Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-26
THE MANILA RAILWAY
Purchased From It's English
Owners by a Syndicate.
IT MAY BE EXTENDED
MANY ENTERPRISES IN ISLANDS
AWAITING RESULT OF ELECTION.
IF the Republicans Remain in Control
Numerous investments Will Be
Made in Industrial Projects.
By WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Written for The Evening Star and Chicago Record
Herald.s
Evidently Speyer & Co.. the New York
bankers, are satisfied as to the result of
the election and have no fear Of a change
Of policy toward the Philippines, because a
syndicate organized by them has purchased
the only railway on the islands from its
English owners and will place it under
American management Immediately. Two
or three syndicates have been talking of
buying this road, because 1t taps the most
productive agricultural section of Luzon,
and will be the first link in the trunk line
of the railroad system that has been plan
ned by board of engineers employed by
the government. 1t was built by English
men about twenty years ago, is 100 miles
long and has always paid good dividends
1t cost about 100000 originally. but has
never been modernized. The roadbed is in
poor shape, the rails are light the rolling
stock is old fashioned and limited. and no
American would ever be satisfied to run it
as it is. 1t Will probably be rebuilt imme-
diately and extended.
Contingent on the Election.
Two years ago the English manager OBJ
tanned concession for an extension about
sixty miles northward and a branch from
Manila about fifteen miles long, reaching
several important suburban towns, but no
work has yet been done on either. 1t is ex-
pected that the new proprietors will begin
building Immediately and that they will APP
ply for an extension of their franchises.
They have shown their courage and conf
dence in the future of the islands, and have
secured a key to the railroad situation. The
other syndicates will be compelled to paral-
lei this line If thew reach Manila which of
course, is necessary, as that is the CONNER
cial center and headquarters of both the
import and export trade. They have all
been waiting until after election. for fear
of a change of policy and a promise of indie
pendence to the Filipinos, which would pre-
vent the investment of capital and the de-
Capital is always timd. A syndicate which
has been negotiating for the purchase of
the cod-Storage plant erected by the gov
eminent for $1OOO,COO suspended opera
lions Immediately after the democratic con-
vention, but expects to renew them If
Roosevelt is elected. A large number of
other enterprises are also contingent upon
the election.
Several syndicates have been figuring on
building railways in Luzon. One of them,
of which Sir VIM. Vanhorne is the head,
has already made surveys, and another,
which Geo. NJ. Swift of Detroit has organ
lied, has gone even farther, and Is ready
to build system of electric lines reaching
every important city, obtaining power from
Mia. third syndicate, composed of a
group Of western railroad men, has been
preparing to send out engineers If the
election resulted favorably to their views
There will be active competition as soon
as 1t is determined that no change will
take place in the policy of administration
and that independence will be postponed
for several generations.
Mining and Manufacturing Enterprises
There will also be a considerable boom
in mining and manufacturing enterprises
Two engineers, representing a Pennsylva-
MIA syndicate. are now examining the coal
measures in Luzon, with view to active
operations. They propose to expor. fuel to
Singapore, Hongkong and other Chinese
ports, and supply the navy and the steam
ship companies visiting the Philippines, as
well as local industries. There is an i'm
mediate market for about 5OOOOO tons
year. at price not less than 81 ton,
and 1t will probably average S. ton. That
Is the price paid for Japanese coal by the
trans Pacific steamship companies. At
Hongkong, Singapore, Batavia, Bangkok
and other large shipping points in the east
II Is usually 50 a ton and often runs as
high as So.
The representatives of a Toledo syndi-
cate are now In the Philippines looking
into the practicability of manufactu
cocoanut Oil there instead of shipping CO.
pra. the meat of the nut, to this country
The natives open the nut, dry the meat
In the sun and ship vast quantities to Eu-
rope as well as to the United States, where
the oil Is expressed and used in the manu-
facture OF soaps, pomades and other toilet
articles, and as a substitute for lard and
putter. Marseilie is the greatest market,
but as copra Is very light and bulky, its
transportation Is expensive, and 1t is ar
gued that large profit may be made by
expressing the oil on the grounds and
shipping 1t from Manila in casks
This proposition was suggested by visits
to the Philippine exhibit at St. Louis. A
syndicate with $25O,000 capital was organ
lied on the exposition grounds and an ex-
pert sent to Manila about a month ago to
report upon the matter.
Investigating the Hemp Industry.
Several other manufacturing enterprises
in the Philippines have been inspired by
the exhibition at st. Louis. And half a
dozen experts are now making investiga-
tons there, including a representative of
the harvester trust, which consumes more
manila hemp than any other interest. The
raw material is now shipped all the way
by sea to New England and there manu-
featured into Irvine. There are aOme mills
In the Mississippi valley, and at least one,
If not more, on the Pacific coast. 1t is
understood at the War Department that
the harvester trust man has gone simply
to investigate the hemp industry and util-
lie the knowledge he gains in the most
practical manner, which is most probably
true. Others have figured 1t down to a
narrower point and believe that he is au-
thorized to purchase hemp plantations in
order that the trust may raise its own raw
material; while still others believe. If they
do not know, that 1t proposes to erect fac
tories in Manila, and ship the finished pro-
duct instead of the raw material.
All the evidences point to considerable
industrial activity in the Philippines as
soon 1t Is determined that there is no
prospect of independence. and that decision
will not be long postponed. The admins
tration has announced its policy without
equivocating. Willingly or unwillingly, the
independence of the Filipino has been made
the issue of the campaign and 1t is under
stood in Manila as well as 1t Is understood
here. If Roosevelt is elected the present
form of government will be continued In
definitely, while If Parker is sent to the
White House independence remains an
open question. to be determined as soon
as practicable.
Expulsion Of Foreigners.
Without regard to politics, no foreign
money will be invested in the islands until
this question is decided. because the first
article In the platform Of the independence
agitators is the expulsion Of all foreigners
and the confiscation of all their property,