Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-16
Reconstruction i'm Philippines

George s. Gels. formerly Of Grand Island.
Neb.. who went to the Philippines in 1885
with the Aston battery and served with
that organization until mustered out has
recently made a second trip to the archi-
pelago. On his return TO California he
writes as follows to The Bee:
In four years OF American occupation the
wonderful progress OF modern methods and
civilization have changed the entire Philip
pine archipelago.
When l reached the islands in July. 1898,
with our first military governor. General
Merritt. aboard the Newport. the country
seemed 300 years behind the times. The
most crude and primitive methods we're In
use within FIVE miles OF Manila. the capital
and principal port OF the group. and even in
the city itself. There was no
or communication with the outside world.
Its rich. virgin fields had not been explored.
the agricultural fields were little developed;
in an area OF 143. 600 square miles only $50
miles Of railroads. and the minerals were
awaiting the pick and machinery OF the
prospector. The UNEMPLOYED mountain
regions we're rich In ore. The slopes and
valleys contained the richest soil. being
in some places three to six feet deep in
black loan. which was very productive. All
/ hluuS v lEulASt hoouss NtBtlaUlto anu kdht
known in the tropics abounded and grew
wild to a certain degree.
Agriculture was the mainstay OF the peo-
pie; the principal exports were hemp, to-
bacco. coffee, sugar and rice, raised and
sent out at a profit after harvesting in the
erudest manner.
A single wooden pillow. drawn by a cara
bou, or water buffalo. was used to Guilt
vste. There we're no harrows. plows or
cultivators OF modern make; so the natives
manner Of blowing with such a poor draft
animal was unproductive Of good results.
The rice was threshed under feet Of men
or animals. winnowing was done by toss
ing in air, letting the chan blow away, the
rice being caught In baskets. IL was then
placed in wooden or stone mortars and
pounded by hand. often women. and girls
assisting in this work. Sugar cane was
cut by hand, crushed between wooden or
stone rollers drawn by men or draft
abinals, the sugar dried out on the field
by the sun and little attempt was made at
refining. In this crude manner many
provinces yielded three to thirty-hve tons
to the acre. Hemp was pressed and baled
by foot, placed in large bins. trampled
on by native men, women and children,
tled Win lNlne anu bunuiSu away AOI eA-
port.
The cocoanut plantation furnished milk
and food for the natives and its primitive
oil was the freight and heat, while the
pineapple furnished the fibre for pima
cloth and clothing for the Filipinos.
When the first American threshing ma
chine and engine was unlOaded at Manila
in September. 1898, and steamed up the
EscoIta and across the bridge OF Spain the
residents and natives filled the porches
and blockaded the streets and gazed with
open-mouthed wonder and establishment
We put up the first mower, brought from
Chicago, to cut feed for the mules OF oul
mountain battery, near our quarters OF
the Lunetta, where we gave II a first trial
moving grass for a base ball diamond II
was with difficulty that the natives were
kept out Of the way. of the machine, sc
eager were they to see this Deering mower
in operation. Our base ball team was
composed Of college athletes, with jos
Beacham, formerly captain of the Cornell
University nine. as captain Of the Aston
battery nine. AS the innings were being
played. can you wonder at the Filipino
spectators looking on, exclaiming, "Set
why the artillerymen were not killed b!
Spanish, they catch the cannon balls IL
their hands" They copied and initiated
ball playing. military tactics. boxing ant
wrestling, music, and transportatioI
methods from us. We were taught tn
cock fight and siesta in exchange.
: Many of their customs were as curiou
to us as ours were to them. For instance
to see the women at their morning bait
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