Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-17
HEMP AND COP RA
Leading Industries Of the
Philippines.
CLIMATE JUST SUITED
UNLIMITED CAPACITY FOR PRO-
DUCING THE FORMER.
Articles Of Food Made From the Lat
ter-Our Markets Closed to
the Islands.

By VIM E. CURTIS
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star and
Chicago ecord-Hera1d.
MANILA, May 10, 1904
The hemp industry is altogether the most
important of the Philippines from every
point Of view, and, although it has been
carried on only in a primitive sort Of way,
1t has grown rapidly in volume and In
value. Almost every ship that leaves Ma
Mia carries a cargo of the fiber to Europe
or America, while there are several lines
with steamers fitted up expressly for the
trade. The biggest part of it goes to the
United States. Great Britain is a close
second, and about 10 per cent is scattered
over the rest of the world.
During the fiscal year 1901 the total value
Of all the exports from the islands was
Il, 1867, of which 62 per cent or $14 453,-
ITO. represented hemp. In 1902 the total ex-
ports were valued at $24, 1888 S87, Of which
$15,S41,316 was hemp, and in 1903 the total
was $33 ,696,5S7, of which $21, 7O1 $50 was
hemp, so you will notice that during the
last three years there has been an enor-
nous increase. And this in the face Of
many discouraging circumstances.
The Industry Is comparatively new. 1t
was practically unknown fifty years ago,
as against 100000 tons last year.
Where Good Hemp is Grown.
Hemp is known in the local dialect as
"abaca," and is produced from tree Of
the banana family which grows wild Nall
over the islands and requires but little tul-
tivation. 1t is a structural fiber-that is, it
forms structural part of the leaf. John
w. Gilmore, the fiber expert of the bureau
nf
eral kinds of hemp, Manila hemp. bow
string hemp, Bombay hemp, Calcutta hemp,
P1ta hemp, water hemp and others, but
Manila hemp, as that particular variety is
concerned, seems to thrive to advantage
only in the Philippine Islands. Attempts
have been made to introduce 1t into India
and the East India colonies into the West
Indies and Florida with unsuccessful re-
suits
1t requires a uniformly moist and hot CHI
mate, and in the Philippines the excessive
humidity and abundant rainfall are partic-
ularly favorable to its rapid growth. In the
provinces where hemp grows best rain will
fall an average of two hundred days in the
year. In the province of Albay last year
there were two hundred and eighteen rainy
days and one hundred and nineteen inches
OF rain fell; in the island of Negroes there
were one hundred and fifty rainy days,
with one hundred and four inches, and in
the province of Manburao, on the Island of
Mindora, the rainfall was a hundred and
twenty-four inches. which one would think
Is about the maximum of all the world.
being equivalent to more than ten feet of
water on the level. While this meteorolog-
fcal phenomenon is not consoling to the peo-
pie who are required to live there, 1t makes
good hemp and plenty of 1t.
When the plant Is grown the leaves are
cut and split into strips two or three inches
wide. the skin or sheath of the leaf Is then
torn off, and underneath it will be found a
fine fiber imbedded in pulp, which is of no
value and is separated by drawing the
strips carefully between the edge Of knife
and hard, smooth block. The oftener the
fibers are drawn under the knife the finer
they become, but there is always more or
less waste, and the increased value of the
fiber does not always make up for it. Sew
eral inventors have been trying to devise a
machine for cleaning the fiber like those
used with the sisal In Yucatan and Central
America, but no one has yet produced the
proper thing. 1t seems impossible to get a
machine that will not waste hemp. 1t has
been suggested that the waste might be
used as paper stock. but cannot learn that
anyone has tried 1t.
After the fiber has been cleaned and dried
1t is graded according to color. texture and
length, tied up In hanks, put in balls weigh
ing an average of two piculs, or 275 pounds,
and in that way is shipped to market. AS
1 have already told you, the United States
is the biggest customer, and the most I'M
portant use is in the manufacture of binder
Irvine.
Capacity for Unlimited Production.
The capacity of the Philippines for the
production of hemp is unlimited. 1t Is
question of capital and labor only, and 1t
is only one Of several valuable commercial
fbers. ! told you about several others yes
terday. By the purchase of this archipelago
the government of the United States has
acquired a garden with infinite possibilities,
and, what is most important, its staples
are those which cannot be produced In our
own zones
The Philippine Islands a vast hot
house, and the enormous rainfall, the heat
and the humidity, with the extraordinary
fertility of the soil, make them one Of the
most productive spots on earth, where the
minimum of labor will produce maximum
results in almost every agricultural indus
try known to the tropics. The SOIL the cli-
mate and all other conditions are waiting
here. 1t only remains to introduce modern
methods, provide transportation facilities
and apply the intelligence and energy
which are supposed to belong to our race.
If the agricultural resources of these Is
lands are properly utilized; if our people
will only accept the invitation of nature,
they will produce all the tropical staples we
need.
Hemp is now the largest and most profit
able product; then copra, next sugar and
finally tobacco, but the duties imposed by
our tariff upon sugar and tobacco deprive
the Philippines of our market.
Cigars and Cigarettes.
Nearly all the tobacco grown here is util-
lied in the manufacture of cigars and cigar
cites, which are sent to Spain, to India. the
East Indies, China, Japan and other
Asatic countries. Comparatively little is
shipped to the United States, although we
pay 5000, 600 or SO coz, eco year in gold to
Cuba and $4,OOO,OOO or $5,OO0OO0 a year to
Sumatra for the same staples. While do
not think Manila tobacco and cigars will
ever surplant those of Havana in our mar
ket there is every inducement to extend
the industry and cater to the American
taste People who have been here some
years will tell you that they prefer Manila
cigars to Cuban, and that everybody else
will after they become accustomed to them.
They certainly have the merit Of economy.
You can buy the very best qualities OF
cigars for less than so a hundred, and as
long as they are fresh they have an excel
lent flavor, but as they become dry they
take on a weedy taste, which explains why
they are liked so much better here than
elsewhere.
The two enormous cigar factories en-
ploy several thousand men and women. In
former times tobacco was government
monopoly Like every other foreign plant,
1t was introduced by the friars. The first
cuttings were hrou0ht from Mexico In