Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-03-12
Philippine Gold
Interesting Story to be
ToIdby Seattle Expo
SitiOn Exhibit

Especial Correspondence
Ever since the advent of the Span
ish into the Philippine Archipelago.
under the leadership of the pioneer
Of discovers. Magellan. the presence
Of gold has kept alive the interest Of
European nations in the Malay is
lands. In its pursuit. wars have been
waged and blood expended with pro-
higacy- When the Yslas FiliDinas
paid their annual tribute 10 Mexico.
the demand from the home country
was for geld. Gold was in some way
secured, and In return came the sill
yer pesos Of Mexico, and men to ad-
minister the laws for the struggling
land. This was nor happsy received
and the many aisseusious, opened
: the way for the freeboeters Of China.
under the leadership Of the old Pi<
rate Ming Lung.
Cities were sacked and immunity
was again only secured through the
+ agency Of gold. When the British
preached the intramuros OF Manila.
the demand was again for payment in
/ The yellow metal which vas known
to be gathered in places in the Phil
ippines Again it was forthcoming
And so the unequal contests were
prolonged for two hundred years.
ana the one constant cry was for the
same dull metal. Internal difficult
ties, political and religious, eventual
ly became so serious that the power
ful arm Of Spain took charge with
strong hand and the wealth Of the
Filippines was developed along agri-
cultural and PASTORAL lines.
Gold in more or less limited guam
titles has for the last century and a
half been produced in the Philip
pines. But 1t has occupied a minor
position among the wealth producing
commodities Of the country. At no
time had advanced machinery or ne
thods been applied in its production
until the advent of the Americans.
since the war with Spain
In the wild hill country Of Ben
guet and thee northern parts OF Luz
zon, the head hunting tribes Of Igor
otes and Ilongotes. have. in their ex-
tremely crude manner. managed to
secure when necessary for their
wants. sufficient native gold TO meet
their Requirements. Il has been used
by them with some little crude SKILL
in the making of several Articles for
adornment. and these yari-
Gus articles have been offered in bar
ter for years and years to such ad-
Venturuous traders and prospectors
as have braved the dangers Of the
journey into the hill country. Yet
the amount of native gold collected
and brought TO the outside world,
was for. yeasr- small and unimportant.
The old aud substanfiated reports
,f a wonderful gold production were
Tor long regarded as somewhat OF a
myth. and the unsettled conditions OF
he entire country prevented any sys-
ematic work OF development to be
During the past FIVE years the
onditions Of the islands have under
zone complete change. Localities
which for years had been unsafe for
and developing. are now
.eeupied with no dangers TO life OF
Indue hardships of existence. In
reased facilities fer freighting have
iade it possible for the transporter
ION of desirable and suitable ma
hinery for mining purposes. ana the
inning Industry Of the Philippines IS
gain assuming rhe important posi-
ion it once held in the DAYS when
old was the lure Of the pioneer ar
onaut.
Two American companies have
cen especially active in the mining
{ gold in the islands. The Parcale
old Dredging Company. Of which
n. F. B. Ingersou 5 president. and
le Bengnat Consolidated Mining CO,
/ which AIr. n. A. Clark, is mana
IT and president The latter com
any is engaged in quartz mining in
Ie province Of Benguet. while the
rmer is carrying on gold dredging
,erations on the Parcaie rvsr in the
.ovinee of Amhos Camarines, both
which properties are on the island
Luzon. The Parcaie and Benguet
are both ar present on
rong paying basis, and number OF
her companies of American, Span