New-York tribune., 1906-04-01

Of three railway systems in as many OF the
southern islands OF the Philippine group. and
promises soon 10 let further contracts for the
ranrosding OF the island OF Luzon.
A decidedly different form OF encouragement
10 given the Philippine railroad builders from
that which Congress gave years ago 10 the
pfonssrs who crossed the North American pral-
r4es with railroads. J. G. White Co. Of this
city, Is the first firm actually 70 sign contracts
for work in the PHILIPPINES. They are TO build
three railroads, each about a hundred miles in
t-nrsh on the islands of Panay Negros and
cebu. at an estimated cost Of Sl1.0o0oOO and at
The rate OF hundred miles year. The federal
government guarantees them per cent interest
a as per cent Of the cost for thirty years al
ne END OF which period there must be read
sustrnent and an agreement as 70 taxation. At
10 dine Will the road revert 70 the government
on somewhat siruIlar terms the work OF build
tnr the Luzon additions viii be carried out
p-obahly by Speyer & Co, Of this city
ROADS MUCH NEEDED
A single sentence might suffice 10 point out
TIA necessity Of this railroad development in the
Philippines. The Islands have an area Of lls'OOo
square miles q privately owned area OF agr1-
cultural land OF $4,000 acres, Of which only
46 per cent IS actually under cultivation, and
.ust 200 miles Of narrow gauge railroad
Lack OF interested capital seems 10 have been
"a. only real reason for the absence OF rail-
road deveIopnent. Experienced engineers who
have looked over the routes OF the roads just
contracted for find natural difficulties which
cannot De overcome. Labor conditions will prove
Iry4ng. but not 70 q serious degree, and the
surrounding country is entirely peaceful.
u Is estimated that the construction OF the
railroad in the Visayan group VIII cost not
more than $4,000 a mile OF single track road.
fsErn-
lutely fat 10 an undulatng formation. Gradi-
euts can always be kept within low figure
without e great deal OF cutting or filing. One
large item in putting up the construction cost
A nile is the elaborate provision which must
bs made TO care for foods in the rainy season
Bridges and culverIs must be provided N abun-
dance ana only steel and concrete are 10 enter
into their construction
There seems 70 be every reason 10 believe that
the building OF these roads VIII prove paying
Investment Take the Panay road. from Ilollo
20 PotOtan for instance-the distance is thirty
miles and the right Of way is lined with houses
on both sides. forming almost continuous VII
iaEe Capiz the terminal town. and Passi,
large interior settlement, are centres OF rich
agricultural districts with rice. sugar and hemp
as the most valuable products. The Negros ROAD
will run through q volcanic country parucu-
Iarly adapted 20 sugar growing. II IS estlihaueo
that 10000 IONS of sugar year could be pro-
duced with the introduction Of modern apph-
anoes which VIII surely come with the rail-
road. AT present sugar making is carried on in
q most primitive fashion, the cane being fed a
stick II a time into crushers operated py OK
mower The Negros line viii terminate al
ranso al the mouth Of a river 700 feet wide
and 90 feet deep anording an ample haroor-
EXHAUSTIVE SURVEYS.
The railroad builders do not 60 20 the Phllp-
pines without having carefully examined me
,o,,,,-,, ,prouqb which they are 10 build. For
several years their engineers have been scour-
ing the country. suffering all sorts OF haroshlps
m dir7cult trims but always succeeding IN
reaching the point for which they started NOT
has il been ali hardship. the incidents or nos
ritsble receptions II isolated Villages or tirin-
ing hunts for wild game and OF hair RAISING
rafting down mountain streams testIy'
The letters from the government NhicH We
carried on our trips through the interior s'ii-
orally secured us evsry assistance ana 4',e''tlo'-'
sssd I. E Bennett. who made the preliminary
surveys Of the proposed roads IN the Nisay4n
Islands for J. c. White d Co. 10 a Tribune re-
uor+er the other day. Il remember Sunday
snent az Passi IN the interior of Panay where
vye accented the hospitality OF The PresldeEte or
local Mayor He was jolly, big rat felio"
WIN declared that he knew OF no better way or
helping along The Duliolhg OF the fsliioau IMAM
,o tal1e MS 20 the municipal cock1ght
~.Put you money on the red bird; own him.
IVES the advice he gave ~heh we salhefeo WIN
- p, native men, women and children
about the pit
II took his tip. 50 Worih' aho sure eiious - Ia
less than ten seconds the red Difd klieo MS
-. D., q o,,,el, thrust from a knife which
was fastened 20 its leg In place OF a SPUR. =
little later in the game pat al my "liN'iss %
a doubtful looking, small "hlte COCK az
,ts od,,lcs og the Presidente. just because the
white bird seemed 20 have no friends. lie los~
of course. and learned ths lesson DA' 70 OYER