The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-08-24
MANILA 5 STREET CARS
Marks a Step in CiviIizing
the Island
NATlVELABOR EMPLOYED
Required Two and Half Years to
5uld-Wages Of l-aborers Ranged
from so to 10 Cents a Day--Dffi.
Guilty Experienced in Finding Suit.
able Wood for Ties.


able Wood for Ties.
One of the worst enemies with which
II was necessary to contend was the
white ant, whose rayages in the past
have been responsible for the destruc-
tion of wooden structures without
number. Much difficulty was expert
enced in finding wood for ties and
poles, and for use In building the cars,
which was sufficiently tough to with
stand the ant pest and also to be
weather-proof, while the nature of the
soil, especially during the rainy sea-
son, necessitated painting the rails for
the entire distance of 45 miles with a
preparation mado from asphalt and
coal tar, and known as asphaltum. In
many places where the ground is low
the rails are laid in concrete.
Approximately two and one-half
years have been required to build and
equip the road. the franchise for its
construction having been granted early
in 1902 to an American syndicate and
the work of construction begun in the
fall of that year.
A noteworthy fact in connection
with the undertaking is that it was
carried out, so far as purely manual
labor is concerned, by Filipinos. Fill
pinos, under the direction of foremen
sent TO Manila from various parts Of
the United States, cleared the way, laid
and fastened the rails, set the poles
for the overhead trolley, put the cables
and trolley in place, and are today en-
ployed as motormen and conductors to
run the cars Large numbers of Fill
pinos were also employed in erecting
the power house and car barns, and
the men under whom they served have
nothing but praise for the ability and
sincerity shown by the natives. They
gave their bosses scarcely any trouble
alter they came to know what was ex-
peCted OF them
The wages OF the Filipino laborers
ranged from 30 to 20 cents a day. ac-
cording to age and aptitude, and with
this pay, which is about twice the
amount they receiveu under Spanish
rule, they seemed well satisfied and
were able to provide for all their or
waits DClNttu l,OUu anu -,UUU
Filipinos were employed on the work
Tor the greater part Of the construc-
ton period, majority making their
homes in and about Manila.
Fol the greater part of its length
the road is single track. there being
stretches OF double track here and
there. aggregating approximately ten
mi nd ~. hn 10
equipped with block signals and
modern railroad telephone service.
AS regards the variety and cost OF
the wood used in its construction and
rolling stock, the Manila railway has
no equal The Investigations made by
the United States Bureau of Forestry
proved of considerable service to the
builders in tneir search for durable
wood, despite the fact that native spec
linens which the bureau reported were
immune from attack by the white ant
were found to have been totally de-
stroyed by the pest in certain local
tiles. Some of the ties are of molave,
which grows in the islands, others
were brought from Australia, and sew
eral thousands are of California red
wood-it being largely matter of con-
lecture which sort would last the long
est. Further experimenting was done
along this line by treating the ties
with preservatives, such as creosote
oil. jodelite, solignum and carbolin-
cum.
Suitable poles for supporting the
trolley were also hard to find, The
nearby forests containined an abun-
dance of trees, but 1t was found that
only small percentage of them would
answer the requirements as to height
and other dimensions, and when
shaped for setting they cost four or
five times as much as wooden trolley
poles used in the United States. All
of them were set in concrete and re-
ceived several coats of paint designed
to afford protection against the eli
mate and insects.
The most perplexing problem of all
was where to get suitable cars with
which to equip the line when complet-
ed. II was plain that nc dwelling
house, bridge, wharf or other structure
made of soft native wood could with
stand the assault of the ant pest. Teak
was practically the only wood which
promised to be ant proof, and it was
decided to take no chances and to have
the cars built wholly Of steel and teak.
Such cars cost about one-quarter more
than those of similar size in the United
States.
The estimated value of the new rail-
road complete is between 81 900, 900 and
100000 and 1t is said to be up-to-date
In every respect.