Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-11-23
M'lntyre III Annual Report
Declares Some OF Tie Best.
agricultural Land II Tie
World Awaits Cultivation
In Outlying Posse ions. a

american capltol on q large
scale in the nations insular posses-
sions. particularly the Philippine
Islands. has resulted in retarding de-
velopment Of the great natural re-
sources Of the islands. according to
the annual report of Major General
Frank Mcintyre, chief Of the bureau.
OF tnsular affairs Of the war depart e
ment, to Secretary Baker. General
Mcintyre urges American bankers and
business men to interest themselves IN
the trade and development possibilities
OF the outlying possessions, declaring
that large tracts of best agricultural
land IN the world await ,deyelopment', !,
and that lin a number Of fertile Prov
inces the population falls below
twenty persons per square mile, where
there is an unsupplied labor demand
In other agriculture provinces having
a population Of $50 persons per
square mile. 4
Action has been taken by the Phil !.
ippine legislature to provide for the
exploration and leasing Of lands con-
Meeting petroleum and other mineral
oils. and gases, On which connection
General Mcintyre says that '.tlne ex-l
istence of oil in widely scattered To-,
calities in the Philippines has been,
known since the occupation OF the
islands, but there has been no serious
effort at development. There is now
promise that in the near future 1t will
be definitely known whether this oil
exists in such a way as to be Of COM
mercial use."
Not Disappointed.
The organic act of 1916 providing
for the government of the Philippines
and greatly increasing the powers OF
the local legislature has "in no way
disappointed the hopes then ex 3
pressed" says the report, although q
number Of changes are recommended.
Among the suggestions is one that the
Immigration laws be amended to
check migration from the Philippines,
particularly to Hawaii, 4 that the Land
laws be altered to permit Of leazing
Of larger divisions OF government
land: that salaries of United States
officials in the Philippine Islands be
increased and that the laws respecting
the citizenship Of Filipinos be classi-
fed to give the island Inhabitants the
full effect of the intention Of con-
gress in declaring them "citizens Of
the Philippine Islands," and as such
entitled tofthe protection Of the United
States. s
Labor Shortage.
Shortage Of labor is proving i seri-
GUS obstacle to the development Of the
islands, the report says. the natives
preferrtng to move to Hawaii and
other comparatively developed places
rather than clear the back country.
There was every evidence of cUn-
tentment with conditions and OF
ffiendliness toward Americans and
appreciation for what the United
States has done in the islands," Cen
erai Mcintyre states in reporting on a
recent inspection trip.
The progress of Porto Rico under
the organic act Of 1917 has been very
satisfa ctory' and continues so, the re-
port says, the island having just COM
pleted one of the most prosperous
years in. its history. Improvement of
freight and passenger service between
the United States and Porto Rico was
recommended.
Liquidation of the $4,000, 900 bond
issue of 1908, and the collection of
the customs in San Domingo by the
United States continued to progress
satisfactorily during the past year,
General Mcintyre stated.
Increase of the salaries of civilian
employees in the bureau of insular az
fairs to retain the services of old
and valued employees was recon-
mended IS
Trade figures for the island posses
sions for the past year were given as:
Philippines-lmports, $11S,63s.052:5
exports, s113,117,000. the bulk of
the trade being with the United
States in both cases.
Porto Rico-Imports. $96,SSs, ,o0O:
exports, $150.S11, 900. Of which S133,-
100000 went to the United States