Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-08
PHILIPPINES TO
SHOW PROGRESS
ISLAND POSSESSIONS WILL
HAVE EXHIBIT
LAND OF ROMANCE AND GOLD TO
BE REPRESENTED
VIII Demonstrate What Modern Ma
chinery and Methods Have Done
Since the War with
Spain

MANILA, p. l., March Ever since
the advent of the Spanish into the Phil
ippine archipelago, under the leader
ship of the pioneer of discoveries, Ma
gellan, the presence of gold has kept
alive the interest of European nations
in the Malay islands, and in its pursuit
wars have been waged and blood ex-
PENDED. When the Yslas Filipinas paid
their annual tribute to Mexico the de-
mand from the home country was for
gold. Gold was in some way secured,
and in return came the silver pesos OF
Mexico, and men to administer the
laws for the struggling land. This was
not happily received, and the many
dissensions opened the way for the free
hooters of China, under the leadership
of the old pirate, Ming Lung.
Cities were sacked and immunity was
only secured throug the agency of gold.
When the British preached the intra-
muros of Manila the demand was
again for payment in the yellow metal,
which was known to be gathered in
places in the Philippines. Again 1t was
forthcoming. And so the unequal con-
tests were prolonged for 200 years. and
the one constant cry was for the same
metal. Internal difficulties, political
and religious, eventually became so Sc
rious that the powerful arm of Spain
ii
the wealth of the Philippines was de-
veloped along agricultural and pastoral
lines.
Gold in more or less limited quantities
has for the last century and a half
been produced in the Philippines. But
ii has occupied a minor position among
the wealth producing commodities of
the country. At no time had advanced
machinery or methods been applied in
it's production until the advent of the
Americans, since the war with Spain.
Wild Tribes Get Gold
In the wild hill country of Benquet
and the northern parts of Luzon the
head-hunting tribes of Igorottes and
Ilongotes have, in their extremely crude
manner managed to secure, when nee
essary for their wants, sufficient native
gold to meet their requirements. 1t
has been used by them with some little
crude skill in the making of various
articles of personal adornment, and
these different articles have been Of
fered in barter for years and years, to
such adventurous traders and pros
pectors 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
years small and unimportant. The old
and substantiated reports of a wonder
full gold production were for long re-
garded as somewhat of myth, and
the unsettled conditions of the entire
country prevented any systematic work
of development to be prosecuted.
During the past five years the condi-
lions of the islands have undergone a
complete change. Localities which for
years had been unsafe for prospecting
and development are now occupied
with no dangers to life or undue hard
ships of existence. Increased facilities
for freighting have made 1t possible
for the transportation of desirable and
suitable machinery for mining pur-
poses, and the mining industry of the
Philippines is again assuming the i'm
portant position it once held in the
days when gold was the lure of the
pioneer and argonaut.
Two American companies have been
especially active in the mining of gold
in the islands. The Parcale Gold
Dredging company. of which F. B. In
gersoll is president, and the Benquet
Consolidated Mining company of which
NJ A. Clarke is manager and president.
The latter company Is engaged IN
quartz mining work in the province OF
Benuuet. while the former is carrying
on gold dredging operations on the Par
Gale river. in the province of Ambos
Camarines, both of which properties
are on the island of Luzon. The Par
Gale and Benquet companies are both
at present on a strong paying basis.
and a number of other companies of
American. Spanish and English owner =
shin have developed paying properties.
At the coming Alaska Yukon-P
exposition, opening at Seattle on June
first, the mining organizations of the
Philippines will occupy prominent
position in the Philippines display. and
the methods of working and mineral
production will be displayed through
out the fair. The collection of miner
ais of different quartz and placer mines
has been assembled during the past
two years, and for richness it claims
to rival and equal any other display
yet exhibited
The insular department of mines will
also have a complete and comprehen-
sive exhibit, and the recently discov-
cred coal and base metal workings will
be shown with history and possibili
ties of more extensive and profitable