New-York tribune., 1901-09-05
THE PROVINCE OF ALBAY.
RICH IN MINERALS AND THE PRINCIPAL
HEMP DISTRICT OF LUZON.

Washington. Sept. CSpeciaD.-From official ma
teria compiled in the Division of Insular Affairs
OF the War Department. the following interesting
abstract has been prepared concerning the prov
ince of AIbay. which in part occupies the narrow
neck of land connecting the province of Sorsogon,
in the southeast with the rest of the great
island of Luzon:
Within its boundaries lies an area of sss square
senting acreage Of SIS S6O-only nsO4c less than
than had anS Of the states of Maine
shire Vermont or Georgia in the year 1900; in fact
three times the population Of Rhode @ Island and
times that of Indiana and one-third that of New
York at the same period
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
The country, aside from its agricultural and com com
hergIa tnpo[ it nd i ear t eastern sea-
shore. of an expansive plain. rises the volcano
1t is constantly crowned with plumelike halo of
vapor. which is visible for miles at sea. The sum
elevation OF 5.sli feet,
RIVERS AND THERMAL SPRINGS.
The maya River traverses the province from
southeast to northwest, emptyng into Lake Bato'
the northwestern boundary.
In the northeastern part Of the province are some
world particularly the hot springs Of Iga6o h sho
the staaGe springs OF n m1ar exampIes in Ice
land and New-Zealand. but the springs OF I1oi
which is the general name for TINS group 'neS re-
The bays of Tabaco and Albay, on the east coast:
are capable of affording shelter to large neet of
vessels engaged in the important trade of the
region.
The province contains twenty-three towns and
260 villages. Among the former may be mentioned
Albay. the capital about one and one-quarter miles
built with a church, town hall, parochial house k
and many other we'll constructed buildings the
population is l40OO In the eruption or Mayon
volcano in 1914 the old seriously dam
of entry, telegraph station
garrisoned town and the port of Albay. although
portant hemp shipping ports in the Philippines. 1t
shares this trade with Tahaco; which lies anout
5000 inhabitants The latter town is also port OF
entry. and has United States garrison = an anams L
an inland garrisoned town on the lnaNa RIVeI, ma ma
a population of Il S5S inha abtants. Guinobatan on
has population OF 2o4I4, and is surrounded by one
of the most productive hemp dlStrlSIs S, IN f M NJ
islands. The town of Oas. on the right bank OF me
Inaya River and on the MAN roao % " os4 ~ern
and Poanqui, with population OF i2Ss.' coIn IN
product Of the fine hemp plantations in its vicinity
other towns Of equal population ana acuNlE His"'
OF the east coast Of the province lies chain OF
four islands with an aggregate area OF nets Rt ana
Rapu Rapu-are celebrated for valuable mines OF
coal which are being worked The quality OF coal
for steaming purposes as a result of experiments.
is reported equal 10 the Australian i, ar1lti .d
American enterprise will make the output vau-
able commercial acquisition TO the important ndlu-
raj wealth OF this province
HEMP OF ALBAY.
The chief product for which the Province Of Alhay
has won celebrity Is hemp (abacal or what is
known to commerce as Manila hemp. species
wild plantan and special product OF the fhlHp-
pine Islands -,
Notwithstanding experiments In lnnla moo
china Rorneo and other parts Of the East the out
come in these places has been a failure Therefore
the production Of Manila hemp in the hemp districts
of the Philippine Islands Of the United states is
not likely 70 be threatened by outside competition
or overproduCtiOn.
The province Of Alhay ranks first among vrf'
are known as the hemp districts Of Luzon '"
total quantity and value OF export of hemp from
the Philippine Islands during the calendar year
1880 So tons valued s. s935.i Silh ton
and for the calendar year 1900 sq43S tons valued
SO %. 400 $l49 ton. or this aSgregate IN"
province OF Alhay I'm 1893 contributed to the export
movement 26- 366 piculs ls5S5 tons. Sis ton
value $l923.S6o- This represents IN" commercial
movement only. The home hemp consumption IN
the manmfa cture OF lunLs. snamay. cordaEc. etc-.