Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-19
RAILWAYS IN THE PHILIPPINES
BUILT By AMERICANS WITH
THE AID OF FILIPINoS.
Standard Of Construction Higher
Than That Of Pioneer Lines
in United States.

p. E. Fansler In Van Norden Magazine.
Two years ago a party OF engineers
sailed from Seattle. their destination being
tine principal islands of the Philippine
group: their object, the construction OF
the comprehensive system of railroads
outlined in the early days OF the Taft
regime. These young American college
mentor nearly all are graduates of
Purdue. Cornell. Wisconsin. Boston Tech
and other engineering schools, and the
average age Of the entire party is barely
thirty-have succeeded even beyond their
enthusiastic hopes They have settled
beyond a doubt one Of the most vital
questions that confronted the American
Observation-Disclosures or not the Fill
Pine can be directed from his wild and
unsettled ways into the paths of industry,
thrift and progress.
And they have accomplished the i'm
mediate object Of the expedition. for to-
dag there are several sections of the
railroads in operation. and those remain
ing will be opened within the next few
months. The work has been done un0er
unusually adverse conditions: IL has been
well done. and IL is probable that the
standard Of construction is higher than
that Of any of the pioneer American lines.
All of the bridges, culverts and drains
lully d per cent OF Inc entire length
OF the system Is made up OF these-are
OF concrete or steel or both.
The roadbed has been carefully graded
and the track we'll ballasted. The rolling
stock is Of American manufacture. the
best Of its kind that can be produced.
The cars have steel frames and are fin
ished in teak. a wood that is immune from
the attacks of the ever-hungry white ant.
American money to the extent of twenty
to thirty millions. will be invested in
IN a
estimates on the balance sheets Of a
steam railroad now In operation. and OF
lines in China. that the returns will amply
repay those who have had the courage
to 60 into an untried and most unprom-
Using field.
Little can be learned of the part OF
the system that is laid out on the Island
OF Luzon. The concession for this island
was awarded to interests almost entirely
British. although II was the intention OF
the United States government to restrict
the concessions to American capital. The
existing road from Manila to Dagupan
will be extended northward. through the
rich Lepanto- Bontok province. while an
other trunk line will strike into the rich
Cagayan valley, where is produced some
Of the finest tobacco in the far east. An
gas. and yet another into Albay and
Sorsogon. the fertile provinces In the ex-
treme south.
Fertility Of Panay.
Panay. a densely populated island south
of Luzon. is wonderfully fertile. but be-
cause of inaccessibility the produce sent
out from the island is but a fraction OF
what It could be. Sugar. coffee, hemp
ami other fbers are the staple. Iloilo. the
principal port, is the terminus OF the
railroad. The harbor has been improved
by the government at q cost Of over half
million dollars. and 1t is now one OF
the best in the archipelago. From Iloilo
the road runs northward through Passi
"a thriving city. to Capiz. on tho northern
coast. with an extension from Batan
through a rich valley to Cavilo. One
hundred and ten miles are under construc-
ton on Panay. Of which nearly half are
completed. Two thousand natives are
pushing the rest to q finish.
Negroes. just east OF Panay, Is the great
sugar producer Of the Philippines. The
annual output is about SO.O00 tons. and
1t Ia conservatively estimated that 4Co000
tons can be marketed when the railroads
are completed. A range OF mountains
forms the backbone of the island: the
land gently sloping away to the sea is
admirably adapted to sugar culture on ac-
count Of the volcanic ash that exists
the result Of early activities of old Can
laon. which is even now semi-active. Ca
boncalan. on the west coast. is the termi-
nus Of the system on Panay. One branch
skirts to the west coast to Saravia, then
turns to the east and terminates at
Escalante. A second spur follows the
Illog river. tapping a densely populated
veys have been completed and construc-
ton started.
1t is on Cebu that the most rapid
progress in Philippine railroad building
has a magnificent natural harbor that
has been further improved by dredging
ami by building concrete breakwater.
The line from Cebu north to Danao 10
in, fiav nd "A Of inf N
Argao and across the island to Barilli
will soon be- The line to Danao will
opeh up a rich field OF high-carbon lig-
mite, coal that Is reported to be fully
the equal of the famous Nagasaki coal
of Japan. 1t is believed that this coal
can be delivered in Manila and sold for
dollar ton less than Japanese or
Australian coal, and IL this be true. it
Of foreign sources of supply. in time of
peace as we'll as war; Trials have been
made of this coal on vessels. and they
are reported to be entirely satisfactory.
The mogul locomotives shipped from
the United States have been designed
especially for the Philippine service. The
CRATES and stacks are adapted to the lig-
mite coal and spark arresters are pro-
matched huts Although Of narrow gauge,
they are exceptionally powerful
Three classes of passenger service will
be provided. OF which the third class will
De the most popular On account OF the
small stature Of the natives, the second
and third class coaches are to be fitted
with seats that would be TOO short for
American use. although they accommo-
date the natives without crowding.
Question, of Equipment.
The freight cars. too. are considerably
smaller than standard box cars in this
country, as the Filipino farmer ships in
small; quantities. The question of equip
ment has been carefully considered by
a technical board. which has studied the
practice Of the Natal government railway.
lie Chemin du Fer du kongo, the Sudan
Government Military railway. the Great
Indian Peninsular railway and other trop-
ic III properties. No expense will be spared
In the initial equipment. and extensive
shops will be built in which all repairs
can be made. 1t Is even possible that
such rolling stock as may be needed in
the future may be entirely built by native
workmen. Experience in the shops of the
electric railway at Manila has shown this
to be feasible.
Memory Of Ringing Scythes.
From the Outing Magazine.