The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-03-18
GREAT WEALTH IN TIMp
Forests of Philippines Contain
mense Quantities of Valuabl,
Lumber Material.

The greatest wealth of the Philiu
Islands is in timber, and If the goyl
ment Of the United States had n
them on speculation President Md
ley would have been justified in pa
several times the amount of the
demnity paid to Spain, writes Win
E. Curtis in the Record Herald. d
George P. Ahern, of the Ninth infanl
who has been chief of the buresu
forestry over there ever since the d
government vas established, has 4
returned to his post at Manila afts
couple of months at the exposition
st. Louis, and in conference with ID
talists who desire to engage in cutd
timber for export TO the United Stsl
China, India, Australia and other col
tries where there is a profitable IA
ket and a large demand. When
asked him about conditions the ot
day he said:
There is a vast natural ford
wealth in the Philippines awaiting
development; but it requires It'd
money and wise management. n
archipelago is the one u~ndeveloped ID
tile spot in the orient. Markets 4
all the produce it can raise are strOl
and close at hand. Labor is not d
fcult to secure and there is no ID
ger to life or property. Any compal
or individual desiring to investigd
the forest resources Of the islands Vi
find the officials Of the bureau of ID
estry in Manila ready to cooperate
furnishing information and there d
competent officials in the field whd
business is to look after investors.
large number of very inviting fields
forest development should prove
tractive to those who believe in d
future of our possessions in the o.
ent.
THE regions offering special attra
tons are the Island Of MinGoro, the ca
coast of Luzon. the Cagayan valley al
the Islands of NeorOs and Leyte. T
greater the distance from Manila, t
base CT supplies, the less the chance I
success. A company entering the Phi
ippine field should 60 prepared to car
on some agricultural work in additi
to logging. so as to give employment
the logger's family it should also
equipped with a modern sawmill and
complete system of water transport
ton, 50 as TO supply the island and Chi
markets; it should have a lumber va
IN Manila as well a in each Chine
port. A well laid-out town should
started for the employees. This schen
Of exploitation can be started with
capital of half a million dollars, A ira
of between 100 and 200 square miles
virgin forest may be secured for 20 year
and when secured a selection Of the be
sites for agricultural developmel
should be marked out. Land may be pu
chased by the company and also by t
employees, or may be taken up by the
as homesteads. Philippine hemp a
copra command a high price all over {
world. are easily raised and on virg
soil should produce good results with
a few years.
"The Philippines r centrally locat
and close to markets with a trade
more than 500, 600 900 a month, a ira
that is constantly growing and tn
should be Of great value to the islan(
We have valuable and vast quantities
hard woods; We have hemp, copra, sug
and tobacco that $50, 900, 900 people wal
Next year Manila will have the best ha
Dor and docks in the orient, and the I
C~ilities for loading and unloading lar
ocean steamers will make that port
great depot of supplies for that part
the world. It seems strange that
many people should be unconscious
the great future of trade in the oriel
China is awakening and will not cea
its strides in commercial developmei
Japan in the near future will be a po'
erful factor in this development al
will look to the United States for {
operation"