Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-07-18
FLIP mos HAVE
PROGRESSED IN
LAST 70 YEARS
Director of Commerce and
Industry Gives the U. S.
Credit for much of the
Economic Progress.
tBy The Associated Press)

LOnuOn, July 1T luel "a
Reyes, director Of the bureau of
commerce and industry Of the
Philippine islands, asserted in an
address here the other day that the
economic progress of the islanders
in the last twenty years had been
unprecedented. He was speaking
at the international exposition OF
rubber and other tropical plants.
Mr. Reyes also pointed out the
opportunities for the investment OF
foreign capital In developing the
resources 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 and efficient systems OF
public education, by placing upon
our own shoulders the responsible
ties Of managing our own domestic
affairs, and by assisting us in rails
! ing our standard of living, the
American people have given to my
people as a lasting blessing all that
| is best In American life and !nsti'
! ltutions."
NTOWIH Vi lEhuCs
AS indicative of the enormous
growth of the trade of the islands
| Mr.. Reyes cited figures showing the
to-. value of imports and exports
| in 1881 to have been only $1,2l7,'
079, compared with a total in 1926
of $30O,562,13S.
Mr.. Reyes said great progress
had been made in agriculture. This
he stated, included big increases II
areas planted to crops, correspond
ling increases in yield and stipend
Gus advances in value.
Causes contributing to the agri'
cultural development, he said, wert
the pushing of the food campaign
during the war, the loaning to rice
and corn farmers of funds appro
priated by the Philippine legislat'
ure, the introduction Of moderI
Agricultural machinery, seed selec
tion, the upgrading of live stock
the formation Of rural credit CO
operative societies by Legislative
enactment. laws aiming at thu
eradication of the locust plague
and the creation of a system Of co
Operative insurance to cover losse
| to work animals,
with the increased agriculture
production and the consequent in
crease in per capita wealth of thu
people, it stands to reason that th'
commerce of the country will wit
ness a corresponding growth" de
clared Mr.. Reyes THE Philip
Ipines, too, because Of their strateg
ical location, can serve as a con
Ivenient distributing point for tn
lAsiatic trade. The manufacture o
finished articles for China, 81
IBERIA and other oriental countrie
from tropically grown raw materi
ais can. of course, be carried on IL
the Philippines to great advantage
| Saving In Freight.
"The saving in freight alon
would be a decided gain to tn
manufacturers. At present the peo
pie Of the Philippines pay more TO
Ireflned sugar than the people o
the United States, though raw
sugar is one of the principal eX
ports of the country. The field o
sugar refining Is practically un
touched. Fish, vegetable and frui
canning are practically unknown
though the excess production o
fruits, vegetables and fish at Ger
tain seasons. not to speak Of tn
greater production that woult
doubtless result through the devel
opment of the canning industry
would be sufficient to maintain
several large canneries. All il
all the opportunities for the man
lufacturer are such that they ar,
bound to draw enterprising capi
tai to the islands,"