The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-25

DATTO BADAO AND HIS MORO WIFE
Thin woman once Ind the po,rcr OF
Jaw She mud her husband live quietly
ut WnIoe.
the Agriculture Colieg. there is now a
model SILK building In which thousands
Of cocoons are produced ever month
and where tho students arc given prac-
ticai instruction in rearing the worms
philippines Lands.
The total amount of land in ths
and then comes u drought. which at
100000 acres, or this only about one
nth Is owned by individuals. and the
other four-ffths belongs TO the gov
eminent. Uncle Sam has been very
careful in granting concessions for this
land. Comparatively few farms have
been given away. and there will be no
waste OF government property, either
mineral or agricultural. as has teen the
case with the United States. The
frlar lands which covered about 4ao,-
900 acres. were mostly good farming
property. They were bought By the
government at o cost of S7,o3e, 900,
which was just about as much as we
paid for Alaska. the money being rails I'd
By bonds secured by the islands. These
lands are being sold and homesteads
are being given out OH the public lands
to Ftlipinos. The number of HON =
stead applications are comparatively
small There were less than 1000 last
year, although tbs sales OF public
lands have increased.
All lands arc sold with Torrens titles,
and this system OF land transfer is
becoming common throughout the is
lands. There is Il vast amount of good
lands that will be eventually brought
- Inn he al al. -
Will some day not only produce all its
own food, but export rice 10 China.
Japan and other countries OF the Far
East. Last year the amount paid for
rice to outside countries was more
than 100000.
In connection with the rice lands, tho
government Is opening up some irriga-
ton works which Will redeem thou
sands of acres. Rico must have plenty
of water, and although the rainfall of
the Philippines Is heavy. every now
and then comes n drought which af-
tects the rico crop. This will be rem
edied by irrigation. The Bureau of
Public Works has just complet I'd a pro-
ject which has redeemed 10000 acres.
and during the present year 1t will
have another under way which will re-
claim $4,000, and 1t Is estimated that
such work in the central vail ,y OF
Luzon alone will increase the amount
of the crop to a value of more than
100000 per year. There are 100000
acres In that valley that might be ir-
rigatsd, which. II done. will add to its
present productiveness more than S2o.-
100000 per annum.
The Forests of the philippines.
Tho government is taking good care
of the forests. 1t has kept out the
timber robb .Ts. and they arc practical
Is is they were when we took hold OF
the Islands. Here and thore conces-
sions have been granted, and there are
sixty steam sawmlls In operation, but
as 4 whole the forests are in better
condition than when we came in.
l am told It is impossible TO esti-
mate tho wealth of the lumber re-
sources. An area equal to about one
half of Ohio. Virginia or kentucky is
still covered with virgin timber. and
there is perhaps one-half as much more
which has been carelessly cut over,
but could be brought into good. pro-
ductivc condition. Tho forest experts
state that there arc about 100000. 000,-
600 board feet of timber which could
be marketed now, and that great
part OF this is located on or near the
seacoast III Nlindanao and Luzon, and
could easily be brought down 10 thu
ships. There are hundreds of square
miles upon which tho cut will run from
10000 to $4,000 board feet per acre.
/ | wish could show you these Fill
pino woods. The trees are enormous.
i have seen some hardwood trees SO
big that you could not reach half.
way around them with your two arms,
and they rose Loo feet from the ground