Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-05
HULLING RICE.

only little work to make them available.
This is especially so of Mindanao.
| 1 believe that the methods Of cultivation
| and cleaning the hemp might be much inn
| proved At present a large proportion OF
| the crop goes to waste. everything con-
| nected with ii being done by hand. The
! plant is much like the banana, and the
| hemp comes from the fiber of the leaves
| and stalks. 1t is dried on the ground and
| shipped in bales to Manila. A good hemp
| crop is just salable as so much wheat
| or rice. There is regular demand for it.
| and Ii has its fixed prices in the markets of
| Europe and the United States. Some OF the
| estates are now paying 30 per cent.
Railroads and Electricity.
There will be many railroads built in the
| Philippines within the next few years.
Lines are already planned to open up the
| greater part of Luzon and one especially
| profitable road will be along the Laguna de
| Bay and down into the southeastern prov
inces. This will bring the hemp to Ma
Mia, and give thickly populated and rich
| section railroad access to the capital
| There are also many opportunities for
| electrical development. The whole country
| Is one of mountains and valleys, and at
some future time the streams Will be made
| to furnish the electric power for the sugar
and other mills. Electric roads will be
built and a few of the cities will have cleo
| trio lights and car lines.
These roads will throw open new lands
| a
speculation. The Filipino is smart as
the American as far his experience goes,
but he has idea of the increasing values
| which come from railroads, and even after
the railroads are planned one will be able
| to buy lands at low prices. There is GER
| tain to be an increase in real estate value
almost everywhere, and IL one could get
properties with good titles he is almost
sure to make money. The trouble, how
ever, is that titles are often in doubt.
Many OF them disputed by the priests
| and consequently have to be bought at
much risk.
Little Chance for Poor Men.
There is one thing, however, that should
| be remembered by all who think Of going to
| the Philippines. The country is no place
| for those who have only brains and muscle
| to offer. The Fiipinos make excellent book
| keepers and clerks, and they will work for
half the wages of an American. Ordinary
| labor is poorly paid, and between the Chi
nese and Filpinos there are few chances
| for Americans who work only with their
| hands.
/ The same is so with retail merchants.
| The trade is almost altogether in the hands
| Of Chinese, who can live more cheaply ana
sell closer than we can There are limited
openings for American lawyers, doctors and
| dentists. and in fact for almost any of our
professional men who will go to the islands
expecting to stay there and grow up with
/ the country.
There is plenty OF room for syndicate in
vestments. Corporations and individuals
with large capital can easily place money
where 1t win pay a big interest on long
time investments. Young men who have
some money and business brains can find
plenty Of chances to make fortunes but
they must go out and look over the ground
for themselves and expect to make the
Philippines their home for eight or ten
years at least.
Indeed, Il seems to me that our new pos
sessions offer a most attractive field for
such men. The Philippines are an empire
of undeveloped resources, which as soon as
matters become quiet will go forward on
the seven league boots of modern progress.
The most OF the country is healthful. and
In many parts the climate is better than
that of the southern United States. In the
future every island will be spotted with
the homes of rich and well-to-do Ameri-
cans, and venture that the society there
will be equal to that of any part of the
United States. The American population
Will be rich, 1t will have good schools at
home, and will also educate its children
abroad 1t will, In short. be somewhat like
the best society of the south in the days be-
fore the war
FRANK G. CARPENTER.