The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-08-08
PHILIPPINE ISLES
ENJOY PERIOD OF
VAST PROSPERITY
Leading Manila Merchant Submits a
Glowing Report.

New York-The Philippine islands
are Just entering an era of develop
ment and growth that gives promise
of a brilliant future, according to
Harold NJ Pitt, who has just retired
as president of the Manila Merchants
association. In his final report to the
board of directors he says in part:
The Philippine islands have just
passed through the most notable year,
from the industrial and commercial
standpoint, in their entire history, 1t
is as though a wonderful wave oil
prosperity had swept them from end
to end, comforting enormous benefits
with but slight exception upon the en-
tire agricultural industrial and COM
mercial population.
The most reliable estimates avail
able show that there abe now close to
100000 people in the islands. This
is sufficient number, if properly
trained and directed, to increase pres
ent production in all avenues of pro-
ductive activity by from 500 to 1000
per cent.
Signs are not lacking that the is
lands have entered upon an era e.
.reat prosperity. The only question
remaining unanswered is as to the
best method to be pursued in attract
ing capital from that country in the
future of which the future of these
islands is so closely bound up.
The curtailment of exports of hand
embroidery from European countries
to the United States due to the war
has given the local embroidery indus
try a great impetus, Since the out
break of the war each succeeding year
has shown an enormous gain in our
shipment Of hand embroideries to the
United States. In 1914 they totaled
$15G,456; in 1915, 1857 $50; in 1916,
$1.164,O12; while the total for 1917
will reach close to 100000. This
industry is distributing a considerable
amount of money among the families
of the middle and poorer classes and
is proving factor in the economic de-
velopment of the masses in those sec
lions where the work is being prose-
cuted.
Another industry that is showing
marked gain is the manufacture of
rope. Not only are local factories
turning gu. sufficient for the needs of
the islands, but there is considerable
export trade developing that will
amount to more than double in the
present year what it did in the past,
and promises soon to reach impor-
tant figures
BY far the most important develop
ment in the local manufacturing field
has been in cocoanut oil. Fourteen or
fifteen years ago a cocoanut oil fac
tory was erected in Manila, but burn
ed down after a comparatively short
period of operation, and was never re-
built. Six or seven years ago the
largest factory now in operation in
Manila was built and has since been
in continuous operation Another mill
was shortly afterwards erected on the
island of Cebu and this has also been
in successful operation for upwards
of two or three years. These two are
the largest mills yet built, but during
the last year and half eight or nine
smaller factories have been erected
in Manila, and those already in oper
alton have fully doubled the total out
put OF oil. For the first eleven months
of the calendar year 1917 the value
of the exports of cocoanut oil amount
ed to $1O,7S7372. 1t will not be sur
prising il in two years time exports
of this important product reach very
close to $25,0OO,0OO.