The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-07-15
He LIKES THE PHILIPPINES
Volunteer Soldier Talks Of the Islands
in the Pacific From
Experience.

the Phlllpplne ISLANDS by able speakers
and writers but in observing and study
ing the conditions and the possibilities
of this newly acquired territory all do
not see it in the same light. It is from
the unprecedented standpoint Of an en-
listed man in the army that I saw it,"
said Charles o. Pierce, volunteer SOL
der recently returned from Luzon, to an
Inter Mountain reporter.
1.-THE opinion of a person visiting that
country in an official capacity is liable
to be biased. and his reports of what he
has seen are liable not to agree with
those Of the disinterested visitor there.
LAS the islands with the exception of
remote provinces are now pacified, and
civil government has been instituted in
the majority of the districts, the people
Of this country will now begin to inquire
regarding the resources of that country
and as to the advantages it offers in
commercial way. A great . any people
in this country questioned the desirable
ity of the acquisition of those islands.
In this progressive age no nation can
stand still. We must either advance or
rcrograde. I have been all over Northern
Luzon and had an excellent opportunity
of studying the country and it's people
and from all that I saw of it, it woul&
abandoned it after acquiring it by both
purchase and conquest. It is the richest
country have ever seen in my life and
the soil in it's productiveness is mex.
haustible. I have seen soil there six and
eight feet deep. The country is practi-
cally undeveloped and yet with their
crude ways of producing sugar, coffee.
tobacco, ETC., the island of Luzon alone
with it's $4,000 of miles supports 5,000,0
people. Railroads will eventually tap
the rich provinces north of Manila, capt.
tai will be invested in agricultural enter
prises and the greatness of the country
proven. There are millions Of acres of
land in Northern Luzon that has never
been touched. Some of the finest coun-
try ever saw, laying in its native state,
well watered and particularly adapted
TO coffee raising, is situated in the prov
ince of Neuva Ecijua. The largest trees
that ever saw were in the foothills
in this same province. The lumber in
| dustry of that country must certainly
become of enormous value. The produc-
ton of hemp it at present quite an in
dustry but when compared with what
1t will become it is is nothing. The rails
ing of tobacco has been carried on in
hap hazard manner. When scientific
| methods are employed there is no rea-
! son why the quantity and qualty of the
product will not make their industry
| equal to that of Cuba.
1.-THE possibilities of the country so far
as mineral are concerned are practically
unknown. At point about 30 miles
| northeast Of San Isidro Funstons' head
Quarters), there are old placer diggings
that have been worked by the natives.
I found colors but not in sufficient guam
tity to pay. A friend of mine, former
Butteite and a practical miner showed
me samples that he had broken from a
| lode that he had discovered during a
scouting trip into the mountains that
was rich in gold and he was enthusiast
| tic over his prospect. l washed In a
number of mountain streams and al
| though I could find traces of gold, I did
not see any in large quantities. In time
the cattle business of Northern Luzon
| will become a paying business. Manila,
Hong Kong and Singapore offer an ex-
cellent market for beef and dairy prod
ucts. The principal native tribes are
represented in the Tagalogs, Ilocanos
and Visayares. was thrown principally
with the Tagals. The Filipino has been
| misrepresented in many ways. Dean
! Worcester has said that the natives are
fearless. My experience with them does
| not confirm his opinion. Young-husbant
states that the Filipino servant must be
told each day to replenish water for the
houses and if sent repeatedly to bring q
can of draught beer must on each occa'
sion be told infinitely the business or
which he is sent. I am afraid Young
husband knew but little about handling
his 'homores.' I found the native per
; son who would never forget real o.
; fancied wrong and If he once received
favor at your hands his eternal friend
. ship was secure. During my illness on
native that I had befriended in som,
trivial way. used to call on me at thu
. company hospital at Penaranda ant
bring cigars and all kinds of native deli