MINERAL RESOURCES OF AROROY DISTRICT. 423 



whole central range of the island, is heavily timbered. The district 

 in this respect has a great advantage over others. Mine-timbers at 

 present, are taken from the immediate vicinity of the mines, being 

 cnt by natives on contract. 



Mr. Herbert, of the Colorado Company, has kindly furnished me 

 with the following list of the species: ^^ Molave {Vitex parvifiora Juss.), 

 dungon {Tarrietia sylvatica Merr.), cnbi (Artocai-pus cumingiana Tree), 

 bansalaguin {Mimusops elengi L.), matamata Colorado (Strombosia ?), 

 and matamata bianco {Strombosia pliilippinensis Eolfe). 



"Woods available for temporary timbering, as for example in stopes 

 which eventually are to be filed, are lauan (Sliorea sp.) and to-og 

 (Bischofia javanica BL). 



These timbers have been given in the order of their preference. 



The following average prices, in Philippine currency, were paid for 

 timber in 1909 : 



Pesos.^ 

 First group, one piece 7 feet long, squared 7 inches (in some 



cases only molave accepted 1.00 



The same, rough 0.75 



Lagging (molave boards or poles of other first group wood) 



per running foot 0.01-0.02 



Ties 4 feet by 4 inches by 4 inches, each 0.10-0.12 



Besides the heavily-wooded central range of the island there is a 

 large amount of excellent timber just across the bay from Aroroy, so 

 there need be no fear of future shortage, if reasonable care is taken. 



A more detailed study by Whitford of the forest conditions of the 

 Aroroy district has recently been published.^^ 



Power. — The Guinobatan Eiver runs nearly dry during the dry season 

 and is subject to sudden heavy floods during the rainy season; although 

 there is a good dam site just below its junction with the Kaal, it is 

 doubtful whether the river will be valuable for water power. The Lanang 

 Eiver, on the other hand, drains a much larger district, has a more regular 

 flow and a greater vohime of water. A good dam-site exists at the falls 

 in the upper gorge. 



The mills and dredges previously in operation have used fuel from 

 the large mangrove swamps on the eastern and southern shores of Port 

 Barrera. Whitford ^^ estimates that the available mangrove swamps cover 

 an area of about 10 square kilometers, but makes no estimate as to the 

 amount of firewood available per hectare. The cost delivered at the 

 mills and dredges varied from 4.00 to 5.00 pesos per cord and roughly 

 estimated to be equivalent to rather less than one-half ton of Australian 



'^ Botanical names furnished by Elmer D. Merrill of the Bureau of Science. 

 " One peso Philippine currency is equal to 50 cents United States currency. 

 "Mm. Resources P. I. Bur. Sci., Div. Min. (1910), 72-78. 

 =»Loc. cit. 77. 

 105046—5 



