Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-11-13
THE PAST AND FUTURE
OF THE PHILIPPINES.
by j. Il. Knox,
A Former OcOneean.
For The Keowee Courier.


Lucban, Tayabas, Philippine Is
lands, July 10, 1907.--In writing
this letter l am sorry to say that the
writer Is not very widely known in
his own county (Oconee); but am
at the same time proud to say that
the Oconee people whom l have
known are (unless l am deceived)
my best friends; and l believe that
short letter from this country,
though badly composed, will inter-
est many Of the readers of The Keo-
wee Courier. II you will excuse me,
will devote the first part to
Personal Work.
left home July /, 1906, and thir-
ty-seven days later landed in the
city of Manila. On my way over
spent about thirty-six hours in each
OF the following cities: Honolulu,
Yokohama, Kobe, Nagaski. shang-
ahai and Hong Kong. From Yoko-
hama and 1 went by rail to Tokyo,
and from Kobe I visited Kyoto.
These stops, of course, did not give
me the History Of the Hawaiians,
Japanese and Chinese, but l learned
many things that would be new after
reading about the countries lse-
time.
After landing In Manila reported
for duty, and was assigned to the
constabulary school, Manila, where
all new officers receive a course of
instruction in regard to Philippine
duties. My class finished this coursc
Of instruction December "a, and was
ordered to join companies on the
first day of January. l landed in
Lucena, rayabas, headquarters Sec
ond District, on January 10. After q
twenty-four hours ride on steam
boat from Manila I was assigned to
the Second General Service Company
of this district, and about three days
later received an order to take half
Of my company and proceed to Tia
ong, distance Of twenty-five miles
north Of Lucena, to guard some gov
ernment property at that post until
a change could be made. While at
this station the other half of my
company was transferred about fifty
miles south of Lucena to Pitogo. On
the last day of January recei ed an
order to join my company, and after
a four-day hike through the swamps
reached Pitogo.
l was placed in command of my
company February 2S. About the
last Of April l received a telegram,
Rush your company to Unisan." At
IL o'clock the same night the COM
pany and all the property was on
board of government boat, and the
next morning we landed in Unisan,
where we were met by one officer Of
my company and another company.
From these officers / learned that two
other companies had been sent about
twenty miles on the eastern coast. l
also learned that there was lrge
band Of insurrectos between Unisan
and the eastern coast. We spent
about one month after this band, and
when we left the field they were all
in or out. When l reached Unfsan
there was an order waiting me to
take half of my company to Tananas
and relieve the two companies on the
eastern coast. After two weeks l
was ordered back to Unisan to join
my company.
On June 10 l received an order
transferring me to the First General
Service Company, then stationed in
Tiaong. About three days later we
were moved to Lucban, where | am
resting easy and looking for another
order, because l know not the day
nor the hour when that order is
coming.
Historical and Otherwise.
The Philippines were discovered
by Magellan in 1921; first settlement
by Spaniards was made on the Is
land or Cubu, 1860. The life of the
natives before 1869. when Spain took
possession, was similar to that of the
American Indian before America was
inhabited by the white man. After
Spain took possession Of the Islands
the people made some progress in
civilization. During the Spanish
reign they had trouble with the
Dutch, English, Chinese, and numer-
Gus rebellions of the natives. The
Spaniards continued their reign until
1898. when the islands were cap
tured by the United States, and since
that time the United States has done
many things for the good of the Is
lands and uplifting of the people.
The group embraces about 5000
islands; many mere rocks and unin-
habited islets, but only 400 or 500
are cultivated or valuable for mine
raj or other resources. The area,
including the Sulu Islands, Is esti-
mated at 4,602 square miles. The
entire Archipelago is probably Of vol
canic origin. The interior of all is
lands Is mountainous; many volca-
noes exist, several in almost constant
activity. Apo GO,S26 feet, on Min
danao, and HalcOn, Mindoro, are the
highest elevations in the Philippines.
Between the numerous mountain
chains are iuxuriant plains, and
wide, fertile valleys Rivers and
lakes are numerous, especially in the
larger islands. The coast line Is ir-
regular, the numerous creeks and
bays forming many natural harbors.
The eastern coast is steep and rug
ged.. Hot springs of iron and sui
phur occur in many places.
Ihis is the land of continual sum-
mer, the hottest season being from