The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-05-08
miles of Philippine territory were
staked ont for mining claims.

miles OF PhfHpplne terI1tofy Were
staked out for mining claims.
In nearly every province the occur
renee of gold is known, but the most
extensive prospecting and operations
are being carried on in LeEanto. Ben
guet. Camarines, Mindoro, Marin
duque, Masbate and Surigfo. Copper
ores have been found in Iepanto, Ben
guet. Pangasinan, Zambates. Batangas,
Camarines. Mindoro, Marinduque. Mas
bate and Misamis. Iron ores occur In
Bulacan. Rial, Camarines and Surf
gao, and lead ores in Martinique, Mas
bate and Cebu.
Coal outcrops have been discovered
In most of the large islands OF. the
archipelago: In Luzon alone they are
known In Cagayan, Lepanto. Nueva
vizcaya, Rial. Tayabas, Camarines
and Albay. The most important coal
workings at the present time are on
the islands of Cebu and Batan. Upon
a reservation set aside for the purpose
on Batan island, the quartermaster de-
partment of the United States army
is now carrying on extensive and sys-
tematic prospecting and development
work under the direction Of Capt. Wig
more of the engineer corps.
Limestone and shale are very COM
mon, and huge outcrops are to be OBJ
served in nearly every province. In
some they occur under such favorable
conditions as regards quality, quantity,
abundance of labor and facilities OF
transportation to the coast and to pos
sible sources of fuel. as naturally to
suggest themselves as practicable
sites for the establishment Of cement
manufacturing industry In these Is
| lands.
It is not intended to convey the i'm
preston that all of the aforemen-
| toned mineral deposits are certain OF
proving profitable mining investments.
| On the other hand, it Is extremely
probable that valuable ore or other
| mineral deposits exist in these islands
that have not yet come to the atten-
ton of those who could properly ap
preciate them. This may be due either
to the fact that the surface outcrops
IL any exist, are hidden under the
thick mantle of soil and vegetation
which is such serious membranes
to prospecting in tropical countries. OF
because the outcrops occur in hitherto
UNEMPLOYED and unprospected terri
tory.
Outside of the cost Of machinery ant
supplies. the operations of mining, or
at any rate, prospecting, can be con
Quoted here at no greater cost, and, II
fact, cheaper than in most countrie:
In the world. Prospecting shafts t.
a depth of about 80 feet in hard roci
have been sunk for about $1.35 Pc
foot, and drifts have cost less than on
dollar per foot, these costs not includ
ing the cost of explosives. The driv
ing of a 5x6 cross-cut, fully timberet
and Jagged, has recently been let D.
contract for $3.50 per foot. Prices
such as these are extremely low com
pared to other costs in our western
mining camps. and indicate that 10
the same amount of capital create
amount of prospecting can be done.
| That successful mining can be car
ried on in these islands is abundant,
proved by the rapidly growing indus
try in Benguet, Camarines. Albay an
one or two other provinces, and tn
fact that this list cannot be further In
creased at the present time is due, 4
my opinion, not so much to the lack
natural resources as ii is to the lac
of information. capital and good maj
agement.
downright. 1905. by Joseph B. Bowles.)