Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-22
PANGASlNAN PROVINCE
SOMETHING OF ITS LOCATION AND
INHABITANTS.
Fine Roads, Many FlOurishing Towns
and Considerable Business Trans
acted-Chlnese Control Much.

From official material compiled in the
division of insular affairs of the War De-
partment the following interesting abstract
has been prepared concerning the province
of Pangasinan.
That province is one Of the political jul
risdictions recently created by the Philip
pine Islands commission under their au-
thority from the President and what is
known as 1.-The provincial organization
act"
The province geographically occupies
about the center Of the China sea coast Of
northern Luzon, its capital, Lingayen, be-
ing linn. northeast of Manila on the gulf
Of the same name. In area the province is
1.31G square miles, or trif1e larger than
the state of Rhode Island. The country Is
generally fiat in the southern and central
parts, through which flows the AgnO river,
one Of the most important streams in the
f1uvial system of Luzon. The entire prov
ince is traversed with fine roads, which
not only bring the towns and villages with
in it's own boundary in convenient inter-
course, but also afford road communica-
ton with all the adjoining provinces. The
Manila and Dagupan railroad traverSeS the
province from s. E. to N. w.
Population Large.
There is a population of BOLTS, the
greater portion belonging to the Pangasi-
nan race. There are % towns of more or
less Importance and villages numbering
1854. Lingayen, the capital, and a telegraph
and military station, is well built and has
a population of IA, 12O. Calasiao, mentioned
in connection with the demonstration
against the friars, is railroad, telegraph
and military station at the crossing of the
river Agno 71am. S. E. of the provincial
capital and less than that distance from
Dagupan. The latter point is port of en-
try, railroad telegraph and military sta
ton at the eastern main outlet OF the Agno
river, and the northern terminus Of the
Manila and Dagupan railroad 1t has a
population of 1861.
The staple crops are rice, sugar cane,
corn, tobacco and cocoanut. Coffee, choc-
olate and indigo are raised to a small ex-
tent although the soil and climate is well
adapted to their special cultivation.
The province receives its name from the
large deposits of common salt which are
found within it's limits, the word Pangasi-
nan meaning a place where salt is made
The IgorrOtes, race inhabiting the noun
tain section, gather large quantities Of
gold from lodes and also copper, which is
found in an almost pure state.
In the forests are found woods of SUI
perior quality, both for house and ship
building, and also gum-bearing trees.
In mechanical industries the people are
especially famous for the weaving of buri,
from which sleeping mats, hats and sacks
are made. The delicacy of the workman
ship bestowed upon the mats and hats par
ticularly is greatly admired There is also
a large diStillation of alcohol from the nipa
palm, which grows abundantly.
Much Business Controlled by Chinese.
The land traffic and much of the mercan-
tile business is controlled by the Chinese.
This province, after the general cam
paign in northern Luzon and since the mil
itary departmental organization, has been
completely pacifed
The inhabitants are rapidly adapting
themselves to their new opportunities of
local government and industrial activity.
The local provincial government. which
was established on February 49, 1901, but
ten days after the enactment of the gen.
eral enabling act, consists of governor,
who receives $1,000; secretary, 81 ,5OO treas
urer, $500; supervisor, $1,000 fiscal, 81, 500,
with allowances for travelling and actual
expenses not exceeding 81 per day.
The presidentes or alealdes Of the munich
palities meet quarterly to consider i'm
provements needed in the province and for
other purposes prescribed by law.