The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-10-29
THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES.

we steamed ], SS4 miles. We were pas sengers on the Seward, which is one of the ships of the quartermaster's de- partment, engaged in carrying sup plies to military posts. These ships make round trips twice each month, kee2ing on schedule time from port to port. Navigation is not by observation O. the heavens, but by chart and com pass and by observation of land, for l islands are in view nearly all the time. The Seward took on supplies at Manila, especially at the government ice factory and storehouse which stands on the bank of the Pasig river, just outside the walled city. Ships from Australia land there cargoes of frozen meat, beef and mutton. and the Argentine coun- try is soon to replenish the great store house. The ice factory uses distilled l water and fills it's rooms with large blocks that are as clear and as hard as crystal.
 The Steward made only small inn Dression upon the abundant supplies when she drew out for this trip 35 tons of ice, 75 tons of beef and one ton of mutton and other good things for rations. Soldiers when cared for at best endeavor have many deprivations and hardships, but it is very interesting 70 see what is done to keep them we'll supplied with good food. Every post in these islands has it's stores replenished twice each month, not with canned meats, but with quarters of beef that would look well in any home market.
 At one port the goods are delivered to lighter, at another on the pier, and at another to a river steamer. Army
 wagons and pack mules will help them forward to camps that are in the inta-
 rior. When We left Manila we took in
 tow schooner loaded with lumber and left her near her destination in Tayabas bay. near Lucena, on the south shore of Luzon, having in the meantime made our first port at Batangas, on the same island. Having followed for a day and half the shore of Luzon, we now
 turned directly south, having on the right hand in view Mindaro and on the left Martinique, and the next morn ing revealed to us Panay, where we an chored at I1oilo, the port second in irn- -ortance to Manila in the Philippines. Many substantial buildings here were left in ruins by incendiary fires when the American army was about to gain possession of this place and these gave a look of desolation to the city. But some substantial buildings remain and some have been recently built and soon the town will present a finer appear ance than ever before. It has an elec- tric plant which furnishes arc lights for the public and 900, incandescent lamps for customers Soon will be built trolley line to connect it with nearby villages. A large part of the place is, however, occupied by nipa and the room for improvement about them is noteworthy. Not a thought is given by. the natives to care of grounds about their houses. The market place is any thing but attractive. There were ships in the bay that suggested the commerce that already ss in progress here and that is destined to grow to large pro-. portions, this being the port for two large and rich islands, Panay and Negros. ~}a # %7'
 Presbyterian missionary work is we'll represented at Iloilo, having as it's most noteworthy feature hospital, primitive in it's furnishings but excellent in its skilled ministrations. . ~ -
 At this point of our voyage we left behind us the region of typhoons and steamed into seas that enjoy unbroken calms and we found them true to their reputation, for they were smooth as glass, or only slightly ruffled day after day. In coming south the only sugges- tion of a whirlwind was beautiful waterspout seen not for away, which reached from the dark cloud to the sea and turned into foam one spot and then drew itself back to the cloud. We also had two or three showers that illus trated tropical downpours of rain. But the weather for the most part was delightful from the first day to the last and we enjoyed refreshing breezes. The southern islands are cooler than Luzon and their cities escape the heat of Manila. They are regarded as pre- ferable for residence. From Iloilo we went south by straight course along the west coast of Mindano to it's capital, Zamboanga. There are some substan- tial buildings here, but nothing sugges- tive of capital. Here we left three Fellow passengers who have important work before them. One of these men, Louise Davidson, a world traveller and experienced journalist, will set up his press and begin publication of an in- fiuential weekly paper. All Mindanao will be his parish. The other men. John E. Springer and Frederick Thomp- son are to be associated with General Leonard Wood as members of the com- mission which is to institute civil government in this region of the Philip pines. General Wood arrived in Zam- ! boanga September 2, having spent some time on the way in islands still farther south. He will find in the men men, tioned worthy associates in his great work. MT. Springer as attorney, Mir. Thompson as treasurer, both young men who have made an excellent record in these islands.
 Our next port was in the Sulu Island, Jolo a small city with walls and broad, we'll shaded streets. It is, attractive in it's appearance We did not have time to visit the Moro town near by, but we saw about the city many Moros in their peculiar costumes The Moros are Mo- hammedans so far as they have any religion. We would gladly have spent more time Jolo, but we stayed only two hours and then turned honleward.