The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1921-09-23
PHILIPPINES
PROGRESS MUCH
!. IN2 DECADES

lSONDONs aug. oV. (by mall)'-
Fidsl A. Reyes, Director Of the Dur
eau Of Commerce and Industry Of
che Philippine Islands. asserted in
an address here the other day that
tho economic progress Of tho island
ers IN tho last 20 years had been un-
pyoeedented. He was speaking at tho
international Exposition Of Rubber
and other Tropical Plants.
Mr.. Reyes also pointed out the op-
portunities for the investment Of for
eisn capital In developing tho re-
sources Of the Philippines. He gave
credit TO the administration Of the
United States government in the
Philippines, saying:
by promoting one Of the most
modern aAd efficient systems Of pub
lie education. by placing upon our
own shoulders the responsibilities OF
managing our own domestic affairs.
and BY assisting us in raising our
standard Of living, the American peo-
ple have siven TO my people as last
ing blessing all that is best In Ameri-
can life and Institutions.
A indicative OF the enormous
sYowth Of the trade Of the islands,
My. Reyes cited figures showing tho
total value Of imports and exports In
1891 to have been only S1.217,079
compared with a total in 1920 OF
ssoe,5ss,1ss.
Mr.. Reyes said great progress had
boon made In agriculture. This, he
stated, included big increases in
areas planted to crops. corresponding
increases In Yield and stupendous ad-
vanoes IN value.
Causes contributing to the agricul-
tural development, he said, were the
pushing OF the food campaign during
the war. the loaning 10 rice and corn
farmers Of funds appropriated by the
Philippine Legislature. the introduc-
tion Of modern agricultural machin-
cry, seed selection, the upgrading OF
live stock, the formation OF Rural
Credit Cooperative societies by legis-
lative enactment. laws aiming at the
eradication OF tho locust plague and
the creation OF a system Of coopera-
tive insurance to cover losses in
work animals,
with the increased agricultural
production and the consequent in
crease in per capita wealth Of the
people, II stands to reason that the
commerce OF the country will witness
a corresponding growth" declared
Mr.. Reyes. The Philippines too. be-
cause OF their strategicaI location,
can servo as a convenient distribut-
ing point for the Asiatic trade. The
manufacture OF finished articles for
China. Siberia and other Oriental
countries from tropically grown raw
materials can. of course, be carried
on In the Philippines to great adyan-
tase.
"The saving In freight alone would
be a decided gain to the manufactur-
ey. At present the people of the
Philippines pay more for refined sug-
ar than the people Of the United
States, though raw sugar is one OF
the principal exports OF the country.
The field Of sugar refining is practi-
cally untouched. Fish, vegetable and
fruit canning are practically un-
known, though the excess production
OF fruits. vegetables and fish at GER
tain seasons. not to speak OF the
greater production that would doubt
less result through the development
OF the canning industry, would be
sufficient TO maintain several large
canneries. All in all. the opportuni-
ties for the manufacturer are such
that they are bound to draw enter
nriaipp "a nitaI IN tho islands" 4"