Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1905-05-14

The recent census Of the Philip
ines brought out much interesting
lands and their inhabitants. and is
clearing away many false impressions
and Measurements of fact that have
I,een gcenraly accepted IS true. II
shows that the Filipino', in the main.
are civilized. Christina people, Far
more intelligent. mere innr>l and bet
fer educated than has E2ar commonly
w.In, osed. and that IT." i9'.nds have
sweat natural wealth which insures
TOR them rapid development and Il
prosperous future.
This census was taken as basis
FOR the Philippine legislature, when
by act of congress is to convene with
III Two years. The enumera ors were
nearly all Filpinos, of whom 1900
were employed and the work Is re-
.arded as uncommonly accurate.
The total number OF the Islands
was found to be 3.1il-nearly twice
as many as were formerly listed-but
seven- eiehths of them are less than
square mile each Iuzon has 80 per
cent. of the area and so per cent. of
fhp population CT the archipelago
M!ndanao is nearly as large, but has
rulv per cent of the total popula-
tIon. There are over 800 species OF
land birds, of which many are game.
snch as snipe. plover aud duck. The
forests are remarkably rich and va
sled many CT the woods being highly
valuable for cabinet work and veneer
ing. No less than 747 species of wood
Fave been found. Seventy per cent
Gf the area is forested, and the aver
aee stand of timber may exceed 5000
cubic feet to the acre. some acres run
ring as high as 1000 board feet
Tt is estimated that the timber in the
islands reaches the enormous total of
I ,OO0 900 million feet. board measure,
which is twice that CT Oregon and
Washington combined and that at
sInmpaGe OF !" cents per cubic foot 1t
wonld WELD the government a reve
1sue of $4,000 100000
The mineral wealth is also great.
There is much excellent coal, and 1t
liz predicted that Manila will soon be
come the chief coaling port OF the
Orient. after the harbor improvements
COW under way are completed A
rapid growth CT the trade of that city
Is also assured.
Agriculture is and will remain the
chief support of the people. The
farms are small. averaging only about
eight acres. and many are Of less thar
an acre. The principal products are
Temp, tobacco and copra (dried CO.
goamt meat1. but the soil and eli
rnale admit Of a wide range Of crops.
with many fine fruits. Fish is ONE o.
the principal foods, aud there are
MANY fishermen.
Tf the total population Of the arch-
nelago 1915. A264. only 647.74o are
c3assed as wild. the remainder beng
described as possessing consldefahte
e3esree of civilization and virtually ali
Catholics. with the exception OF
small number e persons Of Foreign
birth. Two.ffths Of the wild people
are Mohammedans, leaving hut
small proportion Of "barbarism THE
Filipinos are mostly Malays
One of the surprising facts is tAaS
nearly half the males n ten years Or
ever can read, and about oue,tllrd
ut these males can also write. There
are nearly 5000 schools. and the
young people are eager 10 learn.
Eleven per cent Of the pupils already
understand English, which. with ether
branches Of educat9n is making ran
"A progress.
Tho population averages sixty
~ the square mile about the same as
Indiana Two-thjrds Of the people
Iiye On The coast ard village eoMmu-
stiles prevail even among the farm