The Seattle Republican., 1901-01-25
PRICE FIVE CENTS

icles saved. This is why our army
attempted and effected 50 little from
June to October 1st, 1899. All the
larger towns of the Philippines are
on the lowland plains or on the sea
coast, but some Of the mountainous
regions are also settled where the
altitude is from 5000 to 1000 feet,
as in the province of Benguet and
parts of De la Union. The maxi
mum temperature is magnificent,
sinking as low as 20 degrees IN even
ing and early morning, and rising
no higher than IS degrees. This re-
gion is only 200 miles from Manila.
Whenever practicable, we sleep I'M
der mosquito nets to avoid the NAL
aria conveying mosquitoes, and al
though they are not very trouble
some, it is a safeguard and a COM
fort. In our campaigns the most
prevalent diseases among the colored
troops have been dysentery and al
lied disorders, and some smallpox,
white malaria, rheumatism, small
pox, insanity from excessive drink
ing are very prevalent among the
white troops. The United States
army transport Hancock sailed on
September 18th with 125 insane
white soldiers, taking them to the
states for treatment. Under the cir
cumstances which attend active mil
itary operations, men will drink wa
ter without making any choice,
while when in camp all water is
boiled and sterilized before the men
are allowed to drink it. Fatty foods
are most injurious, and the chief
article Of Uncle Sans rations is
SOW belly (bacon)
Persons who are in need of the
bracing effects of a cold climate will
not thrive here, but with due pru-
dence it can be truthfully said, you
have nothing to fear from the eli
mate of the Philippines. The Phil
ippines afford a field for skilled la
Dor, such as mechanics, mining fore
men, railway men, agriculturists,
stock breeders, professional men,
manufacturers; in fact, commercial
men Of all grades could thrive here
with either great or small capital
In short, all careers are possible in
the Philippines. 1t is easy to see
that the archipelago is a fertile re
gion, as igneous rocks or various
species and limestone are abundant.
The rainfall is copious, the mean
temperature is high and frosts are
un known, with the exception Of in
the mountains of northern Luzon.
When we were stationed in San
Gabriel in 1899 I noticed the growth
of the bamboo, the native material
for building purposes, and | took the
measurement of some growing for
three successive mornings and found
that each night it grew about 5 1-2
inches, showing an amazing speed in
growth. 1t is a well-known fact
that. the very valuable fiber called
Manila hemp is exclusively product
of this archipelago Strangely
enough, this fiber can not be grown
in Manila on account Of climatic
con nditions, but in the souehern end
Of Luzon, in the Viscayas and Min
danao, the plant fourishes. The
{ merchants (native) have told me it
is the best fiber for ropes, because
cordage made from it does not grow
stiff when wet, like that made from
trre hemp. The better grade is used
by the natives to make linen like fla
meht fabric, one fiber many feet in
length serving as thread The ma
tive name of this plant, which is a
species Of the banana, is abaca, called
in botany, musa textilis The fruit
is not edible. Natives use it in max
ling a dye which has very offensive
odor. Cotton Of excellent quality
is to be seen growing practically
without cultivation, but in no great
quantity. The third great staple
| product is sugar The cultivation Of
the cane and the extraction Of the
sacchariferous juice are somewhat
antiquated, though wonderful re-
suits are obtained in some parts Of
the islands, principally in Negros,
CoPra, indigo, cacao, coffee, dry
woods and gum copral form the
principal exports. The chief grains
are rice and maize, both Of which
often Weld two and sometimes three