Evening star., 1902-03-01
Hydrocyanic Did It.
PHILIPPINE SUGAR.
Agricultural College to Be Established
in Negros,

Agricultural SoiIcSc W Dc GSIdOAlSuco
in Negros.
From the Honolulu Advertiser, February II.
Among the passengers on board the trans
port Thomas en- route to Manila is G.. d.
Brill of the Agricultural Department at
Washington, who goes to the Philippines
for the purpose of establishing an agri-
cultural college in the Island Of Negros.
Though long connected with Secretary Will
sons department. Mr.. Brill will work under
the direction of School Superintendent At
kinson, and the college is to be built and
operated under the auspices of the Philip
pine civil commission. With Mr.. Brill in
the establishment of the college will be as
sociated Mr.. j. w. Gilmore. formerly Of
Honolulu. and who is now in the island
archipelago.
One of the principal duties Of the new
school will be instruction in the cultivation
of sugar cane, and Mr.. Brill, who has but
recently returned from the islands, predicts
that with improved methods and open
market the Philippines will soon be a for
midable rival In the principal industry of
the Hawaiian Islands. He was in the
Philippines and in China last July and Au-
gust. and 1t had been intended to start the
college of agriculture at that time, but for
some unforeseen reason 1t was delayed.
though the appropriation has been ayaila
BILE for over a year.
'.Negros is the sugar island of the group
said Mr.. Brill in discussing the future pos
sibilities of the Philippines yesterday. While
the labor is not good as Chinese, yet it
Is much cheaper, and the cost of produc-
tion is not so great as in Hawaii. The Fill
pino is lazy and shiftless and works on the
plantations only when compelled to. The
sugar plantations on Negros not of
such large extent as here, their average size
being probably three to four hundred acres
The largest and best-conducted is about
1000 acres In extent. and some up-to-date
methods are used there, though the culti-
VatiOn of sugar is far from having attain
ed the high state of perfection apparent
in Louisiana and Hawaii. Only a low gra de
of sugar is raised. 1t is ground in the old
fashioned three-roller mills. and the crudest
methods possible are in vogue for the fur
ther processes. 1t is sent to China for
refining and the white sugar is then re-
turned to Manila, for use, there. China is
a fine market for all the sugar that is now
being raised in the Philippines, and it is
in great demand. Some little is shipped to
New York. but China takes the bulk No
doubt when it is admitted free the Philip
pines will ship all its sugar to the United
States.
The agricultural school is to be estab-
lished on the Island of Negros. I do not
know the exact plans to be followed
whether We will first teach the boys En-
glish and agriculture afterward or whether
the students shat are being educated in
the schools at present will be turned over
to us. The latter plan would probably be
tne pest, OtneT"lSe 1t may take a year
two before the school of agriculture will be
Of any practical benefit. All branches of
agricultural science will be taught though
our principal work will be the study of the
cultivation of sugar. That Is the money
crop of the islands and the one upon which
the people depend, and naturally it is the
one about which they wish most to learn.
There has been no trouble in the Island
of NegrOs. The natives there are quiet and
peaceful. and were among the first to swear
allegiance to the United States. OF course
there are bands of guerrillas, and these
rovers will remain for good many years
to come, but the principal part of the pop
ulation on Negros at least will cause no
trouble.
1T was intended to start this school a
year ago, but for some reason 1t was post
poned, though everything is in readiness
and the appropriation for the purpose is
Immediately avalable.'
Mr.. Brill spent a considerable portion of
his time yesterday with Jared Smith. and
will visit the agricultural experiment sta
ton today. In few weeks F. Lanson
Scribner of the Agricultural Department.
who goes on the same mission as does Mr..
Brill, will pass through for Manila. He
may be on the transport Grant. due here
the middle of the month, and again he may
change his plans and go via the Suez canal
from New York.