The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-06

telegraph, an irrigation scheme which is
about to throw open TO development $1,000
acres of land in one of the states, and
water works, wharves. hospitals, prisons,
schools and a full equipment of public
buildings. Under federation revenue near
ly doubled in five years and showed an in
crease as great in figures as had occurred
in the marvellous progress of the preceding
twenty years.
Comparisons have been drawn from these
figures by the resident general, w. II.
Preacher. in which he shows that the rev.
enue of the states is larger than that of
any of the British crown colonies, with the
exception Of Ceylon, and that even Ceylon
stands second in respect to surplus in the
last fiscal year. The states contain $500
square miles. a population of 676.1 Ss. and in
sterling the revenue was e1,561,O 900 and the
expenditure e1.2 7S.OOO. Ceylon. with 1856
square miles and a population OF 1891. 44S,
produced a revenue of 91, 1900 and ex-
pended e1, 663, 900. The Straits Settlements.
which stand sponsor for the states and
political guide to them. seem so small by
comparison as to be suggestive of the tail
wagging the dog. They contain 1,5i2
square miles of territory. a population of
572. 249, produced a revenue of 953S ,6S4 and
expended G6O1, 643.
NO DANGER Of EXHAUSTION.
Tin mining has been the most profitable
industry. Those who incline TO caution in
regard to the future of the states doubt
whether expectation may not run too high
in view of the large shipments of ore from
alluvial deposits every year. Sir Frank
Swettenham, Governor of the Straits Set
Elements, commenting on the apprehension
that the mines must soon be worked out,
says: II do not share these views, except
in so far as L agree that about 100000 tons
of tin, worth over 100000 900. have been ex-
ported in the last fifteen years. The sup
ply has been unquestionaDly reduced by
that amount, but just as it is certain that
tin has been worked i'm the Malay PENN
sula for centuries, so 1 believe it will still
be produced there centuries hence. No
doubt the industry has grown in recent
years to very large proportions, but it
would take a long time to work out the
alluvial deposits i'm the lands already alien
ated, and these comprise but a fraction of
the unexplored lands which still remain,
where there is every reason to believe that
mineral will be found in paying quantities.
This only applies to alluvial deposits. No
one can guess what are the reserves of ore
in underground rock formations. The gov
eminent has not, however, overlooked the
fact that in it's export of tin its capital
was being reduced, and it has made an eff
fort to supply another and more useful in
vestment by the construction of railways
from part at least of revenue raised from
the royalty on tin. Since British prOtec-
ton the royalty on tin has yielded a total
of s47,O 900, 900, and the federated states have
in the same time expended $23.O00,000 in
the construction Of railways. to which will
be added another $6.OOO.OOO before the close
of this year, when they will own $50 miles
of fully equipped railways, constructed
without the assistance of any borrowed
money. Since the first section of railway
was opened the traffic receipts. up to the
end of last year, amounted to SD. 5O0.0 600,
and the profits, after payment of main
tenance and working expenses. give a re-
turn of over S per cent. on the capital ex-
pended. however valuable the tin may be
as a reserve. while lying in the ground. it
is probably of greater public advantage to
have a railway system which helps the
c-ountry-miners. planters and traders alike
while yielding a considerable amount of
revenue and affording employment to a
large number Of people
PHILIPPINE CONDITIONS COMPARED.
Development of tin mining may find no
parallel in the Philippines. but it may be
noticed that. although tin has been taken
from the peninsula for centuries. the in
dustry in earlier years was precarious and
only moderately productive. In the dis
turbed conditions that prevailed a miner
could become prosperous safely only if he
were strong enough 10 defend his property.
Otherwise his operations were attended
as were ever mining operations in the Phil
ippines under the blighting greed of Span
ish officials. Miners got their first fair
opportunity under British protection. which
opened the field quite as u~nreservedly and
insures the legitimate product Of private
or corporate enterprise as completely as
cau occur I'm the Philippines. Possibly the
tin taken out in the earlier years may have
been worth more than the gold obtained
from the washings in the Luzon hills. but
in general mining was conducted under
disadvantages so grave as TO Justify COM
parsons between the peninsula and the
archipelago. When the field became free
guaranteed real development began. Until
then there was small incentive 10 explore
the wealth OF the land. which since then
has yielded many fortunes md has brought
To the states a degree OF prosperity rare
for a like area in any part Of the world.