Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-10

posito Cor reservoir), where the city water
is stored and filtered before distribution
into the city. 1t commands magnificent
view of the city and bay to the west and of
the lake and mountains to the south and
east, and is a most desirable place for resi-
dence. This ground belongs to an order of
the Catholic Church, and within the past
month has been placed upon the market.
, The first day the property was open for In
spection and sale sfxty-two lots, ranging
from 1900 to 5000 meters in area, were
building purposes. 1t is understood that
the electric road now building will extend
it's line to this property. Along the river
contiguous to the city several Americans
have secured land for agricultural pur-
poses. Every American there means per-
manent investment, and in some instances
1t is an investment of a considerable sum.
The class of buildings is OF permanent
kind and cost from 5000 to $500. The
ground room for each residence Is ample,
being from 2,0W to 10000 square meters to
each house. Instead of the usual high
stone wall about the premises, as is the
case with all Spanish property, the grounds
are incosed in most cases with neat wood
en- fences. Those who have invested in
Santa. Mesa and San Juan property thus
far are principally business men who have
adopted Manila their permanent home.
Their investment in buildings alone amounts
to probably 100000, and the boom" has
only just started.
THE effect of this move on the part of
the Americans on the Filipino is remarka-
BILE. During the past year native 1uhaD-
itants of Santa Mesa have generally adopt
ed American ideas in construction, espe-
cially in interior arrangement. The modern
ideas of sanitation have superseded the old
Spanish style formerly in use, and there is
a general up-to-date appearance around all
the new native houses recently con-
structed
Religious Orders Own Most Property.
The assessors books show that S7,062, S6S
worth of improved zeal estate in the city of
| Manila is owned by Spaniards, of which
50, $3.50 1853 is held bv non-residents, chiefly
living in Madrid. The Chinese own 81 ,104,-
076 worth Of prop.'ty, and other foreigners a me-
226. of which ali but s., Is exempt
fl ON taxation on the ground that 1t is not
held for profit and is used for religious,
charitable educational purposes. This
includes some of the most valuable real es-
tate, both present and prospective, in the
city, and the assessment is very low. II
costs the friars nothing, for the most OF It
was coded to them by the government at
very early period and other pieces have
been left as legacies to the different re-
ligous orders from time to time.
The Augustinian friars were the religious
% oneers in these islands, then followed the
nominicans and after them came the + IF n
clscans The last to arrive were the Reto-
letos who ale unshod or harefooted frtars
of the Order of st. Augustine, the Des-
calsos are the barefooted members of the
Franciscan order. but they have separate
ORGANIZATIONS. Inc JeSultS came petWeeu
the Dominicans and the Franc scans, but In
l76S by an apostolic brief of Pope Clement
XIV they were expelled from the islands
TO-, taking too active part in politics. and
were not allowed to return until 1852, when
they made a pledge that they would con-
fine their labors to education exclusively,
and have strictly adhered to that under
standing. In 1886 the Capuchin friars. on
orders from Rome, were sent out of the
Philippines and located in the Caroline
Pelew and Ladrone islands. where they
were instructed to compete with the Amer
sion of the heather. Their evangelical
methods were offensive to the natives. but
were approved and sustained by the Span
ish governor who directed the punishment
or several of the petty chiefs because they
refused to obey them. The result was
rebellion in which the governor and twelve
of fine monks were massacred Since that
time no Capuchins have been In the Philip
pines and their property mas been sold to
other orders.
Spanish Payments to the Church.
During Spanish times the church received
a subsidy of $3.50 600 a year from the colo
NAL government, of which about SIT 600
was paii to the Capuchins just referred to.
The cathe dral received an annual grant of
s55. 800, of which $4,000 was the salary of
the archbishop and $1,000 an allowance
toward bis living expenseD. The salaries
and expenses of the four bishops were also
paid from the public treasury, each receiv-
ing S6O coo and an allowance OF 81 .0OO while
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