The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-09-08
Relates a Few Things About
Philippine Islands.
Was Stationed In the D0g-eat-
ing Section OF Country.
Saw Warm Days In India;
Passed Russian Fleet.
From Fridays Daily.

ed from the Philippines, has interesting
accounts to relate He spent year on
coast survey work, in the harbors, and
then year in the bureau of public
lands, as chief draughtsman in Manila.
Then he fas assistant engineer on the
Benguet road, which is to connect the
railway from Manila with the proposed
summer capital of the Philippines, Bag
uio. 1t is the intention of the govern
ment to build an electric road through
the mountains The work will be heavy,
and will cost about $2,5OO,OOO. The line
will be fifty miles long. A roadbed has
been built through the mountains, and
it is almost feady for the rails to be
laid, but the government has stopped
work, although it will undoubtedly
complete the line later on.
The climate of Baguio, said Mr.. Pfau
today, is as fine as that anywhere in the
world. The temperature is fifteen de-
grees lower the year around than it is
at Manila, on account of its elevation.
1t would be an ideal place to live eX-
cept for the heavy rainy season, which
The idea is to move the capital back to
Manila each year before the rainy sea
son sets in.
The Snapnsh merchants and the Chi
nese "mestizos" linked bred) have the
largest share of the business of the is
lands. The American companies have
not made much progress yet, because
the islands are in the same condition
that they were before the war as re-
CARDS transportation. The only trans
portation is by water. When the rail
roads have ben built the Americans
will come in for large share of the
trade The building of these will be-
gin next year under government guar
anty of four per cent interest for thir
tv years ''When these are built," said
Mr.. Pau, 'they will change the COM
mercial status of the islands. and there
will be big prospects for trade"
The Americans have established
schools all over the Philippines, with
American teachers at all of the import
ant places, assisted by Filipino teachers.
Normal schools have been established
for the training of the native teachers.
lish
The Filipinos do not take to alcoholic
drinks, but have fondness for opiates.
The government is taking steps to pro-
hibit the importation of opium.
Manila contains 5000 Americans,
mostly in 'the government service. Mr..
Pau saw w. G. Masters of this city
several times. Mr.. Masters holds
good position in the postal service. 9th
er foreigners in Manila come in the or
der named: Chinese, English, French
and japanese. There are not many of
the latter
The railway line to Baguio runs
through the country inhabited by the
Igorrotes, who make a regular diet of
dogs. Mr.. Pau saw thousands of dogs
taken up the mountains for them The
other tribes living near raise the dogs
and sell them to the IgOrrotes, getting
about dollar each. The Igorretes pre-
fer thin dogs, and one special breed, a
medium size, yellow, short haired, thin
dog.
All of the old money on the islands
has been retired, and the Conant sys-
TEN is now in use all over
Manila has new electric line, that
had just been put into operation when
Mr.. Pau left in April. Before that the
only way to get around was by car
riage and the two wheeled carts called
"Carromatas," drawn by ponies. There
was about two miles of horse ear line.
Now there is thirty miles of electric
line. Mr.. Pau believes that the line
will pay well, for the Filipinos will
spend their last cent to ride rather
than walk.
When in China, Mr. Pau rode upon the
Canton Hankow railway line, which an
American company has started to
build. Only thirty miles have been com.
pleted, and now the Chinese govern
ment is about to buy it. The way the
company has acted has caused the Am
orleans to get setback in that part of
China The train crews are all Chinese.
even the engineers. American equip
ment is used
While going overland through India
on his way home Mr.. Pau experience
ed the hottest weather that he ever
knew. According to the official records
at several of the cities through which he
went the temperature reached l2O de-