Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-20
IN ISLAND OF LUZ0N
LINES RECOMMENDED BY COM
MISSION OF ENGINEERS.
Experience of Charles M. Swift, Head
of the Syndicate Constructing
Trolley Road in Manila.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.


upon the guarantee of the United States
for the purpose of building railways in the
Island of Luzon and other parts OF the
arcbipelago, and the newspapers tell us
that he has had interviews with several
prominent capitalists in New York for the
purpose of interesting them In the subject.
There is not the slightest doubt that plenty
OF capital will be offered. and all the trans
portation facilities needed will be promptly
undertaken in the Philippine Islands when
ever an assurance can be given that au-
tkority will not be turned over to the
natives and investors placed at their mercy.
l am sure Gov. Taft has given suf1c1ent
explanations on this subject to the capital
lists he conferred with in New York, and II
is also certain that the administration at
Washington will sustain him. or course
no one can anticipate the action of Con-
gIess. but there is not the slightest prob
ability that the Philippine Islands will ever
be declared independent or that the natives
will be given sufficient control of affairs to
erdanSer any investments that may be
made here.
Lines Recommended.
Anticipating his recommendation to Con-
gress for a guarantee loan. Secretary Taft,
wien he was governor general, organized
a commission of engineers under the direc-
ton of j. T. Norton. which made prelim-
mary survey for about 200 miles of road
connecting the principal cities in the Island
OF Luzon. This commission recently re-
ported i'm favor of three routes:
/. From Manila to APART, S.8 miles:
highest point in altitude, 31oo feet; 1000
feet of tunnels required; twenty miles OF
canyon work. maximum grade, 3l2 per
cent; cost. $6.GIJ.6o2.
.. From Daigupan to Laoag; 16S miles
through fiat country. but good many
bridges required; maximum grade not more
than y of | per cent; cost $3,36I ,t16
3. From Manila to Batangas; 60 miles
through fiat country. sugar. rice, coffee and
hemp lands: maximum grade not more than
IL, per cent; cost 81 ,r9I, 40
These three lines the commission thought
most important and recommended their I'M
mediate construction. and their recon-
mendations have been approved by the
comm Ssion and have been laid before Con-
gr6ss by Secretary Taft. In their report,
however. the engineers discussed at length
the labor problem, which they considered
even more serious than that of interesting
capital.
The average native laborer of Luzon,'
they said, docs not take kindly TO any sort
of work except planting and harvesting
rice and fishing. An increase in rate OF
wages does not stimulate him to earn more
money but to put in less time. He is
averse to hard manu- labor and to work
ing re gular hours under direction or fore
man. The labor supply has been reduced
u
composed of men that are understood ana
weak as compared with the laborers OF
other countries. There is no possibility or
building the proposed lines of railway or
any of them within a reasonable length or
time except by the importation of Chinese
or other foreign labor. A measure that
would aid to some extent would be the pas
sage of law requiring all able-bodied men
res ding with given distance OF proposed
lines to work a certain number OF days per
month or year on their construction, receiF-
ing fair wage for doing so. Some OF the
government always of Central America
were largely built by laborers of this class,
and there was a constantly Increasing num-
Der of them who remained voluntarily on
the works after having served their allotted
time. Estimates have been based upon the
completion of the three lines within three
years after commencement of actual con-
struction. which will undoubtedly require
foreign labor. Without such labor the prices
given will not apply. as dragging the con-
struction over five or ten years of time
would so largely increase the administra-
tive expense and interest charges
Willing to Take the Railways.
There are, however, men here in Manila
at present who are not only capable or
constructing the proposed roads, but are
willing to do so under per cent guaran-
tee ON the actual cost of construction
Charles NJ Swift of Detroit, the head OF
the syndicate which is now building forty
miles of trolley lines in the city or Mania
and vicinity. is now ON his way TO WASH
ington. prepared to lay before the govern
mrnt an offer to build the entire system
Associated with Mr. Swift are the Westlns-
house interests of PittsburG; }. Ii. Nhite
g. Co bankers of New York; Frank Bum
ana Peter l.. Kimberly of sharon, "a;
Truman III. Newberry. William {. McMii-
Ian. John T. Nichols, J. ii Avery ana W.
T. Gray of Detroit.
MIR. Swift has been talking about buy
Iigl, lima mi
Manila northward, which was described
in an interview with Mr.. Beardsley yes
terdav. but has decided that the price is
too high for an old-fashioned narrow
pauge road. He believes there is more
money i'm building new lines in other d.
rections and proposes To follow generally
the plan recommended by Gov Taft $ en-
gineer commission and run lines north
and south on both coasts, with cross lines
In two or three places.
such lines can be built and equipped
for $4,000 mile" said Mr.. Swift the
other day. ''and can be operated by cleo
tricity wherever water power can be uti-
lized. and by steam elsew here; and the
gentlemen with whom l am associated
are prepared to undertake the work and
develop system of 700 miles, more or
less of first class, up-to date American
railway. with frequent fast trains. have
looked over the ground personally and
am enthusiastic on the subject but the
first thing is to get politics out of the af-
fair The trOuhle In the Philippines now
is too much politics and too little trade.
and everybody concerned must agree
upon certain propositions before any
thing serious can be done.
The Government Policy.
The policy of the Philippine govern
ment has been several times definitely
and emphatica1ly announced by former
Gov. William ii. Taft, now Secretary of
War. Ii I understand 1t correctly there
are two principles to which the admins
tration is pledged. and which, in the in
terest of the development of the islands,
ought To he considered as settled for all
time. These are:
IL. That American control will be peFma-
nent. The Filipino is not ready for self
government. and will not be for genera
lions. II ever, and that fact should be made
plain to him. The sooner this is done the
better AS long as the question is discussed
or remains open IL is the cause of constant
Irritation. Ambitious Filipinos are already
willing and anxious to take charge OF the
government and the finances. although, if
you corner them, they will confess that II
VOID D." j. r1%erous experiment. But as
long as sentimental people in the United
States continue to consider the proposition
open they. OF course, will not decline the
IvzpouSi ullily. and Will keep up the discus
Let fl understood that self gov