Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-27
PHILIPPINES NOT
MAKING MUNITIONS
Islands Become Prosperous
and Bumper Crops Are
Being Raised.
PRODUCT PRICES HIGH

NSooSA
Correspondence of The Associated PrcssD
Manila, Philippine Islands. Feb. r.
Though the Philippines have no war
munitions factories and no vast plants
for the supply of bellieerent Europe
with its needs, the wear 1916 saw an
era of remarkable prosperity in the
islands, There were several causes.
but chief of them was agricultural
prosperity coupled with a good de-
mand for insuiar products at high
prices. A subordinate cause was the
fact that the threatened exodus Of
Americans. due to greater Filipino
control, did not materialize, or at least
materialized to a very slight degree
MANY Americans, taking advantage Of
the provisions Of the retirement law,
nave given way III 'le government 70
thipmos' out some proportion OF
them nave eieeteo 70 remain IN 'ne
Islands ana the places OF many OF
thoSe VINO nave saia eoouoy 10 Tue
islands nave oeen tilleo by new ar
rivals establishing themselves Ill ouS'-
ness mere
IN agriculture bumper crops are re-
ported hice; inc STAPLE 1909 OF me
f'hpino' is abundant Al tne rice,
growing Sectiohs' favored ny eooa
weather nave prouucea almost record
crops ne oear'h OF WORK animals
produced by Inc raVages OF rinaer-
pest ana inc government quarantine
mas oeeh a 'ahu'cap' put mas on'y
t,laoe me harvest slleh'ly iess apun-
osht' mere VII ot neea t.lls yea,
OF rice mportations from saigon ana
Japan as mere always 49, out there
VIII DC Dig decrease IN .he usual
amount OF rice imports ana the money
mus saved VIII aao 10 the prosperity
OF the ISLANDS.
Hemp Crop Suffers.
The hemp producers, who in 1915
suffered under the combined cloud Of
decreased demand because of the war
and decreased crop because of heavy
storms the wear before, have been.
during 1916, extended to their limit
to supply the world demand at high
prices. The output has not been the
best on record, but it has been ex-
cellent, and it has secured record
prices. In the hemp rovinces it is
no uncommon sight to see a lowly
peasant hemp grower walk into a
store, make his pick of goods he wants
and give I'd neso hills to nav for his
purchase. A 20 peso bill to such a
man in previous wears was more a
matter of hearsay than tangible real
ity.
Short crops for two years in the to.
bacco regions were followed the last
wear bv a crop little below normal
Foreign and local demand for Philip.
nine tobacco has never been so in.
sistent ed prices broke all records
A ouasi-corner in Philippine leaf to.
bacco helped the upward trend oil
prices, but the growers shared in the
prosperity the high prices betokened
The Manila cigar, heretofore ex.
ported as much to Europe as to the
United States, faced a dismal future
when the war cut off the European
demand. But that future changed it:
aspect yery materially during 1916
Europe was still not in the market
but the United States purchased ia,
100000 Manila cigars. an increase o.
| 70 per cent over the previous wear anc
more than 90 Der cent more than il
1914 The government collected +
the internal revenue on these CIGAR,
5000 900 lust 100 ner cent more Thar
IN the wear lols This increase in III,
cigar exportations WAS reelected in in
creased nrosneritv for the cigar man
ufacturer-in some instances
The average nr;ce Obtained fo
phil;nn;ne CIGARS in the limited State
were lower than in IQ15 Manufac
trrers nj tbe finer grades Of cigar
have viewed tbe increased exnort witl
grave alarm They declare that
means that ,be Pb;I;nn;ne c;oar ba
been DEFINITELY established in fl
American market as a cheao smok,
Some of them have ceased advertis
inc their cigars in the states as "phil
milne" for This reason and are us;n
nnlv tbe;r standard factory names
nlan is afoot now to secure a copbiua
ton If factories to nrevent the chear
er;ro of The better grades of Ph1;f
nine cigars in the Amerit IN ,narke
Good Sugar Croo,
| e. ~ /;