Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-10
AN oLD-FASHIoNED PHILIPPINE HOUSE.

less than SEQ 100000 and would bring that
sum at auction; that the land included In
Notifications barracks and other military
reservations Is worth not less than w.
000, 600, which alone makes good the pur-
chase price and that the public property
improved used for educational charitable
and similar purposes will bring the total
up to 500, 100000 at an auction valuation.
No one pretends that the United States
purchased the Philippines as real estate
sneculation but nevertheless 1t is some
satisfaction to know that We got the worth
of our money.
Buildings for Americans.
American business men and Office holders
are beginning to buy property and build
home I'm Manila. Last year 1913 permits
were issued for buildings to be erected of
heavy materials costing $1,946.S7l, more
than for the previous ten years under Span
ish domination, and 2,242 buildings of light
er material. This was an increase or 81
per cent over the previous year. Or the
buildings to be erected OF heavy materiais
permits amounting 10 Slooooo were srah'eo
to- Americans.
This, of course, does not include the cost
of the ground. This boom has caused
enormous advances on property, but theIN
will be a reduction in the prices of city real
estate Just as soon as the new trolley line
is completed and cars are running to the
outlying suburbs. do not know where there
i
than is offered in Manila to those who are
willing to erect modern residences for rent.
Houses that cost no more than 5000 and
$500 rent readily from $40 to 500 month,
and better ones which cost 5000 will rent
for twice those figures. All this is due to
the great demand caused by the incoming
Americans. Houses that were offered for
sale at s., 600 and 5000 before the war now
revenues they bring. Most of them are
owned by Spaniards, Filipinos and the re-
ligious orders. The Germans own the fac
tories the English have the banking houses
and transportation lines and the Chinese
and Filipinos do the retail business.
The foreign population has increased cor
siderably since the American occupation,
and not counting the army and ma y, there
were 2S,45O foreign arrivals in the Philip
pine Islands during the year 1903. OF these
1854 were Asiatics-Chinese, japanese and
Malays; l2.S49 were Americans and 1.99S
were Europeans. Many OF the Americans
remained and you will find them now scat
tered throughout the islands According to
the recent census 1850 of our fellow coun-
trymen were living In the city of Manila,
and their number has probably increased
Is or 20 per cent since the census was taken
The records of the assessors Office show
that real estate to the amount of $291, 1853
has been purchased by American residents
most of ii within the last year. and 1t is
about equally divided between residence
and business property. Some of 1t is I'M
improved land upon which residences are
Experience dof Americans.
E. ]. Smith of the gaslight company, who
is one of the largest operators in real es-
tate and one of sthe most enterprising of
the American colony, tells me an interest
ing story about the experience of our fell
-countrymen in buying homes He saws
that when he first inspected the suburb of
Santa Mesa, about three years ago. he was
disappointed to learn that the entire tract
surrounding that suburb belonged to a sim
gle estate. the managers of which would
neither sell outright nor give leases longer
than three years. E,
Up to that time,s continued Mr.. Smith
"a similar attitude on the part of the own
ors of the most desirable vacant residence
property about Manila had discouraged
Americans from investing money in homes
AS a rule an American does not take kind
ly to the idea of building his home upon
leased ground, particularly where the lense
is of short duration. This fact was soon
impressed upon the mind of the adminis-
traitor Of the Santa Mesa estate, for after
repeated efforts to induce our people to
take short-term leases he changed his pol
would be made for fifty years This had
Immediate effect, for within three months
nearly every acre OF ground on the heights
overlooking the city had been taken up by
Americans, who Immediately proceeded to
build homes. New streets have been laid
out and improved by the municipal govern
ment and electric lights now illuminate
the main thoroughfare to the San Juan
bridge at the city limits.
Just beyond the San Juan bridge is a
high crest upon which Is located the de-