The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-25
Americans Remain Indifferent
to Opportunities.
POSSIBILITIES ARE GREAT
Choice of Many Enterprises
is Embarrassing.

I to the Herald as follows:
From every point OF view i must ap-
pear unfortunate that American capital
does not follow the flag in the Philippine
The capitalist al home. even the small
investor, is neglecting a great opportun-
ity. and in the Philippines the unrest OF
the natives and their distrust OF Ameri-
cans. what remains OF il. would quickly
disappear could they enjoy the prosperity
which our comerciai and Industrial activ-
tiles would bring them Curiosly. tae
knowledge OF the possibilities of the Phil
ippines has travelled TO Europe and is
being tahen advantage OF, while AIueri-
cans remain Indifferent
There is today considerable German.
English. French and even Chinese capital
in the Philippines. So great has been the
success of the enterprises already started
ali too few though they are-that addi-
tional capital from these foreign countries
is already flowing into the Philippines.
In other words. the American is doing the
work and paying for it-a high price, per-
haps-whfle the Germans, English. and
French and even Chinese are reaping the
direct advantages OF American occupa-
ton
The famous advice 10 Go west. young
man." should be amended as TO the Phil
ippines to Go west, capitalist" or Go
west. small investor" The possibilities
Of money making are 50 great in our new
possession that even a very small inves-
Tor viii find an embarrassing choice Of
enterprises ANYTHING him The Philip
pines are veritable E.ldorado except that
the gold does not lie loose TO be picked up.
Il Must be mined, so to speak and though
the process is simple enough some initial
capital is absolutely necessary. There are
already plenty of men in the Philippines
too many. possibly. for the present linn
tied working capital IL is not country
for penniless Adventures.
1t is entirely practical, as 1 shall try to
prove to realize from fifty to one hundred
and fifty per cent on investments in any
enc of a dozen native industries in the
Philippines It is even possible 10 get this
return from the very first Money is so
scarce that from ten TO twenty-five per
cent is willingly paid for loans upon first
class securities. Such collateral is unen-
numbered and prosperous sugar planta-
tons or well situated private houses and
estates is offered as security. yet there
is not enough money to go around.
How much or, rather, how little capital
one may succeed with depends largely
UPON ones ambitions. 1 should place the
minimum figure at about $500, though
double that figure would be better To go
will less would mean to join the ranks
of vorknen. which are already full
I have seen large islands in the Philip
pines where land has been so productive
after very slight cultivation that the sur
plus crops were literally rotting on the
ground. At the same time on neighbor-
ing island the natives have been starving
for the very products that were going
TO waste at their very doors The same
lack Of balance is common everywhere,
merely because there are practically no
means Of communication. \ ] inc or
steamboats,. or even sailing vessels, which
would ply between these islands would
rear, immense profits. ! have heard OF
one such project which paid for itself
the, first year and all the steamboats,
which carry Philippine products are very
s,,cSessful Here is one very tempting
neiti at least for the investor.
Another very inviting chance is the
euxar Industry. The sugar lands. l am
told bv experts. are capable OF surpsss-
my these or Hawaii. They are richer in
production and more easily worked than
n, Hawaii besides being Of almost unliu
sted extent The country Is unusually
rich in water power. while the island
Formation OF the Philippines makes it
POSSIBLE to carry products BY water. an
important economy in cost OF transpor-
tation. Native labor is cheap and eff
eient-
Now. a good working hacienda" may
readily BE established for COZ This sum
will purchase the land plenty Of 1t; erect
the sugar factory and buildings. pur-
chase the machinery anf finance the plant
until returns may be expected The aver
age sugar plantation in good condition
repavs from - 10 one hundred and fifty
per cent year On its cose.
am quoting conservative figures
there are many sugar rt1T'75iuns III ne
Philippines which cost less ami pay more
There are hundreds 20 ;11I-' : - IT.
re. OF the mos: tcv5ll1 sugar lands IN
IN v ord merely awaiting capitalists to
take advantage Il ihaal. Whit &c .Ie
acme millions Of natives. honest rnd e<
perienced. who are only too anxious -
cultivate them. Should the mex Philippine
tariff so through the conditions through
out the islands will b even more inviting
than they are al present. Incidentally,
II labor in the Philippines should even
r-oye insufficient I believe that Chinese
immigration. under restrictions. would
rrars a very welcome addition. The Chi
u<se could stand the climate. which in
some seasons is too much for the whi5e
n.n. and they ara hard effective workers
The copro crops % the Philippines also
fr.vfte the iu-estor. CopTa i The shell
Of the cocoanut. K sells at good P7lcs
ali over the world The demand for * III
America alone huns thousands OF tons
every year. The trees on 2 oonra p.Snl2-
sscn require seven years after planting
60 come 10 bearing. This may seem
long time 10 wait. but the future profits
are immense. I am merely stating fact
wen known IN the South SeaS-tcat
eppra plantation viii pay on an average
enc hundred and fifty per cent year
"A great advantage Of the crop Is that
IL requires absolutely 10 attention. The
cpcoanut trees grow luxurisnuy without
cultivation They never suffer from The
change OF climate There are 10 on
y=arS The only work necessary Is once
. year when the crop is picked Up from
tire ground
Some Of the finest tobacco n the world
- grown today IN the Philippines. As
= the case with everything there. how
ever the land remains uneultivated for
lack Of working capital Millions are 20
- made raising tobacco. Maize and rice