Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1907-08-02
Philippine
Correspondence
By s. +. DeRackin.

AdmuodHSa, MORO PROVINCE, L. /,
May /, 1907 The position of the
Philippines as whole, with reference
to the trade of the Far East, is an
ideal one, even today; but with the
completion of the Panama canal their
value to the United States will be be.
yond compare.
Our control of the Philippines, and
the recentIitan struggle in Korea and
Manchuria, are but incidents in q
movement which has as its ultimate
object the control of the Pacific. Will
liam ID. Seward knew whereof be
spoke when he declared that thence
forth European commerce, European
politics, European thought, European
activity, however effectively they may
increase in intrinsic Importance, and
European alliances, however intimate
they may become, will sink in relative
Importance - meanwhile the Pacific
ocean, its shores. its isles, and the
vast region beyond, will become the
principal theater of events in the
great future of the world" The pro-
phetic ken of Thomas II. Benton en-
abled him to see the day when the
rule and empire OF the world would
belong to the route to the Indies, and
to the nation which controls the COM
MERGE OF that route.
The Panama canal, the Hawaiian,
the Aleutian, Ladrone aud Philippine
islands place the American nation ia
absolute control of the Pacific, and
they can no more escape the RESPONSE
bility of their position than they can
cease to be a progressive people.
Climate and Health Conditions.
The climate of the Philippines is
pleasant, equable and healthfuI. 1t
Is doubtful whether any other coun-
try in the world is more favored In
this respect. Malarial levers are rela-
lively few, predaceous animals un-
known, and insects and reptiles preju-
dicial to human life or health extra
ordinarily few in number. At the
level of the sea throughout the entire
archipelago the mercury rarely goes
below 60 degrees or above go degrees
Fahi euheit during the entire year
From the middle of November until
the middle Of March the climate is
delightful, and from that time on I'M
til the latter part of June it is hot
during the middle of the day, but
considerably less so than in many
parts of the United States in the sum-
mer.
Area of the Philippine Islands.
The area of the Philippines equals
that OF England, ireland, Scotland
andWales, and the islands are capable
of supporting a population of one
hundred million people. 1t is doubt
full If or the face OF the earth today
an area so large as that of the Philip
pine islands can be found which con-
tains such vast population together
with such virgin resources in every
liue OF industry. So prodigal is nature
of her gifts, and so productive is the
soil of the archipelago that only a
srcatch here and there is necessary for
the support of eight million people.
1t must be remem bered, however, that
marked success is attained here only
as it Is attained in other countries,
that is by intelligent and energetic
work. Ibis being new country, many
more opportunities offer here than in
the United States, but those who ex
pect success to walt upon them unso
licited will tail here as there. What
these islands need Is class of sturdy
pioneers such as made that great en-
pire lying west of the Mississippi
river to blossom as the rose-men with
willing hands, honest hearts and a
small amount of capital. The state
ment so often made to the effect that
white man cannot labor ID this CHI
mate is not true. Those who are afraid
of little sunshine can find some ex-
cuse for not laboring in any country.
As MaiorGeneral Leonard Wood, who
is also a very eminent physician, says
there is nothing in the climate of
these islands which prohibits long
residence here. A moral life, with
plenty of hard work, will be found to
counterfeit, in most cases, the So
called dem oralizing effects of the
Philippine climate.
Agricultural Lands.
There are some b5, U0U, OOO acres of
agricultural lands IN these Islands,
only 5000, 900 acres OF which are sub
ject to individual ownership. The
price of this land is fixed at 81 per
acre, and can be readily secured
owing to the fact that the Govern
ment is more than anxious to see it
under cultivation. The price of land
suitable for hemp cultivation, if pnr-
chased from private parties is from 81
to 81 per acre. Lands under cultiva-
tion costs about $500 per acre.
Forest land will cost about So per
acre.
Timber Land.
The forest area of the Philippines,
including all public and private
woodlands, is estimated to be 8,113,
800 acres. The area of private wood
lands held under valid title is far
baIou OOO OnO oo,o, piho t;,obor