The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-07-27
GREAT WEALTH IN TIMBER.
mense Quantities of Valuable
Lumber Material

The greatest wealth of the Philippine
islands is in timber, and if the govern
ment of the United States had taken
them on speculation President McKin-
ley would have been justified in paying
several times the amount of the in
demnity paid to Spain, writes William
| e. Curtis In the Record-Herald Capt
George P Ahern, of the Ninth infantry,
| who has been chief OF the bureau Of
| forestry over there ever since the civil
government was established, has Just
! returned to his post al Manila after a
couple Of months at the exposition at
st. Louis, and in conference with CAPT
| talists who desire to engage in cutting
timber for export to the United States,
China. India, Australia and other coun-
! tries where there is a profitable mar
ket and a large demand When I
asked him about conditions the Other
day he said:
| There is vast natural forest
| development: but it requires time
| money and wise management. The
archipelago is the cne undeveloped fer
| Vie spot in the orient. Markets for
| all the produce it can raise are strong
| and close at hand. Labor is not diff
ticult to secure and there is no dan
ger to life or property. Any company
| or individual desiring to Investigate
| the forest resources of the islands will
| find the officials of the bureau of for
estry in Manila ready to cooperate in
Itch; svfO
competent officials in the field whose
business is to look after investors A
large number of very inviting fields Of
forest development should prove at
tractive to those who believe in the
future OF our possessions In the ori-
ent
''The regions Offering special attrac-
tions are the Island Of Mindoro, the east
coast Of Luzon. the Caaayan valley and
the Islands of Neoros and Leyte The
greater the distance from Manila, the
base Of supplies. the less the chance for
success. A company entering the Phil
ippine field should go prepared to carry
on some agricultural work in addition
to logging, SO as to give employment to
the iogger's family; ii should also be
equipped with a modern sawmill and a
complete system of water tralspOrta
ton, SO as to supply the island and China
markets; it should have a lumber yard
in Manila as well as IN each Chinese
port. A we'll lald-out town should oa
started for the employees This scheme
Of exploitation can b. started with
ra1Ital oI naIT million dollars. A tract
-
virgin forest may be secured fer 20 years,
and when secured Il selection Of the best
sites for agricultural development
should be marked out Land may be pur-
chased by the company and also by the
employees, or may be taken up by them
as hom esteacs. Philippine hemp and
copra command a high price all over the
world. are easily raised and On virgin
soil should produce good results within
a few years.
"The Philippines are centrally located
and close to markets with a trade OF
more than S100. 0GG ,ooO month, a trade
that is constantly growing and that
should be of great value to the islands.
We have valuable and vast quantities Of
hard woods; we have hemp, coDra, sugar
and tobacco that 45o .000,o0 people want.
Next year Manila will have the best har-
Dor and docks in the orient. and the ia
cilities for loading ard unloading large
ocean steamers will make that port q
great depot Of supplies for that Part of
the world. It seems strange that so
many people should be unconscious Of
the great future Of trade In the orient.
China is awakening and will not cease
It's strides in commercial development.
japan in the near future VIII be q pow
erfuI factor in this development and
will look to the United s. ates for CO.
operation.