Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-02-07
PHILIPPINE LETTER.
The Islands As Seen BY the Soldiers,
and American Trade Prospects.

Mr.. EDITOR: The Philippines are
bunch OF troubles, gathered together on
the western horizon OF civilization. They
are bounded on the north by rock and
destruction; on the east by typhoons and
monsoons; on the south by cannibals and
earthquakes; ON the west by hoodoolsm
and smuggIers.
The climate is combination OF electri-
cal changes, especially adapted to raising
Cain. The soil is extraordinarily fertile,
producing large crops OF insurrection and
trickery.
The inhabitants are very industrious,
their chief occupations being trench
building, the manufacture OF boIos and
knives and reIoading Remington and
Mauser cartridges. Their amnsements
are cockfghting, monte dealing, theft
and cheating. Their diet consists OF fish,
boiled rice, fried rice, cooked rice and
rice.
The Filipino marriage service Is very
Impressive, especially the clause wherein
the wife is given the privilege of working
as much as her husband desires.
The beast OF burden Is the caribou. On
| three mile trip, only ten days rations
need be taken, but il the trip should be
one hundred miles the driver would die
OF old age before reaching his destination.
The rivers are serpentine in course,
their currents running in opposition to
all known laws OF gravitstion.
Manila. the capital and principal city,
Is situated on Manila bay, a large land
locked body of water. full OF filth, sharks,
ana Spanish submarine boats.
Cayite, the next city OF importance, Is
noted for lite natural facilities for a naval
station and for its large number OF saloons
and Cinnamon.
The principal exports OF the islands are
rice, hemp and war bulletins. The prin.
cipal imports are American soldiers, ra-
tions, arms, ammunition, beer and to-
/ bacco.
Malaria is so prevalent that on various
occasions the islands have been shaken
| with q chill.
Luzcn, the largest OF the group, re-
sembles one of old Cy. Green's boots.
Communication has been established
betw een the numerous islands by sab
shutting the mosquito for the carrier
pigeon, IL being larger and better able to
endure the fatigue Of the journey.
The native costume Is -four sack tied
around the waist. Children under u
years wait until the next year for their
clothing.
The towns are an aggregation Of shacks
full Of filth, tieas, cur dogs, cats, horses,
chickens, pigs, flies, bedbugs, lice and
The family, all sleeping together on terms
OF equality.
The native drink is vino, concentrated
tarantula juice, cactus juice, bsrbed wire
and lightning.
The Philippines are an appropriate
present for a deadly enemy. The natives
are friends at the point OF a gun. The
climate Is pleasant and healthful for
reaches, tarantulas, alligators, scorpions,
centipedes and snakes. The soil IL
adapted to raising foul odors and diseases.
The islands are a Godforsaken, cannibai-
| lied, Aguinaido infested blot on the
face OF Gods green earth.
AMERICAN TRADE IN THE PHILIPPISRs.
The Philippine islands do a foreign
| business of more than $4,000, 600 q year
and of this the United States Is not get
| ting its share.
One OF the big importing firms OF Ma
niia today gives its check at the custom
house for S97, 900 in gold. rhis was the
duty on one shipment of goods. This was
petroleum and 1t came from Russia. The
| most OF he kerosene used In the Philip
pines comes from that country, notwith-
standing that the United states has the
greatest petroleum fields In the world.
We raise more cotton than any other
| land, but the cotton goods used here
come from England and Germany.
We have the chief iron mines, the best
hard ware, but Germany and England are
supplying the Philippines.
California is nearer Manila than either
Spain or France, but the wines consumed
are from the latter countries.
In fact about the only thing that IL now
being imported here in great quantities
| from America Is beer. This was brought
to Manila by shiploads as soon as the Am
orleans took possession OF the islands.
The beer is largely consumed oy Amer
leans. Six months after our troops
| landed in Manila the saloons were few,
but today you can multiply the number
| by 90 There are now a handred where
| there was one before the occupation, the
chief support OF all being the American
soldiers. The beer sells at high prices,
the ordinary bottle costing 70 cents IN
gold, or more than three times as much
az at home.
GOODS THAT AMERICA SHOULD FURNISH.
You would think that the United
States should furnish the most OF lne
butter and canned goods OF the Philip
pines. 1t does not; the bulk OF the can
ned stuff comes from Europe, but Aus.
tralia Is pushing its way in far ahead OF
the Americans. We have Australian
canned fruits on our dining tables and
our army Is now eating Australian butter
and Australian beef. The duties at pres
emit are so great as to make such impor-
tations prohibitive. A can OF California
pears which sells for 30 cents In San
Francisco would have to pay an addition
al 30 cents as duty before II could enter
Manila.
AS to other products, France, switzer-
land and Austria ship largely into TINS
market. Machinery, silks ana paper
come from France, furniture OF the bent
wood variety from Austria and glass,
glassware, iron, paper and cement from
Belgium. a..
Philippines than any other country, put
we get less in return. Last year all the
United States goods sold in Manila were
worth,in round numbers, $3.50, O00 IN goid,
upon which was psid duty of SO, 600. In
addition to this there were some goods
sent by way OF Hong Kong and trans
shipped there, which were prooaoiy
credited to China, but altogether the I'M
ports were very light.
am told at the custom house that De-
ginning with this year, there has been
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