The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-07-04
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while cooking chiefly consists in boiling
rice, which, with fish, comprises their
diet. Sometimes the fish is absent, but
in most sections is found in abundance. |
Various fruits are found in the islands
and grow without cultivation; also veg
etables of various kinds grow readily,
but are little cared for by the natives.
Virtue among the women is on arath-
er low scale and large percentage OF
the children are illegitimate. This mat
ter is not regarded seriously. The GUS
tom of men and women living together
unmarried has long been practiced and
is still largely in vogue, as is also the
practice of the more wealthy in retain
ing two or more companions. The
American authorities have attempted
to remedy this matter, with very little
success.
Agriculture The principal products
are rice, copra, hemp, sugar and tooac-
co, in the order named-the latter four
forming comparatively all OF the ex-
ports. while rice is raised for consump-
tion. :,
Cattle raising and r.ining are practiced
to a limited extent, the former being
very profitable in certain parts, though
a large share of the land is mountain
Gus and unfit for cultivation. There
are considerable tracts used for agrl-
culture which are extremely product,
i've and bring fancy prices when placed
on the market, ranging from S50 70
S1OO per acre, in certain localities.
Disadvantages-Th are a number
of sources which render the islands un-
desirable from a standpoint of invest
ment, both natural and otherwise; first,
the uncertainty of American retention
render investment rather hazardous
, No foreigner acquainted with the Phil
ippipe Islands would venture any large
sum unless assured that the idea OF In
dependence was distant one. Of the
latter, the following constitute the
most serious: Severe storms or ty-
, phoons. which do serious damage to
! both crop and shipping interests. Both
: droughts and floods are as common as
thew are detrimental. The locusts are
serious menace to crops in certain
: sections at present and the rnderpes,
! among cattle has almost stamped tha'
, industry as Improbable.
Politics and Self -Government-Th'
Filipinos having a natural love iol
games of chance, display and authority
are much taken up with poiltcs' pe
a DISPLAY little care for the manner II
s which they may secure office, IN Tn
! betterment of their constituents or TN
o welfare of the country in general afte
a election. Measures detrimental TO Tn
II welfare of the better class, in the wa
n of legislation, are comparatively impoos
d sible. The sense of duty or care TO
h general conditions by those in positio
it to effect such, is usually supplanted .
e selfish desires, and adherence to law
N more largely due to to fear or inactl'
ity than to sense of duty.
"a I am inclined to believe that as
40 whole the Filipinos are wholly unht fo
, self-povernment; that a granting Q
Il such would result in serious detrimer
ID to their welfare and would IN ever
= likelihood necessitate return OF troop
y and a duplication of the vast amount
:. effort previously made for their be
20 terment. believe that twenty yeal
- ia conservative estimate in whic
ar they will be able to conduct or eve
m sustain a stable government.
lo have treated of general affairs on
a and have attempted to be concise Wit
10 out approaching abruptness. Shou
- Won desire further discussion on ar
narticuIar subject, l will be glad
m fnrr;sh such information as may cor
ch mand' Very re'pe''''Ti!'D I. D. Beck,
=. Supervising Int Rev. Agen
nj IloliO, p. l.