New-York tribune., 1903-05-18
PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE.
Floods and Other Calamities Retard Devel-
opment of Cagayan.

Washington May Il (SpeciaD-The report OF the
Governor OF the Province Of Cagayan. Philippine
Islands, which has just been received by the Bureau
of Insuar Affairs, relates tale OF hardship as
result of natural causes seldom equalled. The Gov
ernor, Senor G. Gonzaga, says in part:
The Province OF Cagayan. situated in the extreme
northern part OF the island of Luzon; has con-
the establishment thereon OF civil government,
which was accomplished without the least dis
turbance or occasion of disorder in September 1901.
The most complete peace has reiSned. clear
fecti3n Tith t6e present eovernmentaI system
Under this peace the people of province would
surely nave enjoyed sUch prosperity as peace
affords had not unhappy events combined to pre-,
the diseases OF cattle and horses This calamity
which inundated lands planted in corn and tobacco;
the plague OF locuss and to cap all, the cholera,
which. while it has not wrought great havoc, has
depresson In TOBACCO which is the Principal product
o. mis- soil pIace The inbabitants of the tobacco
raising pueblos Of the province in most deplorabe
Through visits TO all the municipalities the under
signed has become convinced OF tne comPete @ hn an
has not completely disappeared the hatefu! deSpGt
lower classes in nearly all the pueoos' due to the
70 destroy this power the education of the lower
the province should be given American teachers and
there should be established institutions OF higher
learning, Of agriculture arts ana trades IN tne
provincial capital for the education OF the youth
Agriculture has declined for the last TWO years
Numerous circumstances have combined to bring
about this critical condition-the dearth of work
animals, the plague Of lOcusts and the continuous
epidemic diseases which have appeared and terror
zed the people to such extent as to cause them
to abandon their fields and. finally. the lack or
water the poughng season.
The depression in the tobacco market is due not
only TO the low price OF the same In Manila. for
which there is explanation except that It is done
by the ntrigues of the great manufacturers CT
ciga rettes Manila. but If Is also due to the ex-
cessive tariff duties upon the importation OF this
article. which prevents American merchants from
purchasing the same. In order to combat this
Of this province suggest the remedy OF lowering
tta tariff of frnport duty upon tobacco to 25 per
cent instead OF % per cent, II Is at present.
Tho density Of population in the two IlocoS
inces makes their territory insufficient for many who
desire to acquire land and free themselves from
the cruelty and unrestrained avarice of andoWn
ers In the valley OF the Cagayan with its sparse
nonulation there is everywhere TO be found virgin
so which lacks abor only to cultivate it. In order
10 secure this needed change of population wagon
read should be built from BanSui, the nearest
n1aho in IIocos Norte Claveria, the first pueblo
I'm tho Province of Cagayan-
Tho great Caeayan River, which flows through
nearly all the province and also Isabella, IS the most
frenlJouted route of communication. It forms bars
g., 1Garz nlaces and these should be removed by
dredgine Two dredges could keep this river open
- ma vic alton throughout the whole year
The number OF municipalities should be reduced.
the weaker ones being Joined 70 the stronger IN
orier to reduce taxation and relieve the provincial