Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-08-13
By FRANK z. FORCE.

The mineral resources of the Philip
pine islands are many and varied,
though up to this time no definite ac'
count of the exact status of the is
lands in this regard has been pub
lished.
Among the first troops that went to
the islands were several regiments
from the western state, and many OF
the soldiers were practical miners
These men were ever on the alert for
any indications Of mineral bearing
rock and from their explorations has
come much of the information that is
now possessed.
These soldiers of fortune, instead OF
returning to the states with their regi'
ments, stayed in the islands and with
their small capital purchased meagep
mining outfits and went into the in
terror of the various islands. Here
they met with varying degrees of sue
cess, settling on their mining claims
and awaiting the passage of laws that
would permit them to file on their
claims.
Under the old Spanish law an in
dividual could not obtain a title to
mining claim, but was granted a con
cession by the crown Of Spain, the
title remaining with the crown.
There were so many conditions under
which these concessions were granted
that often the crown, finding that
some of the mineral grants were very
valuable, would, on the pretevt
conditions had not been complied with,
take them back These would then
be worked by the government.
The result of all this was that the
mining affairs in the islands were
never in a settled condition, and com
parativeIy few of the concessions we're
ever even explored.
At present the American miners are
having some trouble over these old
grants, for wherever an American dis
covers a valuable piece of property
some Spaniard springs up with an old
Spanish grant. Up to the time of the
passage of the mining laws for the
islands by the last congress. the Amer.
leans were thus unwilling 10 work on
any claims as they took chances of
developing some old grant. The laws
passed for the islands are modelled OF
the American laws, there being few
minor differences in the size and mum.
her of claims allowed.
spaniards Were Lax.
"a tat ho4
were as lax in their pursuit Of tia
mineral wealth as in all other affairs.
1t has been said that there is no great
mineral wealth in the islands, or the
Spaniards, expert miners as they are,
would have discovered 1t in their SOC
years of domination. This is especial
ly emphasized in the case of gold, as
these skeptics say thar the Spaniards
have ever been eager in their search
for the yellow metal and undoubtedly
would have discovered any great de-
posits.
While this may be to some extent
true. it must be remembered that the
Spaniards in all their long period OF
rule never penetrated to the heart
of the mountainous districts OF the diff.
ferent islands, preferring rather tC
stay close to the coasts than to isolate
themselves in the wild districts of the
interior
Also 1t must be considered that the
Spaniards have never been successful
as gold miners. their speciality being
silver, for they were in California and
Arizona for years, and not until the
Americans settled in those states were
any great gold discoveries made.
a great number of prospectors have
been drawn to the Philippines during
the last two years. and since the ces,
sation of hostilities have been able tC
make some very valuable discoveries.
These men are from all parts of the
world, men who have chased the
phantom specter of gold in South
Africa. South America, Australia and
Alaska, and many of them are practi
cal miners who hive gone thoroughly
over the situation in the islands. Al
times stories have been circulated OF
the discovery of some El Dorado +,
the Philippines. but these have been
by some inexperienced prospectors
who have rather accepted the testi
mony of untruthful natives than going
to the trouble of INVESTIGATING fol-
themselves.
The Gold Deposits
First, as to the deposits OF gold
Gold has been found in many of the is
lands of the group, extending from
Luzon on the north to Mindoro and
Mindanao on the south. The first dis
coveries made by Americans were il
streams or old river beds. but up tC
the present time no placer deposits q
any considerable quantity have beer
found in the island of Luzon.
The most important deposits on this
island have been found in the pro
vinces of Benguet. Lepanto and Abra
grouped in the mountain district af the
center OF the iSand, and in the pro
vinces of the Camarines.. lying in tht
extreme southeastern part,