The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-10-23
PEACE IN BATANGAS, BUT
WITH WOEFUL POVERTY
Report of Simeon Luz, Gov
ernOr Of Province.

The Bureau Of Insular Affairs Of the
War Department has made public the
following report Of Simeon Luz. gov
ernor Of Batangas province, which was
submitted to Governor Taft under date
of September s. 1902;
Il have Just returned from q thirty
DAYS trip through every municipality
There is absolute peace in the province,
and almost ali the inhabitants heartily
accept American sovereignty and gladly
welcome the Inauguration Of civil gov
eminent On every hand I found the in
habitants engaged in peaceful pursuits
and making every effort to re-estabhsh
their former prosperous conditions.
.'Batangas having been one Of the
last Of the provinces TO continue the in
surrection. naturally suffered most from
the ravages of war Prior TO the insur-
rectfon against the Spanish, it was one
of the wealthiest provinces in the archi
pelago; but now its condition is deplo-
rabIe. with little hope of a present re-
lief from its critical condition unless
there can be had relief of some charac-
ter.
During the past three years about 80
per cent of the animals used for agri-
cultural purposes died from disease, and
this disease becoming almost epidemic,
the animals brought from other prov
fuces at great expense also died II will
take many years to re-esLablish the for
mer agricultural condition of this prov
ince unless there is material help OF
the part Of the central government
1t is my opinion that if an 'agricultu-
raj bank could be instituted, at which
the landowner could borrow money at
/ low interest by mortgage on his land
the question would soon be solved
IN the inland municipalities Of San
Jose. Lipa. Ibaan, Taysan. Rosario, Ia
nauau Santo Tomas, and Talisay there
/ is q scarcity of rice and other food
Were it not for the sale OF rice at low
cost BY the military authorities. and the
/ free distribution to the poor, there
would be much suffering in these towns,
If not actual starvation.
The military deserve great credit Ior
their work in this province. and, despite
the difficulties of transportation, gov
eminent rice Is on sale in the 4emotest
pueblos
Schools have been established in most
of the municipalities and American
teachers are at work in Batangas,
Bauan. Balayan, Calaca. Lemery, Lipa,
T,oho Nasugbu. San Jose, San Juan de
Boeboc- santo Tomas, Tauauan. Taal
and TaIisay-
These schools are well attended and
rapid progress has been made Large
numbers Of boys and girls are beginnin 3
! 10 speak and write the English languags
quite fuently. A provincial high school
has been established at Batansss, with
modern seats and equipments. The edu-
cationaI prospect is bright. indeed, in
this province
ARMED Iadrones are only heard from
in the municipalities bordering OF Ca
vite. from which province forays are
occasionally made We are troubled in
q few municipalities by cattle thic~' ,,
who have accomplices in Cavite, re
the stolen cattle are disposed Of and Ia
| ter sent TO Manila.
The military authorities did consid-
/ cradle work on a number Of the roads
of the province. Some Of these roads
are in good condition, while in others
the work needs supplementary work 10
make them OF permanent value. The re-
| pairing Of roads and bridges would give
/ employment 70 hundreds Of needy in
/ habitants and tide over the critical con-
/ dition Of this province.
'I am happ- to state that the com
/ plants against the soldiers are few in
number and Of small Importance, one
case only coming to my attention, and
] that BIZ native troeps."