424 FERGUSON. 



coal. The mangrove swamps, while affording a large amount of good 

 firewood, are by no means inexhaustible, and when large mills start in the 

 district the supply will be insufficient. Coal of fair grade is now being 

 mined by the East Batan Coal Company and sold at its mine for 6.50 

 pesos a ton. The Cebu deposits should soon be producing. Promising 

 coal deposits, as yet unworked, occur between Dimas-Alang and Katain- 

 gan on the Island of Masbate itself. Hence, even if it is not found 

 advisable to develop water power in the district, or if the power available 

 is not sufficient, there need be no fear of a shortage of fuel. 



Labor. — ^Aroroy is now in a better condition than the other districts 

 in regard to labor. Work has been going on for a sufficient time to 

 build up a class of fairly efficient miners (Plate III), and at present 

 the local supply is more nearly sufficient for the demand than elsewhere. 

 The natives finally have been educated to the point of working by 

 contract, a method which has been found to be most satisfactory for all 

 concerned, especially in the smaller workings, as the laborer works 

 harder and generally receives a larger amount of money than if working 

 by the day, and the employer is relieved of the necessity of such close 

 supervision as is required when miners work for wages. The wages 

 paid in the district are : Laborers and muckers, 0.60 peso per day if 

 food is furnished, or 0.80 peso without food; miners, 0.80 peso per day 

 with food, or 1 peso without; foremen, blacksmiths, etc., from 1.50 

 pesos to 2 pesos per day. 



During the next two years, when several companies start operations 

 on a large scale, there may be a temporary shortage of labor, but I do not 

 expect any permanent trouble from this cause, as laborers are beginning 

 to come in of their own accord from northern Panay and Sibuyan and 

 there should be no gTeat difficulty in importing others if it became 

 necessary. I have been told that, under average conditions, 9 men 

 working 3 to a shift six days in the weok, and doing their own mucking, 

 can advance a tunnel 3 feet per day in "porphyry" and 1.5 feet per day 

 in hard fine-grained rock. Owing to the irregularity of the native 

 as a laborer, it will always be necessary'- to have at call a larger force 

 than actually is necessary at any one time. There may be considerable 

 difficulty in keeping a full force at work on Simdays and holidays, but 

 I believe enough men could always be counted on to keep a mill running 

 steadily. The company stores and laborers' houses, and a system of fines 

 for absences without permission, have already done miich to correct the 

 unsteadiness of native labor. 



