El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-26
Revenues Increase; Health
Conditions Improve; Edu-
cation Spreads.

Washington. d. c., Feb. 26=The
cry Of hard times can no longer be
raised in the Philippine islands, as
most of the provinces have enjoyed
YEAR Of unprecedented prosperity, ac-
cording to the report Of the Philippine
comm ssion Tor 1911. which has just
been issued By the bureau OF insular
affairs of the war department.
The result Of the legislation by con-
sress. which pracucaIly granted free
trade between the Islands and the
United states, has surprised even its
most optimistic friends and advocates.
The second year or experience with
IulS Jaw mas shown decrease of
S2,Ho0.gH9 in exports TO the United
states bGt considerable increase in
the imports from the United States.
The Isct that the markets OF the
United states were open TO the prod
ucts of the Islands has resulted IN an
increase in the price of sugar and
tobacco and an improvement IN the
market for crops. but these products
as heretofore. have found their way
tu the natural markets in the nearby
countries OF the orient.
The total value Of imports into tlre
Islands during me year amounted 10
S4S,S33.I 22, as compared with s3ID67,-
$50 for 1910. Tne United Staten
headed the list Of countries with 4 per
cent CT the total importatiOns, as
against 80 per cent in 1910
The total value OF exports was $50
tsS,629. as compared with S59.11IS6D
. the previous year Exports TO tho
United States deCrea sed from S1S.7gS,-
6tS in 1910 TO Si6.S1S.S64, but this
country still occupies first place, tax o
ing over 40 per cent Of the total eX-
( ports. The principal articles Of ex-
pore are hemp. COprs. sugar, tobacco
cigars and cigarettes.
For the first time since 1904 the
. balance Of trade was against the ISL
ands TO the extent Of SlO.055,0S3- This
difference, however. s. less than NJ
I first appeas II we take into cOnSid-
Grafton the value of articles imported
free Of duty by the army and navy
the government Of the Philippine is
lands and government aided ratlWa -
/ These imp0rtationS. amounting in VAL
uc To S4.S65,s32. have been included in
. the figures Tor 1911 for the first u ue.
Revenues Increase
There was an increase in customs
revenues Of nearly 1000. Geo and III
internal revenue of more IMAM $780,
Tranquility has reigned throughout
I the Islands win only such disturb
Z community. AND having no other than
purely local significance.
Railroad construction has progress
ed steadily curing the year. The main
lines in the islands OF Panay and
Cebu are in full operation and only
short branch lines remain to be laid.
Tn LuZOn the work on the northern
lines is nearly complete and the con-
structiOn OF the lines south of Manila
is being rapidly pushed All portions
in opera tiOu have proved unexpected
l. productive from the start
The opening of these lines had an
almost magical effect in stimulating
Industry and fostering production The
territory traversed, which had been
abandoned has experienced an agri-
cultural awakening The province OF
a ]
anges the first year.
Health Condition Good
Health conditions have been better
than ever before. Cholera has been
a lesser menace than during any pre-
viOUs year since its first appearance
after American occupation and no
other dangerous epidemic has gained
headWay in the Islands. Extended IN
veStigaGOns have resulted in discov-
cries which have enabled the health
officials successfully to combat a
number OF dread diseases. notably
beribert, which has wholly Gisap-
peared in government buildings The
number Of lepers is steadily decreas-
ing in response to preventive meas
ures ard treatment
The government hospital, which rs
now in successful operation. is said
to be the best arranged and best
equipped hospital in the orient Free
dispensaries and free medical obstet-
rical and surgical service for the poor
are beginning to play an important
part i'm improving health conditions at
Manila.
Education Spreading
The increase in school attendance
has been very satisfactory. the aver
age attendance being over so Der cent
OF the 500, 600 children enrolled. The
public school system established and
conducted on the lines Of that in the
states. has met with great public ia
vOr with the people. They also ap-
pregiate the work of the university o.
the Philippines as SHOWN by the fact
that 81 OF the high school graduates
have entered this university. which IS
twice as great as the proportion OF
high school graduates i'm the United
States VINO enter college.
Special emphasis is now being
placed on practical agricultural and
Industrial training I'm order to meet
the needs Of the people and improve
the. economic conditions now exist
ing-
Postal Savings Bank
The growth. Of the postal saving
bark since its creation has been
steady and healthy At the close Of
the fiscal year 1911 the gain in Fill
pinS0 depOsitors was more than III
per cent over the previous rear, and