The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-30

1
| named j. Franklin Bel
for a brlgadier generalship, involving
one of the longest jumps in promotions
| III army annals. there was genuine sur
| prise both in and out Of the army. Bel
| had been at the outbreak OF the Span
| ish-American war only a lieutenant;
this sweeping advancement portended
that he would in ordinary course be-
come, before retirement, lieutenant gen.
eral and chief of staff.
But 1t Is being demonstrated that the
Judgment Of Mckinley ana Root was
sound. BELL first showed up in his
handling of the secret service work in
Manila, where in cunning he outpolnt-
ed the shrewdest Eilipinos, to whom
plotting came by Inheritance as fine
art. Next he worked wonders in whirl-
wind fighting against the insurgents in
the, toughest parts OF LuZon. But, while
treess in war he proved equally ef-
ficient in the executive details Of ad-
lninlstration, laying sure foundations
of permanent peace. And now wash
ington dispatch tells of another of his
achievements:
"rhe solution of roadmaliing problems
that is going on in the province Of
Batailgas, on the island Of Luzon, un-
der the direction of General J. Franklin
Bell, has been thorough and rapid dur
ing the last season. Under Spanish
rule the roads We're entirely neglected,
and during large part of the year fol-
lowing the rainy season the thorough
fares We're wholly impossible. The la
boring people during this period were
thrown out of work. and the whole pro.
vince suffered severe loss in nearly
every industry. General Bell set to
work early last season to remedy the
situation, and has now completed more
than forty miles OF macadamized road
in one straight stretch, giving the re-
gion a thoroughfare over which COM
munication with the outside world may
be maintained the year through. This
road runs from Calambas, in Laguna
province. to Batangas, in Batangas pro-
vince. There is a gap OF ten miles
which will be built before the year is
out, giving forty miles of good roads
such as the Philippines never saw be-
fore outside OF Manila
This road has cost $500 per mile,
Mexican, or about $3.50 in United
States money. The cost can be reduced
by using q rock crusher on the ground
and shortening the distance over which
the stone is hauled. The main difficult
ty is in getting the rock, which is
scarce. General Bell has decided TO use
a novel means of transportation over
his new road. That is to run regular
trains of wagons hauled by traction en-
gines. Passengers and freight are to be
taken al n nominal rate, and the trains
will be run on schedule time. Two or
three side lines will be built in the
course of next year. The engines ana
cars will have wide tires, and 50 will
improve the road with Use. The speed
to be made will be about five miles an
hour. The road fund derived from the
yearly taxes is TO be applied to con-
Meeting these macadamized roads With
the one already built"
The Leonard Woods and Franklin
Bells in the American army seem To be
ever present when needed. Their adapt
ability to circumstances is the secret OF
our extraordinary success. Like COL
onel Wint in the China campaign, they
make tactics to fit the facts: they are
not slaves Of precedent and tradition.