Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-05-13

shortly thereafter resulted from the In
fusion OF new life. new capital and
new experience. The discharge OF the
army OF occupation left many young
and sturdy fellows out here. deter
mined on finding their fortunes In the
streams and mountains OF our new
possessions. Reinforced to some extent
by prospectors from Alaska. Australia
and New Zealand. these pioneers have
done much towards enlightening ms
regarding the mineral resources OF the
Philippine islands. In the Ave years
Immediately following the act OF con-
gress OF July I. 1902. over $50 square
miles OF Philippine territory 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 Lepanto, Ben
guet. Camarines. Mindoro. Marin
duque. Masbate and Surigao. Copper
ores have been found in Lepanto, Ben
guet, Pangasinan, Zambales. Batangas,
Camarines. Mindoro. Martinique, 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
ard 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 a cement
manufacturing industry in these Is
lands.
1t 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, 1t 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-
preciatc them. This may be due either
to the fact that the surface outcrops,
II any exist, are hidden under the
thick mantle Of soil and vegetation
which Is such serious incumbrance
to prospecting in tropical countries, or
because the outcrops occur In hitherto
unexplored and unprospected terri
tory.
Outside OF the cost Of machinery and
supplies, the operations Of mining. or.
at any rate, prospecting. can be con.
Quoted here at no greater cost, and, In
fact, cheaper than in most countries
In the world. Prospecting shafts to
q depth of about 80 feet in hard rock
have been sunk for about $1.35 per
foot, and drifts have cost less than one
dollar per foot, these costs not includ'
ing the cost of explosives. The driv.
ing of a 5x6 cross.cut, fully timbered
and Jagged, has recently been let by
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 for
the same amount Of capital a greater
amount OF prospecting can be done.
That successful mining can be Car.
ried on in these islands IL abundantly
proved by the rapidly growing indus
try in Benguet, Camarines, Albay and
one or two other provinces. and the
fact that this list cannot be further In
creased at the present time is due, in
my opinion, not so much to the lack OF
natural resources as It Is to the lack
of information, capital and good man.
agement.
Copyright 1908. by Joseph B. Bowles.)