New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-24
PHILIPPINES PROSPERING
REMARKABLE PROGRESS MADE srvc,
PEACE WAS ESTABLISHED
TBr TELeGR.Pn TO HE rRIBr,yr !

tBT TELEGRAPH TO HE TRIBUSE
Washington, Sept. 23-The renoarl,sb,o -
perlty that has come with peace in the PIN.
pines, surprising that in the paInfest d., .
spanish rule, rs notably shown in the casa "a
Alnay province, at the southeastern extrar,,,,
eI Luzoh' which was notorious for the st,h-
porhness OF the insurrection there. Offering ss il
did. through its rough and diversified s1Irs,1N
and Its numerous islands, ideal conditions o.
prolonged operations by ladrones The gra..
changes that have closely followed the est.t
llshment of American civil government ara -.
forth in an official report which reached .ho
War Department to-day from A. A Rats ~.
civil Governor. who. having recently returned
from visit to the pueblos on the Islands AZ
tached TO the province, described the condi-
tions he found. He SAYS.
On all the islands perfect peace prAvafIAd aud
Tor many months there has not been a Iadrona
reported in the hills. Prosperity was apparent
everywhere, and the wonderful progress tha,r
nave made since my last visit nearly tsn
months ago. seemed hardly credible In n7any-
towns new streets had been laid out 70 accom-
rnodate the demand for new building locations
ana in one town alone over eighty new briI9iras
had been constructed in the last few months
The number Of new firms engaging in business
IN all the islands has considerably more than
doubled the original number since the last in
spectlon- 1t is particularly gratifying to note
the improvements made in the barrios and es-
pecially from 4 commercial point of view ON
my first visit TO the islands I found that many
of the large barrios had tiendas or com
mercial houses whatsoever, but depended solely
upon the commercial houses in the pueblo to
which they were attached. which in many cases
was distance Of several hours travel from the
DarrloS- Inducements were offered these people
TO open tiendas, in order to make their own
barrios. so far commercial interests were cen
cerned, independent of the pueblos. The result
has been most gratifying, for on this "trip I
found in nearly every barrio from two to five
tiendas. all apparently in a very prosperous
condltlon- WhlIe this mas proved OF great con-
venience TO the people of the baTTios it has a.
the same time added TO the income of the
pue Flos and of the province.
I was informed by many of the older citizens
that within their recollection there was never
time in the history sf the islands when they
were enjoying as much prosperity as they are
at present. AS these islands produce large
quantity OF hemp. the present high price OF
hemp is, of course, responsible for the great
amount of money that has come into these ISL
aDds during the few months BeggaTs are
seldom met with these islands, for all who
desire to work have no difficulty whatever in
finding plenty to do: the greatest drawback to
raj resources of the islands sufficient to take
care of a population many times greater than
the present numbers on making inquiry at
the leading commercial houses. 1 found they
we're selling a line of goods far superior
anything they had ever attempted to sell on
the islands heretofore was informed that the
demand for nearly everything at present is for
articles of the best; this is particularly true as
to wearing apparel, the women as we'll as the
men, purchasing the best articles they could
secure 1t was also surprising to find even in
some Of the remote parts Of the mountains. that
the houses along the trails literally SUP
piled with American canned goods, and the
principal commercial houses informed that
the demand for American canned goods has
been in excess OF their supply. The manner
In which the hemp fields worked has much
TO do with the general distribution of the money
received in the islands in payment for the hemp
in compensation for his labor half Of the hemp
he produces, and this, no doubt, accounts for
r61I Of ,.lr-v
hands OF the ordinary working people. 1t will be
seen by this that the hemp worker shares in
the market fluctuations with the land owner
Towns where there had formerly been no schools
are now constructing school buildings. and the
old buildings IN towns that formerly had schools
being repaired The tribunals have
all been put in very good condition
In several OF the leading towns the wives OF
the Presidentes have formed clubs among the
leading women of the pueblo. TO assist further
in the advancement of the women Of the ISL
ands. desire particularly to mention the town
of Pandan, where the wife of the Presidents
has formed q club of over two hundred women
of the place, all of whom are assisting her IN
obtaining liberty and respect for the
women OF that portion OF the island
One Of the greatest drawbacks to these ISL
ands at present is their lack OF communication
with the outside world Every effort is being
made with the Postal Department in some way
10 establish communication between these ISL
ands and the mainland and at the same time
open communication between the pueblos OF the
islands, giving them, IL possible. at least 4
weekly mail service. Some system different
from that in vogue at present IS aosolu!eE
necessary For example, IL sometimes requires
at least six weeks for this office to receive an
answer to a communication sent to some or Tue
puebIos on the islands attached TO this provihcs.
Every effort is being made 70 bring the toW s
on the mainland In this province within dam
communication with Albay, either by SYSTEM
of messengers or by telephone or telegraph anu
to bring the towns on the Islands within at iea7'
weekly communication with the capital -,
That portion OF the province on the malhldlIN
is ENJOYING peace and prosperity and the con
ditions have changed but little from those hsH
toned in my last report The Supervisor ntS
continued his work with the same energy una l,
he has shown in the past and this week WI
see the completion OF the large suspension oIIu-
across the Quinali River, at Llbon. me H.
series of fairs. small expoStt1ons. NhCu
mentioned in my last report. were TO be hei.
this fall has just been held in the pteoLV
Iibog I am pleased to say that II proNsu
decided success awoke the greatest enthus!as3n-
and has produced rivalry between the odII,.
of the pueblo that Will do much toward lh e.ea,
ing the quantity and quality OF the produe's
that section