected on account Of their com
mercial Importance and the value Of pro-
ductive Industries in the surrounding re
RiOus-