The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-04-24
The zozao on tn. way to Baouo Capital Philippines


All aboard! Let's go! We're start
ing from Manila, the great picturesque
Americanized Oriental city, and will
travel by automobile 200 miles to tn
north to Baguio, the summer capital o
the Philippines. The trip can also b.
made by train.
We have ahead Of us one Of the mos
scenic, spectacular and thrilling auto
mobile trips In the world. We will
have excellent roads all the way. The
Philippines are, in fact, paradise fol
autoists, possessing $500 miles Of fin,
macadamlzed roads,
The first part Of the trip Is through
typical small towns and then across
the central plain Of Luzon and through
several rich and fertile provinces,
where tropical vegetation is seen at its
best. Here one is impressed with the
great agricultural wealth Of the Philip
pines, which represents one Of the
East's greatest producing areas, with
the advantage Of immense natural re-
sources for the development Of further
production. 1t is regrettably true that
even in the United States there Is far
from any real understanding Of the
potentialities of the islands.
At some points rice fields, looking in
the distance like the greenest Of green
lawns, stretch away as far as the eye
can see. II you want color, If you
want to feel the romance and mystery
Of an Oriental twilight, pass this way
as the red eyed sun at the end Of the
dying day is slowly sinking behind the
intending expanse Of green fields. At
first you cry out In ecstacy at the
gorgeous scene. But as you ride along,
your eyes fastened on the panorama
of tints and colors. and with the i'm
penetrably black Oriental night COM
ing on fast, you become enthralled.
You no longer try to express your feel
ings. You cannot You realize that those
now fast changing, colorful master
pieces in the heavens and on the land
scape are pictures that no man can ad-
equately describe nor human hands du-
plicate. So what's the use OF trying!
True, these are but Impressions, but
the traveloguer considers himself justi-
fed In mentioning them, for they are a
part Of the trip to Baguio and return
Indeed, the gorgeous sunsets in all
parts OF the Philippines leave an I'M
preston on the mind Of the tourist that
10 everlasting.
We leave the palms and tropical
foliage and enter the zone Of rugged
pine. We pass from the soft, incense
laden air of the warm lowlands to the
crisp, invigorating ozone Of the tenn
perate zone. all within q few hours
time.
For mile after mile the road now fol- |
lows the tortuous course Of a river, the
road lying In the bottom or on the
rocky sides Of a granite canyon.
The Philippines are rich in hydro
electric possibilities. This power is the
cheapest power on earth. And 1t is
everlasting. Your traveloguer Is mel
Their prophet nor the son of proph-
ct, but he predicts that one day there
will be innumerable Philippine govern
nent owned hydro-electric plants in
his canyon We are now passing
through. Think Of the possibilities of
'uch a project! Today the trip from
Manila to Baguio IL too expensive for
he average Manila worker and his
amily, many Of whom may live and
lie without beholding the wondrous Z
OF their own island Of Luzon. | ,
Think Of what blessing 1t would be
o Filipino mothers and children to
eel upon their fevered brows the cool. ,
nvigorating breezes of the mountain ,
ops, now so near and yet SO far! With i
he Philippine government owning its +
wn electric railways and hydro cleo
nc plants It would be possible to bring