The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-06-07
NOTES FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
1r. Chas. Z. HOye Discusses hayon
Volcano and the Philippine Tariff.


To the Editor of The Republican:
Mayor volcano is one of the most
beautiful volcanic mountains in the
world. From Albay gull, on the Pa
cific coast of Luzon, it slopes gradually
at first, then rapidly up to a height cf
5000 feet, ending in almost unclimable
cliffs twelve miles from the sea. 1t is
almost perfect cone with the crater
often enveloped in rain clouds and
small clouds Of sulphurous vapor and
smoke, for it is still active, tho no
des. lctive eruptions have occurred for
many years.
4 few parties have succeeded "a
Climbing ~ the crater. It is hard
days tip from the nearest town. Ur
to about 1000 feet Mayor is covered
with vegetation, but above that even
the hardy c0gOn grass cannot grow, and
its upper lava slopes are bare. Around
its base, however, are all the large
towns of Albay province, about 1000
people in all. The decayed lava rccl-
and ashes elected long years ago M g
the best of soils, deep and r.ch, ar5
here ere 10 a,ci ne aba-c (hemp) fields,
the f1e-t in the Philippines.
Every wee, day morning, dur Q tie
season, long train of ,aiaho car g,
each carrying three balc- If h,r.~.
passes our house Oh It's way from IL n
terror to Port Legaspi, where III
precious fiberS begin their long journey
to Europe or America to be ma le in
rope or binder Irvine. Af.cr res G
the animals during The lot Pa e he
day, early in the evening the ca. : ic-
td-n, this time general, load~l VII
merchandise and rice, the latter ,h,cfy
imported from French Indo-China. So
the wealth and happiness of the pIsz
ince depends upon this little banana
ike plant. It's strong fbels ere found
il the leaf stems, which grow to~ether
n body or trunk from the root. Tho
fibers are from TIL ee to six feet loo.
The men of this province keep the
ground clear, plant the young = rs.
and \ about six months cut tie liant
and separate the fihers from TIE &
pulp with rude hand machine. 4 e.
being died in the sunshine t e G
are ready to be balcl a1d sltr., g.,
the market. The women wc.ll 4 G
finer fbers into beautiful 81 al -
cloth.
Let us re,G.l, he Listor +
vol o. Is most destIlc i've r. r. IN
accuI"-l n 1916 when The town oi DE-
, aga, when IS pa,t Of my school d,.u,Cy,
was destroyed; then streams # hos lava
flowed down the steep Slopes and GOV
cred Che cultivated fields, willie . -
and large stones were thrown miles
around. Many Of the people fled il o
the large stone chu ch end convent,
seeking protection il The house of c .
instead Of fleeing 10 The hills rcar, r.
The tile roof fell upon them, VII the
stones am ashes, and 200 were killed
in that town alone.
/ Recently l visited the "bur.sd
church" as it is called, and found its
walls still standing, covered with vines
and bushes, and half buried by stones,
ashes and lava-the monument o. hat
terrible night ninety years ago; the size
of the old town is now waste land VII le
the present town is situated . mile IA .
ther from the volcano.
( The ellptions Of recent years have
not been So severe and none of the go
0G0 people of The province are acca'l,
tho we constantly expect 90 81
, "shcot".
We had a rather severe earthquake
one NIGHT last month. l was the
hooca of the Superintendent OF Schools
ct the time. The first shock was an o.
binary tremble and we paid no attcnti II