Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-03-28
THE CITY OF MANILA
PRINCIPAL art OF THE ISL
ANDs HAS A LARGE COM.
MERGE
ONE SIDE OF OTHER or TIE
STREETS ARE ALWAYS
IN THE SADIE

i
correspondence Steele Ozore-H is
not my intention to describe cities
and towns | visit on this trip unless
there be some special reason therefor.
Such reason exists at Manila, conse-
quently shall devote this letter to
the capital of the Philippines. Man
liza is peculiar in many ways. The
city proper is within high walls, built
Tor the purpose of keeping out the
savages who made periodical attacks
on the Spanish in the early days. In
Manila there is a population of a..
600 people, yet with it's suburbs
which are all under municipal con
! troll of the city, there are more than
100000 people. When it is remem-
bered that there are eleven populous
suburbs connected thus with Manila
something may be understood re-
garding what is often read about this
| place. In this respect Manila may be
likened to London. The city of Lon.
| don is but small center surrounded
| by populous suburbs which have been
| included in the municipality.
Manila was founded nearly three
and half centuries ago and when it
| was laid out itswas built on plans laid
out with such are that one side Of ev-
cry street is always in the shade. 1t
has many public squares and numer
GUS gardens which are kept well wa
tered by many fountains. Nearly ev.
cry street has it's own standpipe to
furnish an abundance of water. Tele
phones connect the city with its sub.
urbs 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 magni-
icent ,bridgesJthe Ayla, the suspen.
sion bridge and the Bridge of Spain
which connect it with the suburbs
the most important of which is Bin
ondo, where domestic and foreign
commerce is centralized. Here are
many factories and large warehouses
On the wide we'll paved streets may
be seen commercial houses of large
dimensions, the Hotel de Rdiente. the
Spanish bank, and a splendid type
OF church. On the Escolta, which is
the principal street, the people may
be seen every evening taking thei,
drives. This thoroughfare is broad
and beautiful and presents remark
able scene on holidays when crowds
throng it during the evening.
Nearly all of the commence of the
Philippine islands is carried through
Manila and in its port may be seer
ships from all parts of the world
Steamers leave daily for various parts
OF the islands and every week there
is regular Chinese steamer. In add
ton to those there are steamers tc
the United States by way of japan
Ship OF modern type and junk so an.
Client that one could not tell when il
was designed are side by side. Ma
tive boats ply about the bay and IN
the river, and many Chinese hunks
and japanese sampans are found here
also. Wagon roads and a railroad
connect Manila with interior prcvin
ces of the island of Luzon, and fair
| ly good travel may be had in every
direction. The scenery is remarka-
bly, beautiful as the city is almost
entirely surrounded by a mountain
chain which presents some very pic.
turesque peaks.
Hundreds of volcanoes, most of
them extinct for hundreds of years,
may be seen in all directions. The
almost daily recurrence of earthquake
shocks indicate that they NAV break
out at any time. Earthquakes are of
such frequent occurrence here and in
Japan that little attention is paid to
them unless they happen to be of ex-
traordinary force and duration. AS
most of the houses are built of film
sy material, except commercial and
public structures, there is little dan.
ger to be apprehended to come from
the shaking up.
Manilas climate is oppressive at
certain seasons and during the rainy
season the streets are flooded and
much difficulty is experienced in get
ting about unless one hires a boat
man. The streets frequently have
two or three feet of water in them.
Heavy storms which come up sud
denly will transform pleasant drive
way into raging torrent in few
minutes. Owing to the extreme hui
! Nudity of the atmosphere the heat is
oppressive at all times, and there is
1 NOT tho rp1ayatiap Of cool ,;ob ),