The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-03-11
FINE CHANCE FOR YANKEE
CAPITAL IN PHILIPPINES
E. A. Coddington Tells of Oppor-
tunities-Islands Making
Great Progress
E. A. Coddington. former Mfcht-l

II. a. OOuuluBtohs ASa
gan educator, and who. two weeks
ago, returned to this country af'er
seyering his connection with the
United States bureau of agriculture.
In the Philippines Islands, with head
quarters In Manila, is now Detroit
visitor, accompanied by his wife.
They are staying in the Lenox apart
ments. Mr.. Coddington, 10 years
ago, left the University OF Michigan
where he was student, TO enter the
services OF the United States govern
ment's bureau of education In Mania.
Later he went TO the department or
agriculture. Prior to going to the
University OF Michigan he was super
intendent OF public schools in Olivet
and Alma.
In an interview with The Times,
Mr.. Coddington spoke enthusiastical-
ly about the improvements In the
PHILIPPINES since the United States
got control OF the islands. He also
said that he had no hesitancy in adj
yising American capitalists TO invest
In Filipino industries.
das, as the Spanish plantations are
called" said Mr.. Coddington. ION
these 'hacindas different products are
grown. such as sugar, rice, hemp, to-
bacco and cocoanut, and large prof
its are made by the men engaged in
this kind OF farming. The cocoanut
groves. are. especially. profitable. The
crops seldom fail and there Is always
ready market for the product. The
oils and copra, which is the dried
meat of the cocoanut, usually bring
good prices. IT takes about seven
years for a cocoanut tree, which
springs from a coaconut. to grow tC
a size large enough to bear eocoanuts
and 1t is at its best for production at
the age of IL years. The trees keep
on bearing until they are 20 or so
years old, some times older. From the
PHILIPPINES more than one-third OF
the cocoanuts and their products
used in the world is produced.
Tobacco raising is also profitable.
Americans have already invested
large sums in this industry, having
immense factories in Manila. Their
cigars are the best in the world. The
raising Of rice is also followed on a
large scale, but not enough Is pro-
duced to supply the natives them
selves.
Hemp is grown to large extent,
and paper is now being made from
hemp waste. There is good oppor-
tunity for American capital In the
development of this poper-making In
dustry, for paper OF various grades
can be made from the hemp waste.
Sugar growing Is also an impor-
tant feature of the islands. American
capital'i Is also invested in this line Of
industry. For the American sugar
men. one OF the largest sugar mills
in the world Is now being erected on
the island OF Mindoro, on tract or
land known as the San Jose estate.
The owners are Mindoro Development
! Co., composed entirely of Americans.
Speaking Of general improvements
in the Philippines, Mr., Coddington
said that education is making good
progress. There are now between 700
and 1000 American teachers super
intending schools there, with native
teachers doing most of the teaching.
Only the English language is taught
I'm the public schools. At the present
time upwards of 50O.000 boys and
girls are enrolled In the schools.
Religion is also making big strides,
Mr.. Coddington said.
"The Protestants are working as
one body" said Mr.. Coddington. The
Baptists, Presbyterians. Methodists
and other Protestant bodies are doing
their work hand in hand. none of
them overlapping the efforts OF
others. In this way they are making
good progress for Christianity"
There is no longer guerrilla war
fare in the Philippines. according to
Mr.. Coddington. But he said that the
Mohammedans in the Moro districts
were still running amuck,' OCCASION
ally
"The Mohammedans harbor the be-
lief that every time they kill Chris
ton they make a higher place for
themselves in heaven. said Mr.. Cod
dington. Consequently. they kill a
Christian almost every time they get
chance. The Moro province on that
account, largely, is under military
government"
Public Improvements, Mr.. Codding-
said, are noticeable on every hand,
especially in the provincial capitals.
Good roads have been built and sub
stantial buildings, Of reinforced con-
crete, erected. The different harbors
have also been improved, 1t being now
possible for the ships to sail right in
to the Manila docks TO take on aud
unload their cargoes.
The government Is also doing much
10 improve the public health, artesian
well now replacing former unsanitary
sources or drinking water.