The Washington times., 1903-05-18
WANTS OF PEOPLE OF
CAGAYAN PROVINCE
Governor of Territory Tells
of Their Necessities.
COMBINATION OF CALAMlTIES
Farms Damaged by Inundations-De-
preston of Tobacco Market-Wagon
Roads Needed

The Bureau Of Insular Affairs, War
Department, has received the annual
report of Senior G. Gonzaga. governor
of the province of Cagayan. P. l.. for
the year 1902. which says:
The province OF Cagayan, situated in
the extreme northern part OF the island
of Luzon, has continued in a peaceful
and tranquil condition since the estab
| lishment therein of civil government,
which was accomplished without the
| least disturbance or occasion of dfsor
der, in September, 1901. The
most complete peace has reigned, clear
and evident proof of the sincere and
! loyal adherence to the sovereignty of
North America, and of satisfaction with
with the present governmental system
Under this peace, the people of this
province would most surely have enjoy
ed such prosperity as peace affords, had
not unhappy events combined to prevent
! it, such as the mortality of carabaos,
and other diseases OF cattle and horses
| This calamity was followed by unex
pected overfows of the river, which in
undated lands planted in corn and to-
bacco; then came the smallpox cpl
demic, and in it's turn the plague of 10
Gusts. and TO cap 1t all. the cholera.
| which, while 1t has not wrought great
havoc, .has greatly unsettled the minds
of the people.
The dire calamities mentioned, to-
gether with the depression In tobacco,
which is the principal product of this
soil, place the inhabitants of the tobac-
co-raising pueblos of the province in
a most deplorable condition.
Need of Education.
Through visits to all the municipali
ties. the undersigned has become con-
WINGED OF the complete tranquility which
exists, Notwithstanding that there has
not completely disappeared the hateful
despotism which the higher classes OBJ
serve toward the lower classes in near
ly all the pueblos, due to the ignorance
of the latter.
To destroy this power. the education
of the lower classes becomes necessary
Ali the pueblos OF the province should
be given American teachers, and there
should be established institutions of
higher learning, of agriculture. arts and
trades in the provincial capital for the
education of the youth of Cagayan.
Agriculture has declined for the past
two years. The dearth of work ami
mails. the plague of locusts. and the
continuous epidemic diseases which
have have appeared and terrorized the
people to such an extent as to cause
them to abandon their fields, and final
ly, the lack OF water at the blowing
season.
The depression in the tobacco mar
ket is due not only to the low price OF
the same in Manila. for which there is
no explanation, except that 1T is done
by the intrigues OF the great manufac-
turers of cigarettes in Manila, but it is
also due to the excessive tariff duties
upon the importation of this article
which prevents American merchants
from purchasing the same.
Lower Tariff on Tobacco
In order to combat this monopoly, SO
highly injurious to the inhabitants OF
this province, we suggest the remedy OF
J lowering the tariff or import duty upon
tobacco to rs per cent. instead of rs per
cent as IL IS at present.
The density of population in the two
Ilocos provinces make their territory
insufficient for many who desire to &C
quire lands, and free themselves from
the cruelty and unrestrained avarice OF
J landowners. In the valley of the Ca
gayan. with its sparse population, there
is everywhere to be found virgin soil
which lacks only labor to cultivate it.
In order TO secure this needed change Ct
population, wagon road should be
built from Bangui, the nearest pueblo
in Ilocos Norte. to Claveria, the first
pueblo in the province OF Cagayan.
The great Cagayan river, which flows
through nearly al the province, and also
abela, is the most frequented route
of communication. 1t forms bars in
many places, and these should be re-
moved by dredging. Two dredges could
keep this river open to navigation
throughout the whole year
The number of municipalities should
be reduced, the weaker ones being
joined to the stronger, in order to re-
duce taxation. and relieve the provincial
treasury.