Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-04-26

The expectation of the dried kernel
of the cocoanut, known as copra, is
steadily increasing.
The demand for rice throughout the
archipelago far exceeds the domestic
supply, and it will probably be neces-
sary to continue to import it indie
finitely, as the cultivation of hemp
and other products is much more
profitable.
1t is probable that the cultivation
of cacao, from which chocolate is
derived, will become one of the prin-
cipal products of the islands.
The principal domestic draft animal
is the carabao, upon which the
agricultural development and pros
perity of the country largely depends
The ravages of the rinderpest and
surra during tile census and the
preceding year were so disastrous that
they exercised decided influence upon
economical conditions. 1t was es-
timated that, in 1902, 43 per cent of
all the meat cattle and sc per cent of
the horses in the islands died from
disease. The immunity of American
horses, as compared with Australian
and native horses, is worthy of note.
| The total value of domestic animals
and poultry in the islands exceeded
| ~, 200, 600 pesos. Swine, the most
numerous of all domestic animals, are
found in every province and island.
The production of sugar is proper
tionately Of much Importance III the
Philippines. The number of establish
ments whose products amounted in
value TO at least 1000 pesos each was
| !, 015, and the total value of the pro-
| duct was 6, COB, 006 pesos. There were
in addition many hundred small
sugar mills that produced low-grade
sugar. The value of sugar exported in
1902 was So. 342, 473, or IL per cent
of the value of all exports. Including
sugar, the total number of manufact-
uring plants in the archipelago is 1888
and the total value of products is
Al, 700, 2l5 pesos.
In commercial importance tobacco
is the third agricultural product, the
ing little more than half of the total
value of all the tobacco exported,
4, iol, 30 30
in 1902.
Measured by value of product tobacco
outranks all other products of the
Philippine islands, and the output of
1l3 establishments for 1902 was valued
at S., 740, 1916, which is about % per
cent of the total value Of manufac-
lures for that year.
Sixty-seven per cent of the total
value of manufactures, exclusive of
sugar. is reported by the city of Manila.
The capital invested in manufactures
in the Philippine islands exceeds &c.,
900, 600 pesos.
OF newspapers in 1902 there were
forty two-twelve in English, twenty
four in Spanish, four in native dialects
and one In Chinese. Of the total
number twenty were dailies and the
total circulation of all publications
was IS, 236. There are twelve public
Libraries containing total of 4,0l9
books, more than one-half of which
are Spanish and more than one-fourth
in English.
There are seventy public hospitals,
which in 1902 treated II, 55S patients.
Natives much prefer to care for their
sick at their homes.
Among civilized Filipinos the
Roman Catholic religion is almost
universal, and of | sos churches of all
denominations only thirty-five are
Protestant. The reported value of
church buildings is Al. sos, no pesos.
Except in times of pestilence or
after the destruction of crops, pau
perism is practically unknown. During
1902 there were only 1856 paupers
maintained at public charge, and at
the close of that year, outside of
Manila, there were only rs.
Filipinos demonstrate a natural
aptitude and efficiency as workmen
when placed under intelligent super
vision. Many officers of the army, who
have compared Chinese and native
labor, declare that the latter can be
very proftably employed. The Manila
and Dagupah railroad with its 254
bridges was built by Filipinos, who
are especially efficient in bridge con-
struction.
1t is the opinion of Gov. Taft that
the Filipino can be ultimately trainc
to supply all the necessary ~ ad,,, ~ ;a; ;ne
country, and he Onpc, oi
Of Chimes !, !, until it is proved that
Filipino" ~ 'd''-
While the rates of wages are low
when compared with the rates in the
United States, they have been prac-
ticaly doubled since American &C.