The San Francisco call., 1905-02-08
FOR SURVEYS
0F PHILIPPINES
President Sends Message to
Congress Recommending
the Work i'm the Islands
COOPERATIVE SCHEME
Would Have Thorough
Study by Government of
Resources of Archipelago

WASHINGTON, Feb. THE Presi-
dent to-day sent the following message
to Congress:
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
Circumstances have placed under the control
OF this Government the Philippine Archipelago
The islands of that group present as many in
teresting and novel questions with respect to
their geology and mineral resources as any
region of the world. AT my request the Ma
tionaI Academy of Sciences appointed COM
mittee TO consider and report upon the de-
STABILITY of instituting scientific explorations
of the Philippine Islands The report OF this
COMMITTEES, together with the report of the
board of scientific surveys of the Philippine
Islands. including the draft OF a bill providing
for surveys OF the Philippine Islands. which
board was appointed by me. after receiving the
Tsp9rs NdtfnraS Of the committee appointed by the
tions to prepare such estimates and make
such suggestions as might appear to it per-
message.
The scientific surveys which should be taken
go TAR beyond any surveys or explorations
which the Government OF the Philippine ISL
ards, however completely self-suppOrting
could be expected to make. These surveys
the Philippine Islands should be undertaken
as national work for the information not
merely Of the people of the Philippine Islands
but OF the people of this country and of the
world Only preliminary explorations have
yet been made in the archipelago. and 1t
ment of the United States fully to investigate
and TO describe the entire region. So far as
may oe convenient ana practical the work OF
tEls survey should be conducted in harmony
with that of the proper bureaus of the Cow
ernment of the. Philippines. but II should not
be under the control of the authorities In the
Phillppines, for 1t should be undertaken as a
national work and subject TO a board to be
appointed by Congress the President
The plan transmitted recommends stimuli
taneous surveys in different branches Of re-
search, organized on a cooperative basis.
This would tend to completeness avoid duplf-
cation and render the work more economical
than IL the exploration were undertaken piece
meal. No such organized surveys have ever
yet been attempted anywhere; but the idea is
In harmony with modern scientific and in
dustrial methods
l recommend, therefore. that provision be
made for the appointment of a board OF sur
veys TO superintend the national survey and
explorations to be made in the Philippine ISL
ands. and that appropriations be made from
time to time to meet the necessary expenses
OF such investigation. 1t Is not probable that
the survey would be completed in a less
period than that of eight ten years but
1t is well that II should be begun in the near
future The Philippine Commission and those
responsible for the Philippine Government are
properly anxious that this survey should not
be considered expense of that Govern
ment, but should be carried on and treated as
a national duty in the interest of science
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.