Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-11
REPORT FROM GOV. TAFT
PREPARATIONS TO MEET THE
THREATENED FAMINE.
Loss Of Cattle From Rhinderpest the
Most Serious Disaster in the
Philippines.

The War Department has made public a
report received from Governor Taft reply
ing to statements made by Lieutenant Cen
eral Miles relating to the conditions of agri-
culture in the archipelago and the means
Of avoiding a probable famine.
Shortage of the Food Supply.
THAT there is shortage in the islands of
the usual food supply" says Governor
Taft. us undoubtedly true, but have been
surprised to find thus far how little real
famine or hunger there has been. / have
not received a single call from a single
provincial governor for rice for free distri-
button in the entire archipelago. In the
province Of Batangas, Captain Boughton
in managing the so-called war famine fund
the history Of which has been already Of
ficially reported to you. has made very
small gratuitous distribution of rice, not
exceeding I should think in quantity more
than $1,000 worth. The action Of the COM
mission in directing a proclamation by the
civil governor. calling upon the people
everywhere to plant corn, camoteS or
sweet potatoes, rice and other quickly
growing food products had a very wide in
fuence in stirring up the people to provide
against the coming of famine. 1t Is true
that an unexampled drought in the Islands
has prevented this planting from being as
productive as 1t otherwise would have been,
and that the locusts too have interfered
with some of the crops but on the whole
have been greatly surprised to find the
suffering so much less than we expected 1t
to be. 1t may be that in May, June and
July. we shall have calls for aid, but l
think that we shall be able promptly to re-
spond to them. especially now that s3,Uoo.-
600 have been appropriated for the purpose
Ravages of Rhinderpest.
1.-The most serious feature of the situation
is the loss of the cattle from rhinderpest.
frf0 ft,o
islands without making sure that they will
not catch the rhinderpest after coming here
and die from the disease. The fields of the
islands are infected with rhinderpest, 30
that cattle from the other islands brought
here are almost sure to have the disease.
1t Is necessary, therefore, that all cattle
brought here shall be immunized by having
a serum injected into their veins which will
render them immune for three or four
months and at the same time by being
inoculated with the rhinderpest virus which
renders them immune at least for five years
and probably longer. We have made con-
tract for the delivery of 10000 carabao in
the islands with the permanent immuniza-
ton. These are to be brought from the
Yangtsi valley in China. Our insular pur-
chasing agent. together with cattle ex-
pert of the agricultural bureau. is now
visiting the various ports of the orient with
view to making further contracts.
Transportation of Rice.
II am unable to see that the government
transports could be made useful to US
either in the transportation of rice or the
transportation of cattle. We can charter
steamers adapted to our purposes at per-
haps one-fourth one-fifth of the cost
of operating the transports, as proposed
by the lieutenant general of the army. We
have some twelve or fourteen coast-guard
vessels which can transport rice quickly to
any part of the archipelago, and we can
purchase rice in the orient at a much
cheaper price than we can bring corn or
wheat from the United States. The rice
which we can thus bring to save the peo-
pie from starvation Is the food which they
are used to eating, whereas they would
have to be taught to eat wheat.
Should Sell, Not Give.
TT is exceedingly important that we
shall not pauperze the Leople of these is
lands by unnecessary gratitous distribu-
ton Of rice. In anticipation Of corner in
rice, we made purchase of rice involving
the expenditure Of about 100000 gold. We
succeeded in breaking the corner and keep
ing down the price of rice, and should the
price of rice advance again. we may have
to do the same thing. We have sold the
rice in various parts of the archipelago
nearly at cost whenever the merchants in
that neighborhood insisted on forcing the
price beyond what was reasonable. We
have on hand now some $1,000 pioulS 137k
pounds to the piouD of Bangkok rice,
which is the best in the market, and we
have recently disposed of 100000 piouls of
what is called Calcutta superior famine
rice, to be sold throughout the archipelago
at a moderate price, which was fixed in
the contract of sale. If more than the
rice have on hand is needed for the
purpose of feeding starving people, we
shall be able to buy it in the market and
distribute it without the use of the gov
eminent transports.
Cost of Cattle.
1.-The purchase of cattle and the landing
of them in the islands attended with
the greatest difficulty, for the reasons I
have stated. We cannot hope to bring
into the islands as many cattle as have
died. We can only hope to bring in a suf-
ficient number to keep agriculture going.
The price at which we have contracted for
the purchase of the first ten thousand is
SIS Mexican, delivered in Manila COM
petely immunized. We hope to be able to
lower price, though hardly less than $50
Mexican. If we are able to sell the cara
bao in the province at 500 Mexican it will
be great boon to the people, especially If
we do not require deposit of more than
so per cent Of the cost price, and allow a
credit Of six months for the payment of
the balance
1T think generally the statement of facts
in the report of the lieutenant general is
correct, SO far at least as the dreadful de-
preston in agriculture by reason of the
loss of the cattle is concerned. The rem
edy which he suggests by the use of the
government transports, however, I do not
concur in. The danger from famine has
not been as great as l supposed it was,
and as the lieutenant general was justified
in supposing 1T was from the reports he
heard. In any event, with the funds pro-
vided by Congress now, l feel confident
that the Philippine government is in a po-
sition to meet any emergency of this kind