Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-05-13
ARE RICH YET POOR
FlliPlNos LITTLE SUSPECT
WEALTH or MINES.
Valuable Minerals Exist on Islands,
But They Have Never Been Used
by the Natives, Says
Authority.
BY MAURICE GOODMAN.

tue philippines, anu tuut boiho poie VI
mining was being carried on, became
evident to the Spaniards on their first
Introduction TO the islands. Coming
as many of these adventurers did
from their rich colonial possessions In
America, they were naturally on the
lookout for such mineral wealth as
they had grown accustomed to expect
In new and savage land. They actu'
ally found gold idols and copper uten'
sils and iron tools but, unfortunately,
. the sources OF these metals were for
the most part far In the mountainous
interior, where white man dared not
venture without strong military es'
cort.
This was centuries ago. and with
the passage of time conditions have Inn
proved. as they will do even In the
tropical Orient. The people may now
be said to be peaceably inclined. SUI
perstition has been largely erased. al
though still present to an astonishing
degree, ordinary intelligence and edu-
cation are far more general. and trans
portation facilities, however hard 1t
may be to believe at times, have GER
tainly improved.
The early Spaniards found gold to
be the most widely distributed OF all
the valuable minerals. Their richest
deposits in the early days were locat-
ed in Camarines Norte and In Misamis
and Surigao. AS far back as 1643 we
find that the Spanish crown was exact
ing its fifth share Of the gold extracted
from the placers of Paracale and Man,
bulao in the Camarines.
The next important mineral deposits
to receive the attention Of the Spanish
government were the iron ore deposits
of Morong and Bulacan. In 1871 the
Spanish government authorized and
assisted Chaplain Don Juan Belli OF
the royal navy to construct a smelter
for the purpose of manufacturing prin-
clpally munitions of war. Since then
the Bulacan iron industry has enjoyed
q somewhat checkered career, and 1t
still survives, its present output how
ever. being restricted to the more
peace promoting implements Of agri-
culture. Everything considered, the
quality Of the products produced by
these smelters is excellent, and CON-
pares favorably with that manufac-
tured from imported cast-iron.
About 1927 the first coal outcrops
were reported, but the Importance OF
these discoveries was not recognized
until steamships made their advent IN
Philippine waters, and then happened
what SO frequently occurs. A mis-
guided enthusiasm swept over owners
and investors, causing them to expend
large amounts on ill-advised plants.
buildings and roads which eventually
had to be abandoned. The coal mining
industry of the Philippines was some
time in recovering from the setback
received by these early ventures. But
az the first excitement subsidized and
the early losses were forgotten new
enterprises sprang up, encouraged BY
the prevailing high prices and continu-
ally increasing demand for suitable
fuel. AS a result a fair-sized and
seemingly increasing coal mining indus
try had sprung up, more particularly
in Cebu, when the outbreak OF the late
insurrection put a stop to practically
all mining operations.
The history of copper mining Is
more recent than that Of the mineral
deposits previously mentioned. For
centuries it had been known that cop
Der ores existed, and that utensils and
weapons of the red metal were being
manufactured by the Igorrotes located
in the mountains of northern Luzon.
On account of the supposed unfriend-
Illness of the savages inhabiting this
region, but little information could be
gained regarding the nature Of the de-
posts or their methods Of working and
smelling the ore. 1t was not until
1850, therefore, that an expedition was
organized to escort Don Antonio Her
nandez, q Spanish mining engineer,
who made the first report on these
mines. This report was followed In
1861 by another at greater length and
more detail made by Jose Maria San
tos. These reports were SO encourag-
ing that a company was organized In
1862 for the purpose Of mining and
smelling the copper ores Of Mancayan.
Santos was detailed by the govern
ment. to assist in the enterprise, and
80 long as he lived everything went
well and over thousand tons OF cop
per we're produced. After his death
the company became disorganized and
shortly thereafter practically all oper-
atoms ceased.
The Filipino insurrsction Of 'ss. fol-
lowed an It was by American occupa-
ton of the islands was q blessing In