Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-03-17
ENGINEERS IN PHILIPPINES.
Many Excellent Opportunities Open
ing Through the Building of
Railroads.

The Philippine islands are repeating
the story of Cuba, and with even greater
emphasis, of the advance ment which
American occupation has caused in the
administrative methods Of public and
private business. In I department, not
even in sanitary supervision, is this
progress shown better than il the work
of engineers, states the Troy Times.
The engineers who have accompanied
the American troops in the Philippines
have had an arduous task, some of the
features Of which are pointed out by
Capt William w. Harris in an article
entitled Military Engineering and Civil
Opportunities in the Philippines" which
appears in the Engineering Magazine.
The engineering corps not only per-
formed It's part in reconnaissance and
attack, but also built bridges, located
fords and constructed roads, besides the
general work of survey and mapmaking.
The Manila & Dagupan railway had
been practically destroyed by the insur-
gents, but the engineers quickly put the
road into good condition, and repaired
hundreds Of miles of highway in the
island Of Luzon alone, besides building
many bridges in Mindanao. Road build
ing has been pushed, and the destructive
work OF the insurgents has been counter
acted. A macadamized road SO miles
long has been built in the provinces Of
Laguna and Batangas, and one Of 20
miles in the province of Albay. About
900 miles Of road have either been built
or improved in Luzon, often requiring
the construction of extensive causeways
through rice marshes. 1t was found
necessary to import timber from Amer
lea for use In making bridges, but native
labor was employed to advantage under
engineering supervision. Since the is
lands were turned over to the civil gov
eminent last year much Of the road
work has passed into the hands Of the
provincial supervisors.
Not only road building, but the con-
struction of barracks and water and
sewerage systems, has occupied the at
tenion of the engineers who accom-
panied the troops. Wharyes have also
been built at various ports The port
of Manila is being extensively improved.
In the city of Manila new public mar
kets of steel have been erected, with a
new bridge over the Pasig river, a public
al fanoroanfc
The point of particular interest to the
engineers Of this country, and there
fore worthy of notice in the city which
Is the seat Of the Oldest and most famous
American engineering school, is that the
work of civil engineers in the Philippine
Islands is just beginning and that there
are many excellent opportunities there.
Capt Harris says: Railroads and street
tramways must be built, and coal and
other minerals mined; Manila must
have new water supply and sewerage
system; other towns must have the
same, and the construction Of roads and
bridges must be continued. AS soon as
the future control Of the islands becomes
more settled, and the permanency and
wisdom Of the present government is
sufficiently sure to warrant investment
of capital and the extensive introduction
Of modern engineering to develop the
Industrial and mineral resources of the
islands, an attractive and profitable
field will be opened for members of the
engineering profession"
AS the United States civil government