The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-07-30
HENDERSON WRITES
OF PHILIPPINES

Below we publish an interesting let
ter from Louis +. Henderson, who
went to the Philippine islands about q
year ago to take government posi-
tion. MIR. Henderson writes OF the
prospects of The timber business in
the islands, of which he has evidently
made quite an exhaustive study. IL
is as follows
Cotabato. Moro Province, p. | May
80, 1908.
Upon leaving the states last July
some OF my friends asked me to keep
an eye open for business projects
during my wanderings through the is
lands aud If anything presented itself,
|. o. anything worthy of considera-
tion, to write them In regard to the
matter. In view OF their interests
therein expressed, and iu view of the
fact that during my stay in the is
lands | have been In what Is termed
the best, yet the II ost undeveloped sec
tion of the Philippines; and also In
view OF the fact that on account of
this undevelored state the project
have to offer is more worthy of con-
sideration, | have as result OF nine
months of careful observation, come
to the following conclusion: That the
timber business is the best investment
there is in the islands at present.
Being, as am, employed in the hu.
reau of lands have a good chance to
study the land conditions, advantages
and disadvantages of the government
privileges, etc. 1t Is fact that is not
well known, on account of the new
ness of the country, that some OF the
finest timber on the islands is to be
foun1 In Mindanao. | have seen it
and have talked with people who
, have seen 1t and worked in it, aud /
know that the finest timber that grows
snywhere In the world, such as acle,
belts, camagon. ebony, ipil, lanete
mancono, molave, nara, tindalo vac
al end many others stand in forests
similar to those of Oregon and Wash.
ington. | also know that the tim ber
! laws are such that there are many
Inducements to the extensive outlay
of capital. The gist of the timber
law, !. D., the one that would affect
the sawmill business, is as follows; A
lease for any extended AREA including
thousands OF Hores, Can be secured
ION the government, to run for a
number of years mutually agreeable to
both parties. The government de.
mands as a consideration a small price
per cubic foot, varying according to
the class Of timber and the proximity
OF Its location to Manila, and that so
much timber shall be cut by certain
date this last to insure good faith on
the part OF the lessee. Then of course
there are minor considerations ru-
garding strict compliance with the
law, etc similar to those conditions
In our laws at home regarding public
lands. The one great factor in favor
of the timber act is that no outlay of
capital is required for the purchase Of
timber. The government only re-
quires that it shall be paid for as out
and according to government meas.
urements, Now | say the timber is
here for the mere taking. At pres
ent my party is located at Cotahato
where we have been for over month,
This district Is the most prosperous
aud has the greatest possibilities Of
any in Mindanao. The Moros are
friendly and industrious. Beginning
at the coast seven miles below the
town valley similar to the william
ette reaches back into the interio. Of
the island foi a hundred miles.
III, ough this valley runs the Gotta bsto
river, which is as wide at this point
as the Willamette Is at Portland.
This river is navigable for almost 100
miles for tair-sized steam vessels. The