﻿402 SMITH. 



LABOR. 



Labor conditions on the whole are good in Cebu, and in the Compos- 

 iela-Danao district the natives have more or less familiarity with under- 

 ground work, gained by experience of a score of years under the tutelage 

 of the Spaniards. The present wage in this field is 40 centavos and 

 subsistence, for the outside laborers, and 50 centavos for the underground 

 man ; however, of late the Insular Coal Company has found it best to pay 

 so much a foot for driving a drift. The price per foot will of course vary 

 according to conditions. The Philippine Railroad Construction Company 

 has found the native labor to be very satisfactory. In their work thou- 

 sands of natives are used at a wage of 50 centavos and subsistence. The 

 subsistence is arranged for by contract with a Chinaman. It is the belief 

 of many in these Islands that the Visayans are the best laborers of any 

 of the tribal groups. However, this is a matter more or less of personal 

 opinion. 



TRANSPORTATION'. 



The new railroad from the city of Cebu to Danao, a distance of 32 

 kilometers (20 miles), is completed at this date. From Danao to the 

 Camansi workings is a distance of about 8 kilometers (5 miles) with a 

 rise of 75 meters (250 feet). There is now a tramroad over this course, 

 an heirloom from the Spanish regime; but this will need to be replaced 

 by new rails and more clearing will have to be done before any extensive 

 work is undertaken. The transportation problem in the other parts of 

 the district will not be so simple and I believe overhead cables or inclined 

 planes will be found to be necessary. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



I would caution any company which intends any great outlay of money, 

 thoroughly to explore the field with drills or by means of numerous drifts. 

 I do not believe the diamond drill will be best for these soft formations, 

 but a chum or a calyx drill should be on hand for certain parts of the 

 work. The disadvantage in using such a drill is the difficulty found 

 in obtaining an accurate record of the formations encountered. It would 

 be foolish, judging from the folded condition of the rocks, to suppose that 

 the beds will continue as they appear along the outcrops. Without more 

 records from shafts, drifts or bore holes, I should consider any estimates 

 as to the quantity of coal, the position of the beds and their condition 

 to be little more than guesswork. 



The vicinity of Luguayan Creek on the eastern edge of the map should 

 be prospected, as here the coal is found exposed below the upper con- 

 glomerate. It is probable that in this position the beds are less folded 

 than they are farther to the west. I should even go so far as to predict 

 the finding of good, regular beds underlying the more level country near 



