The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-25

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| siTely that the latent possibilities of the
islands are practically without limit Ca
| Gao (chocolatey is another native product
| which may be raised upon this rich soil
with a minimum amount of cultivation
II is difficult TO realize how handicap
ped all these native industries are for
| the lack Of machinery. The greater part
of the rice gathered in the Philippines,
IN fact, practically al OF It, is taken out
| by hand. The same primitive methods
obtain in other industries in all parts OF
| the islands. And these conditions are due
| to poverty. nothing else, for the natives
are naturally progressive and take kind
| " 70 the use OF new machinery.
The hemp industry Is an important one
and IS capable OF widespread improve
rent In nany parts OF the islands hemp
| is growing wild IN large quantities and
literally going 10 waste It would require
very little capital 10 bring this into the
market AID the profits should be great.
Il is the same with chocolate. Inspect
Or White, of the consta bulary, recently
reported having passed. On his rounds,
immense groves OF Wild chocolate in the
mountains. literally going 70 waste In
one place he saw grove Of thirty thou
sand acres of wild chocolate waiting to
be picked. As said before, the neglect
OF such opportunities by Americans is
simply inexpIicable.
Then, again the mineral wealth Of the
Philippines is alone most tempting for the
investor. or rather for the mine pros
pector. and miner. since II has as yet
remained literally untouched. 7 an told
that, judging from the geological forma-
ticns OF the islands, the value OF their
deposits is beyond computation. The
greater part OF the ISLANDS, indeed, prac-
tically the entire group, is an undiscov-
cred country, SO far as minerals are cor
cerned.
Far my own island, which is the only
one that has come under NY personal
observation. l can. perhaps. speak with
some authority. Its mountains are known
TO be rich in sulphur. gypsum and red and
yellow ochre. And the mountains remain
unclaimed property. They are open 10
any one. When anybody needs these
valuable products for his personal Use he
merely goes off TO the mountains and
picks up as much as ne wants, and 10
spare. He needs no permission. Ii is
these same mountains whose slopes are
covered with thousands of acres OF val
liable crops. running wild and going 10
seed
And these conditions extend in all d.
rections in most tempting profusion- IN
many islands the conditions are, in fact,
even more attractive. Ny island Of Ne
gros. for instance has an area OF 1000
square miles and a population OF 800 o0o-
There are many other larger islands, with
practically no population. and without. at
present. any COMMUNICATION worth the
nsue with their nei;hbors or to the outer
world. Negroes is one Of the most ad-
vsnced of the islands.
Imagine the possibilities then Of larger
islands, whose natural vegetable and
mineral wealth is far greater and lies
awaiting a claimant There is something
irritating in the thought of the fortunes
which lie so veribly neglected. by the
roadside throughout the Philippines
There are again immense fortunes TO
be made in pearl fishing. Here is an
other enterprise which may be carried
and started on with comparatively little
capital and with great returns. The
industry is in its infancy just before
leaving the Philippines, few months ago.
I heard of a single pearl having been
found valued at s15.eoo The finders were,
I believe a JAPANESE pearl fishing COM
pany. There are some Russian pearl
fishing companies, I understand, which
are taking out stones in large quantities
and OF prodigious value. Here is another
Illustration of the quickness OF the for
e:gners as compared with Americans in
gathering the wealth of our own posses
sion. which would seem rightfully 10 be-
long 10 US.
The rubber and gutta percha industries
remained untouched. All the world knows
of course the profits Of these products.
Even when the trees must be planted
and tttended for years, they prove TO be
a very profitable crop. In the Philippines
there are thousands Of acres covered with
these trees have never ben touched
And this land may be had for the ask
ing.
There is what appears TO be an unlim-
tied supply of lumber Much OF this is very
fine wood, which Would command high
price. The trees in many cases, grow
TO a towering height Much of the wood
is very heavy and Is susceptible Of taking
a high polish. There are several woods
rev 20 the world. Many of them have
a richness OF color or or marking which
VIII eventually make them valuable in
all civilized countries. Just at present
the laws make it difficult to procure it.
but red tape VIII doubtless disappear.
There = 10 no armed resistance 20 the
American occupation worthy the name
It requires merely a little American cap
itaI. enough 70 keep every one busy and
prosperous. 10 completely restore the con-
ditions which obtained before the Ameri-
can occupation Develop the natural re-
sources Of the islands ever 80 little and
the snation VIII gain q mold On the IA
tives which nothing can disturb The
lack Of this and a continuance OF harf
times viii. OF course. keep many out
Of work. and idleness is dernoralizins- Let
a large mass Of the natives continue idle
and discomfort will quickly follow. and
there will De petty pilferings and possible
revolutions. Every best interest OF both
co,Intries-of America. with its surplus
capital. and the Philippines. with their
lack of twill gain By the Interchange
The natives. as I have found them
are Industrious. honest and entirely trust
WORTHY. The American investor or emf
grant viii have nothing 70 fear on that
score. The constsbulsry consists OF the
natives. Offered by Americans. bCt II Is
,.Iv question or tine before the officers.
teo. vii be FIipinos. have found the
ratives loyal ard patriotic. The people
are naturally hospitabIe and kindly.
Following the American occupation.
hard times enSuei in the Islands. which