The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-02

with which to purchase the essential,
animals and agricultural MACHINERY
and implements for developing their
lands, and they are at present com
PEELED to pay 10 to 40 per cent or more
per annum for borrowed money. Ref-
erence is made to the system OF es-
tablishfng an agricultural banking
system by limited government aid
which has been worked out In Egypt,
where the conditions were quite anal
ogOus to those In the Philippine Is
lands, on basis that has proved Of
the highest benefit to the country
The Recommendation is made for Con-
gressional action looking to the estab-
lishment Of an agricultural bank by
private capital, the interest to be guar
anteed by the insular government at
rate not to exceed 4 per cent. per an
mum, with limited total liability of
the government during any single year
not to exceed 100000. III
Public Lands.
Under the present law not more
than 40 acres of land may be sold from
any portion of the public domain to
any individual, and not more than
$500 acres to any person, association.
firm, or corporation. These limita
lions were undoubtedly intended to
secure to the Filipinos solely the right
of occupancy of public lands, but there
have been practically no entries by
Filippinos of homesteads, nor have any
applications been made by them for,
lease of public lands. In order to en-
courage the establishment of planta-
tions of considerable size by Filipinos
and Americans of intelligence and
means and to successfully cultivate.
hemp, cocoanuts, maguey, coffee, ca
Gao, supar, and tobacco, 1t Is recon-
mended that the amount which may
be purchased by an individual be in
creased to not more than 1000 acres
and that the amount which a corpora
ton may hold be increased to $4,000.
acres, and it is said that 10000 acres
would be the minimum amount upon
which corporation could we'll afford
to establish an up-tO date plantation
equipped with modern mills, machin-
cry. and implements.
Secretary of the Interior as to amends
ment of the present law is as follows:
The government of the Philippine. Is
lands is hereby authorized and empow-
cred on such terms as it may prescribe,
the granting or sale and conveyance to-
actual occupants and settlers and other
citizens of said islands such parts and
portions of the public domain, other
than timber and mineral lands. Of the
United States in said islands as it may
deem wise. not exceeding four hundred
and FIVE hectares to any one person,
and for the sale and conveyance Of not
tares to any corporation or associations
of persons: Provided, That the grant
or sale of such lands, whether the pur-
tai payments snail be co COMO p mp-
on actual and continued occupancy, inn
provement. and cultivation of the prem
ises. sold for a period Of not less than
five years, during which time the pur
cucumber said land or the title thereto;
but such restriction shall not apply to
transfers OF rights and title of inner
itance under the laws for the distribu
The request is urgently made for
assistance by the Executive Depart
ments of the United States and by
Congressional action in the work of
coast and geodetic survey, a topog-
raphical survey, establishment of more
and additional lighthouses. quarantine
service, etc.
While the character OF the services
which would be rendered by surveying
and charting all of the islands and wa
tiers pertains directly to the. insular
government, yet it is of enormous
benefit to the commerce Of the world
at large, which finds its way to the.
Philippine Islands. The coast line is.
H,O00 miles long, and with the re-
sources at hand the work can not nos