The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-05-30

Industrial and Commercial POSSIBLE
tiles OF the Philippines.
"The Philippine Islands offer
vast field for the extension of Ameri-
can industry and commerce i'll the
Far East. We welcome American
capital We believe in it. Our
government is awake to the great
need of the time"
This was the reply of Rafael
Palma, vice-president of the Philip
pine Mission, when asked for
statement relative to opportunities
for the investment of American
capital in the Philippines. The
statement is important, because it
comes from one of the three fore
most leaders of the party in power
in the PHILIPPINES, these three includ-
ling Speaker Sergio Osmena, Senate
President Manuel L. Quezon and Mr..
Palma, who is Secretary of the IN
terror of the Philippines, and a
member of the Philippine Senate.
Mr.. Palma was born in Manila in
1874, and has been an important
figure in the political life of the
islands since early manhood. In
1908 he was appointed member OF
the Philippine Commission by Presi.
dent Roosevelt Mr.. Palma is also
an ex-newspaper man, having been
editor of General Luna.s La Inde-
pendencia.
Mr. Palma is sincere advocate OF
closer economic relations between
the United States and the Philip
pines, and contends this can best be
brought about by final solution of
the Philippine independence issue.
1.-THE agricultural and commercial
possibilities of the Philippines are
almost limitless," said Mr.. Palma,
referring to the openings for both
large and small American capitalists
in the islands. "Of the total area
Of 10000 square miles OF rich
tropical land only $4,000 square
miles have been touched by the
pillow. The 100000 square miles
remain in its primeval state just
waiting the industry of man to give
up its mineral wealth or to produce
bountiful crops of sugar, hemp,
cocoanuts, rubber, lumber and all
sorts of tropical raw materials. The
Philippines can sustain from sixty to
seventy million people. The valley
of Cotabato alone can produce
enough rice to feed the present
population of the islands. The en-
tire archipelago, through modern
scientific cultivation, the develop
ment of it's natural resources, the
Harvesting of its wonderful water
powers and the development Of it's
commerce, can be converted into a
paradise.
Manila hemp, the leading cord
age fiber of the world, is produced
only in the Philippines. This fiber is
obtained from the stalk OF Giant
which closely resembles the common
banana, and is known in the islands
as 'abaca.' The growing of hemp is
one of the safest and at the same
time one of the most profitable lines
of agricultural investment in oul
country.
Sugar cane can be produced very
cheaply, and is fast growing indus
try, offering great opportunities to
investors. The coconut industry
has developed into one OF the most
lucrative ones in the islands. The
best rubber producing lands in the
world may be obtained in the Philip
pines for a few dollars per acre.
The lumber industry is but in it's
infancy, the Philippine public
forests covering 40,OOO,0OO acres,
with less than a million acres held
by private owners.
1T is highly desirable that there
be greater business relations be-
tween this country and the Philip
mines. Ours is almost entirely an
agricultural country, with an abund-
ant supply of raw materials for
your industry and commerce. Yours
is nation with a surplus OF men
and capital which could assist us
greatly in the development of our