The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-26
PHILIPPINES ENJOY
MUCH PROSPERITY
In Agriculture, Bumper Crops of Rice
Are Reported--Tobacco Crop Was
Nearly Normal - Good
Sugar Production.


tories and no vast plants for the supply
of bellieerent Europe with its needs, thu
year 1916 saw an era of remarkable
prosperity in the islands. There were sew
eral causes, but the chief of them was
agricultural prosperity, coupled with a
good demand for insular products at high
prices. A subordinate cause was the
fact that the threatened exodus of Amer
leans, due to greater Filipino control, did
not materialize. or at least, materialized
to a very slight degree. Many Ameri-
cans, taking advantage of th@provisions
of the retirement law, have giNen way in
the government to Filipinos, but some
proportion of them have elected to re-
main in the islands and the places of
many OF those who have said good bye
to the islands have been filed by new ar
rivals establishing themselves in business
| here.
In agriculture, bumper crops are re-
ported. Rice, the staple food of the Fill
pino. is abundant. All the rice growing
sections, favored by good weather. have
produced almost record crops. The dearth
of work animals produced by the rayages
of the rinderpest and the government
quarantine, has been a handicap but has
only made the harvest slightly less alum
dant. There will be need this year of
rice importations from Saigon and Japan
as there always is, but there will be a big
decrease in the usual amount of rice inn
ports, and the money thus saved will
add to the prosperity of the islands.
The hemp producers who. in 1913, suf-
fered under the combined cloud of de-
creased demand because Of the war, and
decreased crops, because of heavy storms
the year before. have been, during 1916,
extended to their limit to supply the
world demand at high prices. The out
put has not been the best on record, but
il has been excellent, and it has secured
record prices. In the hemp provinces,
it is no uncommon sight to see lowly
peasant hemp-grower walk into a store,
make his pick of goods he wants, and
give 20-peso bills to pay for his pur-
chase. A 20-peso bill TO such man in
previous years was more matter OF
hearsay than a tangible reality.
Short crops for two years in the to-
bacco regions were followed the past
year by crop little below normal. For |
eign and local demand for Philippine to-
baeco has never been so insistent, and |
prices broke all records. A quss-corner |
in Philippine leaf tobacco helped the up
ward trend Of prices, but the growers
shared in the prosperity the high prices
betokened
The Manila cigar, heretofore exported
almost as much TO Europe as TO the
United States, faced a dismal future
when the war cut off the European de-
mand. But that future changed its as
pect very materially during 1916. Europe
was still not in the market, but the
United States purchased ll4,0000,000 Ma
Mia cigars. an increase of 70 per cent.
ever the previous year, and more than
10 per cent. more than in 1914. The gov
,rnment collected in the internal revenue
On these cigars s700,000, Just 100 per
cent. more than in the year 1915.
This increase in the cigar expectations
vas reflected in increased prosperity for
he cigar manufacturer - in some in
tances.
The average price obtained for Philip.
nut tlEdis III the tHlbtu RldhtS was l.,
over than in 1915. Manufacturers of
he finer grades of cigars here have
'iewed the increased export with grave
larm. They declare that it means that !
he Philippine cigar has been definitely :
established in the American market as a
heap smoke Some of them have ceased .
dvertising their cigars in the States as :
Philippine" for this reason, and are us
ng only their standard factory names. =
plan is afoot now to secure comhi-
alton of factories to prevent the cheap
ming of the better grades of Philippine
igars in the American market.
Last year saw also fine crop in the }
ugar provinces of the islands, and excel
mt prices for the product The Philip
inc sugar industry is still in primitive
tate because of the lack of modern sugar =
lants. Many plans are afoot for the
rection of centrals, but few have been
rought to realization. There are no
agar refineries in the islands. The few 4
lanters who have the advantage of cen
'als and modern machinery have had
onderful year. Several companies, on
he verge of bankruptcy before, have r
nlled themselves out of the slough and q
i'll pay dividends. reaching in some r
Ises to 40 per cent. :,
Cocoanmt planters, with high prices for -
'pra, have also made notable financial
lccess during the year. Bud-rot, which c
I'd at one time seemed menace to in e
liar trees. has been wiped out, and ia Il
,rable weather aided the planters as c.
uch as high pricea. There are only two
ants of any size manufacturing cocoa
1t oil in the islands, but their initiative
is been well rewarded by their profits
lring the past year
Last year saw also tremendous strides
an industry which had heretofore
en- in its infancy embroidery and
res The closing of the European mar
t to American buyers caused boom in
e local industry. At least four big
nerican houses have opened branch
inufacturies in Manila. and each month
rs big increase in embroidery exports
the United States. A group of astute
nerican business men who got into the