New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-26

In PHILIPPINES
Islands Improved Roads
Now Used by More
than 5000 Vehicles.

600 automobiles representing about
three times the number Of cars in use
in the remainder Of the world, It is
only natural that the Philippines, one
Of its possessions, should emulate the
motherland in the general adoption of
the modern means Of transportation
According 10 reports made by repre-
scntatives Of the Bureau of Foreign
and Domestic Commerce, the Philip
pines, as an automobile market, COM
pares well with almost any other
Oriental country.
In Japan and China the number Of
automobiles in use is almost negligible,
and in French lndo-China very small.
while I'm the Dutch territories and India
proper. though somewhat larger, the
growth of the motor car market is still
tr.fiug. in comparison with the area
and population. In Ceylon, a prosper
Gus and fairly progressive territory,
With an excellent road system and a
comparatively large European and part
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cars and trucks IN use is little, II any,
greater relatively than in the Philip
pines; and in the Malay Peninsula
alone, where conditions are those Of a
boom country. can il be said that the
market is materially better.
The relatively large demand for
motor vehicles ia due to variety Of
circumstances. First, although the
islands are not so highly developed
economically "a some other Oriental
countries, their per capita trade is
about the same as that Of Japan or
the Dutch East Indies, and materially
greater than that Of India or French
Indo-Chins; this indicates purchas-
ing power which is a very important
factor In the demand. Second. the
Philippines are not hampered. as are
Japan and China, by the customs Of
dependence on human labor for trans
portation and by the narrow roads
with sharp curves, steep grades and
weak bridges which are found in sucn
countries. Third, the people are
much less conservative than those Of
most other Oriental lands. The
upper and middle classes have a con-
siderable strain Of European blood :;
they feel essentially European in
their civilization. and take pride in
showing this by the character Of their
expenditures. There are no religious
or caste prejudices TO hinder, and
comparatively little inclination to
hoard savings
1902 Cars in Philippines.
On June 30, 1915, the total number
of motor vehicles exclusive of motor
cycles and tricycles) registered in the
Philippines was 2,902. OF these AS
were motor trucks. and the remainder
primarily passenger vehicles The
fact that about one-siXth OF tive total
we're trucks is worth noting, for 1t is
a large proportion for an Oriental
country. The methods Of handling
and Transporting freight in the East
are ordinarily marked by extreme
conservatism and by an obstinate be-
lief on the part Of the mercantile
community, European as well as ma
tive, in the economy Of the low-paid
native hand labor as compared with
new-fangled innovations. II is there
fore q fact Of some importance when
figures show that this attitude in any
particular place has begun 10 change.
There are no very recent figures for
comparison with any other Oriental
countries, but il is known that in
Singapore some three years ago there
were only fifteen commercial trucks in
use out Of q total Of about 800 motor
vehicles. Until very recently the use
Of motor trucks in the Philippines has
been practically confined to Manila, but
now the building Of sugar centrals and
the construction OF roads into the
hemp producing districts have begun 70
make practicable and profitable their
use in the provinces, and there arc
many signs that the market thus
opened up is likely to be good.
Three Glasses OF Roads.
The road system OF the Philippines
though Of very recent origin and not
comparable in extent with those Of q
number Of other tropical dependencies
IS still good. The roads for wheeled
vehicles are divided into three classes
which are officially DISTINGUISHED as
follows: First class, those which pos
sess substantial foundations and du-
rable and continuous surfacing"; sec
ond class roads, those partially OF
naturally surfaced and continuously
omen TO productive vehicular traffic;
third class. all not comprised In the
two preceding.
on December 81. 1914. the mileage In
existence NEARLY all built or rebuilt In
the last seven or eight years. was as
follows: First class, 1898 miles; sec.
ond class. 1914 miles; third class. .90l
miles. The following figures for the
mileage Of first class roads since 1905
show the rapid annual increase: 1908
247; 1909. 344; 1910. go; 1911, ss4;
1912, 1106; 1913, 1855; 1914. 1888
There were also in existence on De.
ccmber 81. 1914. 6,205 durable bridges
and culverts Of all classes, with a tota'
span Of 1851 feet.
Poll Tax Pays for Roads.
The total expenditure upon the con.
struction and maintenance OF roads anC
bridges has run, during the calender
years from 1911 10 1914, from $4,000,
600 20 S2.G00000, and the expenditure
upon road maintenance Excluding the
heavy and temporary item Of repair:
upon the Benguet road from s475,00C
10 $3.50. 600. This expenditure is partly
from the funds OF the insular or cen
trial government and partly from those
Of the provinces. Nearly all the latter
impose a "cedula." or poll tax. of 81
cents year on males Of all ages from
eighteen % sixty. the proceeds o.
which are entirely devoted 10 road anC
bridge work.
The use OF this road system by mo
tor vehicles is considerably affected b,
climatic conditions. In Luzon and III,
Nisayas there are two distinct sea
sons, the dry and the rainy. To the
west Of the main mountain chain oi
the former section and in the western
islands Of the latter the dry season
lasts approximately from the middle OF
November 20 the middle OF June, whil'
the rainy occupies the remainder OF
the year. In the eastern districts
which arc much less important thar
the western and contain a relatively
small part OF the road mileage tho
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