Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1922-07-20
AIDED by UNCLE sam.
America Does Much to Improve
Condition Of Filipinos.

When the United States took
over the Philippine islands from
Spain in 1893, the Spanish had
only few schools in the parish
es-and those were exclusively
for training boys for the priest
hood. Now there are scores of
modern school buildings scatter
Ell throughout the islands in all
the provinces; many of them are
III the most remote sections, says
q writer in Youth 8 Companion.
Many hundred American school
teachers came over at first, but
during the last few years they
have largely been replaced by
tilipinos. In the year 1920 al
most 700, 900 children enjoyed the
advantages that the schools Of
fered.
During Spanish times a white
man did not dare set foot on al
most half the archipelago, for
wild tribes overran it. The Amer
leans gradually brought the dis
tricts, most of which were in the
highlands or in little -freauented
places, under control and estab-
lished law and order throughout
them, SO that now it is safe IL
travel In any part of the islands.
Many Of the tribes that spent
much of their time in fighting
have now turned to more peace
full pursuits and have extended
their agricultural activities. Their
children are going to school and
growing up with advantages that
their parents never dreamed of.
One Of the most important fac
tors III Fastening progress in the
Philippines has been the roads.
The Americans established great
program Of road building and
carried it forward for many
years, until now the finest sys-
TEN OF roads in the Orient con-
meets most of the important
points. In Luzon it is possible to
go from the palm fringed. coastal
plains up into the pine clad
mountains Of the central part by
one OF the most picturesue routes
imaginable; within few hours
after you leave the tropical eli
mate you are in the temperate,
invigorating atmosphere of Ba-
guio.
Under the rule .of Spain the
ordinary Filipino spent his life in
laboring as a peon on one of the
big haciendas (farms) or, if he
was independent, he cultivated
his acre or two of land and raised
enough food to feed his family.
He had no incentive to do more,
for the local officials and the
priests saw that all his surplus
was confiscated in one way or
another. He was confined in his
little village and had virtually no
chance to see or to know any
thing else. There were "a few
poor roads and small wretched
steamers or sailing boats, but the
ordinary Filipino had no money
with which to travel, for he could
not receive proper pay for his la
Dor or his produce. His saualid
village probably contained moth
ing but nipa shacks like his own
and perhaps a few shops and a
cathedral The only afnusements
ne had were an occasional fiesta
and numerous cockfights.
The life of almost every inhab-
liant of the islands has changed
since the Americans took control
OF them. The villages that at
first were isolated communities
perhaps near fever breeding
swamps are now on the. main
highways, and some Of them are
prosperous seaports. Truck lines
and stage lines came with the
building Of the roads; the devel-
opment OF the archipelago has
not had to await the coming of
railways.
Each tao" as the ordinary
Filipino is called, if he does not
already have his own little plot
OF ground, can obtain the grant
OF q few acres in the fertile re-
gions of one Of the less developed
islands. Or, il he cares to work
for wages, he can usually find
employment and raea;x~ aaod