15 



is often rocky and nearl)' barren. Tlie sugar belt from north to south 

 may be divided into five important districts, each of which produces 

 annually more than 5,000 metric tons of sugar. These disti-icts com- 

 prise "the following municipalities and their surrounding land : 



1. Victorias, Saravia, Silay, Talisay; 2. Bago; 3. Pontevedra, La 

 Carlota; 4. Binalbagan, Isabela; 5. Hog, Cabancalan. 



It is intended to take up each of these separately, giving whatever 

 data possible regarding the character and composition of the soil, quan- 

 tity and quality of sugar and cane produced, transportation facilities, 

 and other available facts. 



THE EAST COAST. 



As has been stated previously, the principal mountain chain running 

 through Negros from north to south lies much closer to the east than 

 to the west coast. In addition to this, a secondary range of foothills 

 extends on this side very nearly to the sea. No great coastal plain 

 exists here, as on the west, but mountains or rugged hills descend 

 abruptly to the strand, leaving only here and there scattered patches 

 of land in the valleys of small streams, where sometimes a few hundred 

 tons of sugar are produced. Exceptions to this rule are the districts 

 of San Carlos in the north and Bais in the south, each located in a 

 sheltered valley of considerable extent, and each producing annually 

 about 5,000 metric tons of sugar. These two localities will be considered 

 together with the five principal districts of the west coast. 



OTHER SUGAB-PBODUCING DISTRICTS OF NEGROS. 



The seven large districts just mentioned comprise the principal sugar 

 centers of the island. Lying between these, along the west coast 

 are several other municipalities and ban-ios, each of which yields from 

 1,000 to 3,000 metric tons of sugar per annum, but these are so isolated 

 by lack of proper land transportation facilities that at the present 

 time they must be considered as separate, comparatively unimportant 

 sections, although with the advent of good roads and modern methods 

 of sugar production many of them will undoubtedly be united to the 

 nearest lying main districts. South of the Hog I^iver there is a large 

 extent of forest land, mostly hilly, but containing several level plains 

 where, it is stated, sugar cane may be as profitably grown as in any 

 other portion of the island. However, this region is as yet undeveloped 

 and it is impossible to give exact data as to its resources. 



