Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-03-06
A Weekly Letter From the Orient
FURNISHED BY THE RECORDER 'sSPao-
IAL CORRESPONDENT, Who is
MAKING A TOUR OF THE EAST
RRN COUNTRIES.
Especial to Recorder.o

not my intention TO describe cities
and towns | visit on this trip ur-
less there be some special reason
therefor. Such reasons exists at
Manila, consequently ] shall devote
this letter to The capital of the
Philippines. Manila is peculiar in
many ways. The city proper is
within high walls, built for the
purpose Of keeping out the savages
who made periodical attacks on the
Spanish in the early days. In Ma
Mia there is a population of $4,000
people, yet with its suburbs. which
are all under municipal control OF
the city, there are more than Soo'
600 people. When it is remem'
bered that there are eleven popu-
lous suburbs connected thus with
Manila something may be I'M
derstood regarding what is often
read about this place. In this re-
spect Manila may be likened to
London. The city of London is
but a small center surrounded ny
populous suburbs which have been
included in the municipality.
Manila was founded nearly three
and a half centuries ago, and when
it was laid out it was built on
plants laid out with such art that
one side Of every street is always
in the shade. 1t has many public
squares and numerous gardens
which are kept we'll wstered by
many fountains. Nearly every
street has its own standpipe to fur
nish an abundance Of water. Tel
ephones connect the city with all
it's suburbs, and a street car line
runs through the principal streets
The city proper is strongly fortified
and all the houses are built OF
stone or brick.
The pasig river, which flows BY
the city walls, is crossed by three
magnificent bridges-the Ayala
the Suspension bridge and tht
Bridge of Spain--which connect II
with the suburbs, the most impor
tant of which is Pinondo, wher'
domestic and foreign commerce II
centralized. Here are many facto
ries and warehouses. on wld'
we'll paved streets may be seer
commercial houses Of large dimen
sions. the Hote de Oriento, tn
the Spanish band, and splendi'
type of church, On the Escolta
which is the principal street, tn
neople may be seen every evening
taking their drives. This thor
oughfare is broad and beautiful
and presents remarkable seen
on holidays when crowds throng
during the evening.
Nearly all the commerce OF tn
! PHILIPPINE islands is carried o
Through Manila, and in its may b
seen ships from all parts OF tn
world. Steamers leave daily fc
> all parts Of the island and ever
! week there is regular Chimes
t steamer. In addition to thes
8 there ere steamers to the Unite
7 States by way of Japan. Ships
!. modern type and junk SO anclei
: That one could not tell when 1t vi
b designed are side by side. Natl'
d boats ply about the bay and up II
-
/, river, and many Chinese junks al
9 japanese sampans are found he
Q also. Wagon roads and rallro'
q connect Manila with interior pro
q inces Of the island Of Luzon, al
It fairly good travel NAV be had
. eyery direction. The scenery
remarkably beautiful as the city
y almost entirely surrounded by
=, :. mountain chain which preser
It some very picturesquepea KS.
Is Hundreds Of volcanoes, most
Ell them extinct for hundreds OF yea
If NAV be seen in all directions. 1
r almost daily recurrence of earl
y [cuakes indicate that these YOU
w. n ,es ARE not extinct and may bre
ne ont at any time. Earthquakes
~ of such frequent occurrence o.
" ard in Japan that little attentl
as is paid them unless the happen
=. be of extraordinary force and du
a, ton As most Of the houses Z
he built of Aimsy material, eye
:, to com mercial and public structu'
:" :.s,:,,,a dau,,er to be apr