The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-08
Philippine Islands Deserve to be
 Explored
FAUNA AND FLORA ARE RICH
Survey Would Not Only B. at the Islands Bus Would o5A Value to the ,S>S ,, 0o
 WorIdI 2
 <$e2
 6 g
Washington. FelO

Washington, Fe'O O 7.-The President today sent ths Jwing message to Congress:
 ''To the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives: Circumstances have placed under the control or this government the Philippine archipelago. The islands of ] that group present as many interesting and novel questions with respect to their ethnology, their fauna and flora, and their geology and mineral resources as any region of the world At my request the National Academy of Sciences appointed a committee to consider and report upon the desirability of instituting scientific exploration of the Philippine islands. The report of this committee together with the report of the boare. on scientific sur veys of the Philippine islands, which board was appointed by me after receiv- ing the report of the committee appoint ed by the National Academy of Sciences. with instructions to prepare such esti- mates and make such suggestions as might appear to it pertinent in the cir cumstances, accompanies this message.
 '"The scier..-ic surveys which should be undertaken so far beyond any sur veys or explorations which the govern ment of the Philippine islands however complete and self-support:ng could be ex- pected to make.
 Would Be National Benefit.
 'The surveys, while of course beneficial to the people of the Philipine Islands. should be undertaken as a national work for the iafornation not merely for the people of the Philippine Islands, but the people of this country and the world. Only preliminary explorations have yet been made in the archipelago and 1t should be matter of pride to the gov ernment to fully investigate and describe the entire region. So far as may be con- venient, and practical the work of this survey should be conducted in harmony with that of the proper bureau of the Philippines. but 1t should not be under the control of the authorities in the Phip- pines for it should be undertaken as a national work and subject to a board to be appointed by Congress or the Presl- dent The plan transmitted recommends simultaneous surveys in different bran- ches of research, organized on a co-op- erative system. This would tend to com pleteness, avoid duplication and render the work more econominacl than if tho exploration were undertaken piece meal. No such organized surveys have ever been attempted anywhere, but the idea is in accord with modern scientific and industrial methods
 Recommends the Survey.
 TT recommend, therefore, that provision be made for a board of surveys to super intend the national surveys and explora- tions to be made in the Philippine islands, and that appropriations be made from time to time to meet the necessary ex- penses of such Investigation It is not probable that the survey will be com pleted In 8 less period lAan that of eight or ten years, but 1t is well that it should be begun In the near future. The Philip pine commission and those responsible for the Philippine government are prop erly anxious that this survey should not be considered as an expense of that gov- ernment but should be carried on and treated as a national duty in the interest of science.
 THEODORE ROOSEVELT"