The Philippines: Past and Present Volume II Part 39

Table showing the Number of Cigars removed from Manufactories for Domestic Consumption and for Export during the Past Eight Fiscal Years

--------------+--------------------------------------------+------------- | Cigars Manufactured and | Fiscal Year +----------------+-------------+-------------+ ended June 30 | Consumed in | Exported | Shipped to | Total | the Philippine | to Foreign | United | | Islands | Countries | States | --------------+----------------+-------------+-------------+------------- | Number | Number | Number | Number 1906 | 74,184,537 | 94,110,336 | 231,206 | 168,526,079 1907 | 79,476,459 | 117,684,485 | 82,175 | 197,243,119 1908 | 82,986,278 | 115,738,939 | 29,570 | 198,754,787 1909 | 86,800,520 | 116,981,434 | 867,947 | 204,649,901 1910 | 89,272,890 | 109,006,765 | 87,281,673 | 285,561,328 1911 | 96,115,525 | 104,604,170 | 27,531,596 | 228,251,291 1912 | 109,924,014 | 104,476,781 | 70,518,050 | 284,918,845 1913 | 96,193,811 | 106,563,541 | 102,894,077 | 305,651,429 --------------+----------------+-------------+-------------+-------------

Table showing the Number of Cigarettes removed from Manufactories for Domestic Consumption and for Export during the Past Eight Fiscal Years

--------------------------+------------------------------+--------------- | Cigarettes Manufactured and | +----------------+-------------+ Fiscal Year ended June 30 | Consumed in | Exported to | Total | the Philippine | Foreign | | Islands | Countries | --------------------------+----------------+-------------+--------------- | Number | Number | Number 1906 | 3,509,038,750 | 21,062,844 | 3,530,101,594 1907 | 3,509,999,575 | 158,349,812 | 3,668,349,387 1908 | 3,774,303,310 | 72,387,396 | 3,846,690,706 1909 | 4,122,385,209 | 53,250,328 | 4,175,635,537 1910 | 4,138,647,668 | 34,859,581 | 4,173,507,249 1911 | 4,058,603,123 | 35,425,865 | 4,094,028,988 1912 | 4,369,153,048 | 35,776,760 | 4,404,929,808 1913 | 4,449,340,088 | 51,431,838 | 4,500,771,926 --------------------------+----------------+-------------+---------------

Table showing the Quant.i.ty of Smoking Tobacco Exported during Each of the Past Five Fiscal Years

-------------------+----------------------------------------------------- | Total Exports during the Fiscal Year Country to +----------+----------+----------+----------+--------- which Exported | 1909 | 1910 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 -------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+--------- | Pounds | Pounds | Pounds | Pounds | Pounds Canary Islands | 33,488 | 18,547 | 21,329 | 28,645 | 59,454 For consumption on | | | | | high seas | 14,490 | 17,655 | 22,610 | 24,488 | 29,257 France | 4,740 | 6,182 | 11,334 | 3,091 | 11,433 China | 2,233 | 1,586 | 7,938 | 6,077 | 9,569 All others | 5,082 | 5,174 | 25,791 | 4,151 | 7,417 +----------+----------+----------+----------+--------- Total | 60,034 | 49,145 | 89,004 | 66,452 | 117,130 -------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+---------

Table showing the Quant.i.ty of Leaf Tobacco Exported during the Calendar Years 1909, 1910, 1911 and 1912

-------------------------+--------------------------------------------------- | Calendar Year +------------+------------+------------+------------ | 1909 | 1910 | 1911 | 1912 -------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------ | Pounds | Pounds | Pounds | Pounds Exported in the leaf[182]| | | | To the United States | 13,503 | 12,269 | 4,946 | 93,928 To other countries | 21,218,588 | 26,469,800 | 28,354,636 | 28,041,374 +------------+------------+------------+------------ Total | 21,232,079 | 26,482,069 | 28,359,582 | 28,136,302 -------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------

Note.--All figures given above are for unstemmed leaf.

There are numerous varieties of bananas in the Philippines, and some of them are of unrivalled excellence, but fruit of uniform quality is un.o.btainable, if desired in any considerable quant.i.ty. In the course of a brief morning visit to the Zamboanga market I have seen fifteen to twenty different varieties of bananas on sale there, of which a considerable proportion were full of tannin and fit only for cooking.

A banana plantation gives returns at the end of a year from the time of planting, and the fruit ought to be grown on plantation scale for the markets of Cebu, Iloilo, Manila and Hongkong.

Throughout extensive areas conditions are ideal for rubber production, and Para, castilloa and ceara trees all thrive. Those of the latter species reach their most perfect development in Bukidnon, where they grow at an astonishing rate and produce hemispheres of foliage which look almost solid. A plantation of these trees should be not only beautiful to look upon but very profitable.

Conditions in the highlands of Luzon, in the sub-province of Bukidnon, and in other portions of Mindanao, are admirably adapted to the production of coffee. Indeed, one of the few known wild varieties is indigenous to the Philippines. The coffee at present produced is grown in violation of every accepted principle of coffee culture, but is nevertheless excellent in quality, and any surplus not required for local consumption is eagerly bought up for shipment to Spain. In Bukidnon the opportunity for growing coffee upon a large scale is excellent.

There is little doubt that tea could be advantageously produced in the Philippine highlands, especially in northern Luzon.

Throughout extensive regions the soil and climate are ideal for growing cacao, from which is made the chocolate of commerce. It has numerous insect enemies, and careful scientific cultivation is needed to obtain the best results.

A determined and very successful effort is being made by the Bureau of Education to interest the Filipinos in raising corn, which is a far better food than is rice. They are being taught how to grind and cook it for human food, and its use, which has long been common in islands like Cebu, Negros, Siquijor and Bohol, is rapidly increasing. It can be grown to good advantage in the Philippines, and at existing prices its production upon a commercial scale for human consumption would be profitable, but there is another good use to which it can be put. The supply of fresh pork is not equal to the demand, and there would be a ready market, at a high price, for a largely increased amount. Corn-fed hogs are practically unknown in the islands. They ought not to be.

Both corn and camotes flourish in Bukidnon, where the former often attains a height of from twelve to eighteen feet and produces one to four ears to the stalk. Here, as elsewhere, careful seed selection rapidly increases the crop. Camotes, planted after the first ploughing, kill out all gra.s.s and weeds, but rapidly impoverish the soil. Planting camotes on a large scale and close subsequent pasturing of the land with hogs would leave the soil enriched and in excellent condition for planting with other crops. A little corn would put camote-fed hogs in splendid condition for the market. In this way it would be possible to raise them inexpensively and on a large scale.

The Philippines produce citrus fruits in considerable variety. Some of the native oranges and lemons are excellent. No care has as yet ever been given to their cultivation. They are never pruned or sprayed, nor is the ground around them kept clean. The larger Philippine towns and cities afford a good market for citrus fruits, and any surplus could be shipped to neighbouring Asiatic cities. Experiments in budding American varieties on to the native stock are now in progress.

In many parts of the islands climate and soil are perfectly adapted to the production of pineapples, which at present usually grow uncared for. One pineapple plantation has already been established, and a factory for canning the product is under construction. Others will follow.

Roselle, from the fruit of which is made a jelly equal to currant jelly in colour, and very similar to it in flavour, grows luxuriantly and produces heavy crops of fruit. An excellent fermented drink may be made from its leaves and stems.

Mangos, commonly considered to be the best fruit produced in the islands, can be successfully canned.

Guavas grow wild over extensive areas, and a properly located factory could produce guava jelly in large quant.i.ty.

Briefly, there is every opportunity for the profitable investment of brains, capital and energy in agricultural pursuits along a score of different lines. Such investment would be of immense advantage to the Filipinos themselves. They are neither original nor naturally progressive, but they are quick to imitate, and would follow the example set for them. Their country would readily support eighty million people, and it has eight million, so there is still room for a few foreigners.

If rice is the bread of the people, fresh fish is their meat. Twenty or thirty thousand pounds of fresh fish are sold daily in Manila, and the supply is inadequate to meet the demand. A similar condition exists in many of the larger towns throughout the archipelago. Dried fish is extensively used, and sardines preserved in brine find a ready sale. They may be taken in immense quant.i.ties in the southern islands at certain seasons. The intelligent application of modern methods to the taking, preserving and marketing of fish would give immediate and large returns.

Rinderpest appeared in the islands in 1888, and from that time until the establishment of civil government under American rule swept through the archipelago practically unchecked, causing enormous losses to agriculture. For a time it was impossible to plough anything like the normal amount of land, because of the lack of draught animals.

Promptly upon their establishment, the Bureau of Science and the Bureau of Agriculture began a determined campaign against this the most dangerous pest of cattle. The fight has never ceased up to the present time. While the disease is not completely stamped out, its ravages have been reduced to insignificant proportions, and the natural increase of the surviving animals has rehabilitated agriculture.

Good draught animals still bring abnormally high prices. I well remember that in Spanish days an ordinary carabao cost $7.50, and an excellent one could be purchased for $12.50. Similar animals to-day bring from $50 to $75 each, and in certain districts the best carabaos sell for $100 each.

There is still a great shortage of beef cattle. Refrigerated meat is imported in large quant.i.ties, but many of the Filipinos do not like it, and will not buy it unless compelled to do so by the lack of any other.

It has been found impracticable to remedy these conditions by importing Chinese cattle or carabaos for the reason that cattle disease is prevalent in the regions from which they would necessarily come, but a way out of the difficulty has now presented itself. Nellore cattle, one of the humped breeds of India, belonging to a distinct race known as zebus, are immune to rinderpest, and do not suffer from tick fever, which is prevalent throughout the islands. They flourish in the Philippines, and do especially well in Bukidnon.

They are much larger than the Chinese cattle now in common use, walk faster, are extremely gentle and make superior draught animals. Their flesh is excellent. Cattle raising in Mindanao on a large scale is certainly possible, and offers a most attractive field for investment.

The establishment of a great silk-growing industry is dependent only upon the necessary capital and initiative. The Bureau of Science has laid the foundation for it by conclusively demonstrating that silk worms, and the mulberry trees on the leaves of which they thrive, flourish here. Worms have now been grown for six years, and have never suffered from any disease. Filipina women and girls, with their deft fingers, would make excellent help for silk culture. Indeed, the opportunity to engage in it would be a great boon to them in many parts of the islands where they now lack profitable employment.

Manufacturing is as yet in its infancy. There are a number of regions where very cheap power can be had by hydraulic development. That the Filipinos make good factory labourers has been abundantly demonstrated in existing tobacco factories, a hat factory, a match factory and a couple of small factories for the manufacture of tagal braid, [183]

all in successful operation. With plenty of good labour, cheap power and abundant raw materials, important manufacturing industries should be developed.

I will not discuss at length the possibility of engaging profitably in trade. Such possibility exists wherever commodities are bought and sold, and here as elsewhere profits or losses largely depend on the abilities of individuals. But the question of the trade relations, present and possible, between the Philippines and the United States is one of very great importance.

In the next chapter I show the enormous increase in the total trade of the country since the American occupation, and the rapid growth of trade with the United States.

Next to rice, cotton goods form the most important element in the consuming markets of the islands, and the rapidity with which the United States is gaining control of this trade is well ill.u.s.trated in the following table, showing by years the value of such goods imported since 1904:--

Importations of Cotton Cloth

-----------------+------------------+--------------- | United States | Year | Hawaii and Porto | All Countries | Rico | -----------------+------------------+--------------- 1904 | $278,106 | $4,919,840 1905 | 764,990 | 6,346,962 1906 | 278,796 | 6,642,329 1907 | 1,056,328 | 8,320,079 1908 | 604,742 | 7,909,395 1909 | 508,229 | 6,862,135 1910 | 2,043,000 | 8,444,453 1911 | 4,110,837 | 10,305,017 1912 | 4,143,067 | 9,246,595 1913 | 6,827,082 | 11,483,638 +------------------+--------------- Total | $20,615,177 | $80,480,443 | +--------------- Annual average | | $8,048,044 -----------------+------------------+---------------

From a proportion of slightly over five per cent of the total trade in manufactures of cotton in 1904, importations of the American product have increased until they supply fifty-nine per cent of the present local demand!

The following table is of especial interest. It shows in the first column the nature and amount of the total exports from the United States and in the second the nature and amount of United States exports to the Philippine Islands.

----------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------- | To All | To Philippine | Countries | Islands ----------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------- Foodstuffs in crude condition, and food | | animals | 7.48 | 2.25 Foodstuffs partly or wholly manufactured | 13.19 | 14.39 Crude materials for use in manufacturing | 30.10 | .42 Manufactures for further use in manufacturing | 16.84 | 7.19 Manufactures ready for consumption | 32.04 | 75.73 Miscellaneous | .35 | .02 +-----------+--------------- Total | 100.00 | 100.00 ----------------------------------------------+-----------+---------------

The most profitable cla.s.s of exports is manufactures ready for consumption. It forms no less than 75.73 per cent of the United States exports to the Philippines. The least profitable exports are crude materials for use in manufacturing, which make up but forty-two hundredths of one per cent of the total exports to the Philippines.

Tropical and sub-tropical products are constantly increasing in popularity in the United States, which is able to produce them to so small an extent that although the cla.s.ses included in this table comprise nearly forty per cent of the total United States imports for the year, there are but two on which duty is levied.

The following table shows the amount and value of tropical products imported into the United States during the year ended June 30, 1913:--

------------------------+--------------------+-------------- Products | Amount | Value ------------------------+--------------------+-------------- | | Cocoa | 140,039,172 lb. | $17,389,042 Coffee | 863,130,757 lb. | 118,963,209 Fibres | 407,098 T. | 49,075,659 Manufactures of fibres | ---- | 76,972,416 Fruits and nuts | ---- | 42,622,653 Goatskins | 45,729,000 T. | 24,790,417 Gums of various kinds | ---- | 15,138,895 Rubber | 214,000,000 lb. | 101,333,158 Matting | ---- | 1,651,813 Vegetable oils | ---- | 38,112,883 Silk, unmanufactured | ---- | 84,914,717 Spices | 65,225,401 lb. | 6,187,136 Sugar | 4,740,041,488 lb. | 103,639,823 Tea | 94,812,800 lb. | 17,433,688 Leaf tobacco | 67,454,745 lb. | 35,919,079 Manufactured tobacco | ---- | 6,577,403 Cabinet woods | ---- | 8,880,000 Rattans and reeds | ---- | 1,800,000 | +-------------- | | $751,401,991 ------------------------+--------------------+--------------