The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-24
Exploring tho Philippines.

President ROOSEVELT, in a specia
message TO Congress- has asked for
legislation which will enable the Gov
eminent to make a thorough and com
| prehensiye study of the now practically
unknown resources of the Philippine
Islands, under a plan suggested, at his
request, by a special committee of the
National Academy of Sciences. Hitherto
there has been no scientific exploration
of the archipelago OF sufficient scope
to enable the world to know what the
wealth Of the islands really ia.
Tho plan suggested by tho members
of the National Academy is that the
exploration Of the islands should be
directed by a commission of United
States officials made up Of the superin-
tendent of the Coast and Geodetic Sur
vey, the director Of the Geological Sur
vey, the botanst Of the Department OF
Agriculture, and the chiefs Of the Bio
logical Survey, the Bureau of Forestry,
the Fish Commissions scientific staff,
and the Bureau Of American Ethnology.
This board would be the administrative
head of the work. The subjects which
would be investigated are indicated by
the specialties Of these experts 1t is
believed that with the various depart
ments properly coordinated and working
tremendously together the work might
be carried to a satisfactory degree of
completion in few years.
Mr.. ROOSEVELT is in favor OF having
this work done by our Government
rather than by that OF the Philippines.
In his message to Congress he says:
SO far may be convenien, and practical. the
work OF lhls survey should be conducted in harmony
with that Of the proper bureaus OF the government
OF the Philippines. but Il should not be under tho
control Of the authorities Ia the Philippine Islands
Tor IL should be undertaken as a national work and
subject to a board 10 be appointed by Congress or
the President. The plan transmitted recommends
Simultaneous surveys In different branches OF re-
search, organized on a cooperative system. This
would tend to completeness. avoid duplication
and render the work more economical than n tho
exploration were undertaken piecemeal. No such
organized surveys have ever yet been attempted
anywhere, bu, tho idea Is in harmony with modern
scientific and industrial methods
It is estimated that the cost Of main
tanning the surveying parties and equip /
ping them for their work would be $76l, |
$50 for the first year. OF this amount, |
t25O,OO0 would be used 70 buy three |
small vessels for the marine work The |
annual cost of maintaining the surveys
should not be greater after the first
year than during the initial work, or
about 100000. The committee says;
The primary incentive TO scientific exploration
II the Philippine Islands, OF any other region. Is
desire to promote the commercial and Industrial
welfare Of the Inhabitants, and this purpose should
never be lost sight OF. Experience shows that this
end IS best attained by comprehensive lnvcsuga>
ton OF facts and conditions undertaken in broadly
scientific spirit
Since the United States Is engaged In tho nrst
er1ous attempt to develop an Anglo Saxon civ
IzHtion In the tropics and among a non -Aryan
It may not be am!sS TO call attention TO tho
ncct on tho enlightenment, and culture OF the FL.
p'ros which Systematically undertaken scientific
uryeys must inevitably produce. such explora
Ions viii be practical lesson In the application
nd value OF learning
The amount asked for the work is not
arge, and Congress ought not 70 hesitate
n making the appropriation requested
~ the President.