The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-04
MUCH MONEY TO BE MADE
GOOD COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Cost of Living Is High-Spanish Meth
Railroad Projects Under Way.
Columbus to.) Dispatch.


A large number of the Columbus citizens
will remember with pleasure Major A. U.
Belts. who served in the Tenth Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry under Colonel Axline during
the Spanish-American war. During the
time the regiment was in Camp Bushnell
Major Belts made large number Of friends
in the city. He was always ready and full
of geniality.
After the Tenth was mustered out OF the
service at the close of the war Major Belts
was appointed to a captaincy in one of the
United States volunteer regiments and went
to the Philippine islands in 1899 for service.
He rendered such efficient service that he
was made Governor of Albay, p. l., and is
now filling that position. In letter to a
friend he gives some interesting informa-
ton as to the new possessions of the United
States. One Of the interesting things is
that in his province eggs sell for 10 cents
each and fresh beef brings $3.50 per pound,
and the supply is not very good even at
those figures.
The following extracts from his letter
will be read with interest:
Il have been greatly disappointed at not
being able to get home for the summer
months, as 1 had planned to do, but the
presence of cholera In the islands upset the
plans of all officers who had anticipated
visiting the States. So far we have been
able to keep the cholera out of this prov
inve; we thought one or two times that it
had entered, but on thorough examination
found it to be what is known as cholerine,
or cholera morbus. Our towns are all in
very satisfactory sanitary condition. 1t has
really upset business affairs to a very
large extent throughout the province de-
layed many projects that were under way
! and has placed the cost Of everything con-
siderably higher. owing to the delay of
steamship transportation in undergoing
their quarantine. We quarantine in our
ports against all infected places.
The semi-annual junta of presidentes
OF this province takes place on the 10Th of
this month, after which time l expect to
visit Manila and confer with Governor Taft
concerning my leave of absence. 1 am
| now entitled to three months leave In the
Statesmthat is, not including the month
| leave OF absence will really give me five
months away from the province, but two
months will be spent in transportation. 1t
| hardly seems possible to me that L have
| been out here three years, for you re-
member We came out here in the latter
| part of 1889. have been so busy most of
| the time that the months have flown rap
| idly. Now We have affairs in the prov
| ince organized so that they are running
along very smoothly, and 1 will be able to
| have a little more leisure time.
81 very frequently wish that my term
OF office as Governor was over, that / could
engage In many of the commercial pos
selves here. Nearly all Americans who
| have had a little capital and buckled
| down to the conditions here are now reap
| ing their reward.
| PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS.
''The principal product of this province,
Of course, is hemp and this article at
present is bringing prices higher than has
ever been known before. The prevailing
price in the province at present is $27
per picul, picul being 1371a pounds, and
| as this province produces nearly one-third
of the hemp of the Philippines. you can
readily realize the enormous sums of mon
ey coming in here. This money is very gen.
orally distributed, owing to the fact that
the hemp worker in compensation for his
labor receives one-half of all the hemp he
| takes from the latis; so that a large per-
centage Of the money quickly finds it's
way into the hands Of the working classes.
LAS might be expected, of course. where
there is a great deal of money everything
| in the living line is proportionately' high
The cost of living here has gone up sew
eral hundred per cent. from what it was
| in the former days. This rise in the food
| prOOuctS Is Que largely 10 the TACT that
the laboring classes and mountain people
| who formerly lived only on their rice and
| vegetables, are now purchasing all their
| eatables in the market. / have been some
what amused at the articles in the home
| papers concerning the high price of beef;
| if we were able to get beef out here at
| the prevailing prices at home we certain
| ly would consider 1T exceedingly cheap. The
| average price of beef in the markets in
this province is from 81 to $l.5O per pound
eggs cost 10 cents each; chickens, $50 TIC
| 81 each; fish will average nearly a dollar
pound. Although we are located right
the demand for the fish is so great that
the price remains very high.
In Spanish times a Governor only de-
sired to be at the head Of this province
sufficient for himself and family TO live In
luxury ever afterwards. The patronage OF
the Governors office was always sold to the
highest bidder. and / assure you there
Governor did not consider subject to his
disposal. They always lived at top notcf
on the very best the province afforded
which really cost them nothing. The Span.
but / find it was always al the cost of the
people. For example, he would issue in
vitations for a very large bale, or ball
and invitations, of course. would be sent t
all the presidentes and leading official.
throughout the province; some would come
and some would not but all contributed
something towards the feast. The resul
would be that day or two before tn,
bale his stockyard would be filled will
COWS, pigs. goats. chickens, wild boar, deer
and in fact, everything I'm that line tina
could be found in the province. A very
small portion of this would be consumed
the result would be that he would hav,
| ample to run the establishment until h.
was ready to give another bale, which wa