The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-05

n ANlLA, the Pearl Of the Orient, IS q
WI surprise TO most travellers in the
- tropics, and most Of al the Manila
Of today is a surprise TO its old friends of
Spanish yesterdays.
The foreigner in Manila will assure you
that Manila can never be made an Amer
lean city; the Englishman viii smile in a
patrOnizing way and the Spaniard VIII
shrug his shoulders, and in the mind OF
the latter there turks. no doubt, the
memory Of the centuries it took Spain to
make her impress upon the Filipino race,
But Manila has changed much since the
days of first American occupation. Ii
has changed in many ways for the better
lit is clean, il is sanitary tas Oriental
cities go) and il is remarkably improved
as regards general appearance and the
pavement of its streets.
The health commissioners, Major Maus
and Major MeaCham have wrought Won
ders in cleaning the city. They have
driven the dread pesta bUbonlca from the
chino tenements, and have vaccinated
smallpox into submission. Automobiles
are common on the Luneta and American
carriages are displacing the native vehi-
cles to a considerable extent American
tradesmen are found actively competing
with the long established slow going
Spanish firms, and an American chamber
OF commerce is making itself heard and
felt. The American capitalist has his
representatives here, but owing to the
uncertainty Of congressional action and Of
the financial situation, there is now little
activity in investment
A good, sound money law Is much
needed. The insular government has
shifted the ratio of gold TO silver twice
i'm the last six months, as It was found
impossible to maintain a ratio of two 10
one for American and Mexican currency.
The new rate. just announced, IS z.Z1 10
1, which makes the Mexican dollar worth
about A cents. The English and Chinese
banking corporations have been meantime
reaping a rich harvest in exporting gold
and importing Mex, the government and
business men being the losers. When the
rate was 2 TO 1 IL was possible 10 BUY
money orders at that rate at the post
Office with Mexican money, which could
be bought in HongkOng at about 10 or
225 to q As a consequence many bought
Mex. with which 10 purchase orders and
profit at the expense of Uncle Sam-bu5
this was nipped in the bud BY the director
of posts, who refused TO sell orders TOT
Mexican money. This order worked a
hardship with the government employees,
who are paid in Mex. and many OF whom
desire 10 send a large percentage OF their
earnings to the states. So the rule has
been modified. allowing small amounts
to be sent, purchasable in Mex at cur
rent rates. There is universal complaint
OF existing conditions Barring the bank
ers) and it is hoped that congress VIII
legislate so as to relieve the present IN
certainty At the end of the month tne
government clerk goes to the Bank Of
HOngkOng. and after ten times the delay
he would be subjected to in an American
/ bank, he emerRes with a huge pas
woven from palm leaves well baliasted
with silver junk, commonly called Mex.
It is impossible to carry more than So
worth of the stuff in his pockets. so Wnef
he goes shopping he drives about in his
carromata with a sack of the 'dhobie
! receivable at various rates by the Mantis
merchants.
Everyone who can lueaves Manila durins
April and May, the hot season, for the
weather is now most depressing and Inc
/ nights are becoming warm in town Those
who can leave go to Japan or take steam,
ers for interisland trips. China IS no'
: popular this year because Of the cholera
epidemic and because Of the quarantine IT
+ Manila il is difficult for a white man anC
/ impossible for a native or chino TO leave
/ town for any port. japan mas deciaIel
/ special quarantine against HOngkOng anC
I Manila. so that passengers for TN
I F'fowery Kingdom. viii. no doubt, be De
/ tanned IN bort upon their arrival
/ Among Fhe passengers for Yokohama
! tomorrow on the Japanese liner are Mrs
/ Baldwin ahd Mrs. White Captain Bald
/ win Is hiding somewhere In the provinces
/ and CAPTAIN White is in the trdnsSOrta
/ ton office with General Humphry.
/ 1t is not only hard to get transporta
] tlOu duout tilg lole.l'.-9 ~ - - - =
: but If is hard to get anywhere on lana il
] Manila or the provinces. Carrom2tas
/ ouilez and calesins have served the pur
I pose in Spanish davs-the public rigs be
/ ing drawn by diminUtive and decrenl
{ cabaIlos-and the Filipino mind eanno
j see why Americans should Rrumbie. IN
/ tramway with its ramshackle cars an
/ starved ponies, really does not count 2
/ an. as Americans never use II. and IN
/ coming of an electric railway VIII Worl
wonders I'm Manila and should reap re
profits for the owners. There are W.