THE PHILirriXK ISLANDS AND THEIR EXVIROXMEXT 9 



navigaMe for small craft during a good part of the year is large. No 

 other grouj) of islands in the world possesses so many harbors and 

 bays suited for inter-island traffic. The separation of the grou]» into 

 many islands has a most distinct advantage, Avhich we do not fully ap- 

 preciate. It provides highways of water, which are always there, and 

 permits frequent and easy communication with all important ])oints. 

 The Philippines are more valuable to us divided as they are than if 

 they were one broad extent like Borneo. This breaking up will also 

 be of great assistance in preventing serious insurrections in the future. 



The area of the Philippine Islands, 115,0U0 square miles, according 

 to the best surve3's, is more fully appreciated when we say that it is 

 approximately equal to the six New England States and New York. 

 Luzon would cover the State of New York, while Mindanao would hide 

 the State of Maine. Tlie Visayan Islands, with Palawan, Mindoro, 

 and the Sulu group, would equal Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode 

 Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. 



As the possibilities of railway construction showed what may take 

 place in China, so likewise do they teach us the extent of the field of 

 development in the Philipjiines. In this area of 115,000 square miles, 

 with a })opulation of eight million's, there are only 135 miles of rail- 

 way, or Ijetween Manila and Dagupan. According to the best Euro- 

 pean experts who have traveled through the islands, there is immediate 

 need for the building of from 1,000 to 1,50() miles of railway, a safe 

 investment, including accessories, of from .550,000,000 to S75,OO0,00O. 

 For instance, the great Cagayan Valley of Luzon should be tapi)ed by 

 a line from Manihi, wliile other roads could be l)uilt in various direc- 

 tions where there are freight and peo))lc to carry. Dttwn in Mindanao 

 are valleys as large as the State of (Jonnecticut wliiili ran only be de- 

 veb)i)ed properly by the construction of rail\va3's. A score of similar 

 opportunities could Ijc namcjd on a greater or less scale. 



('(iNDniONS OK CIJMATK 



A.-^ to the climate, it can be said that the dangers of the tropics are 

 grossly exaggerated by those unfamiliiii- with tlieni. After a residence 

 of five years in the ver}' Jieart of the tropics, I will say that men can 

 keep well and vigorous there if they exercis(^ oidinary moderation and 

 car«! and absent themselves at reasonable ]ieri<Mls in nortbein clime.s 

 for rest and change;, as men do in our American cities during the beat 

 of summer. The Philippines coniain most favorable con<litioiis for 

 oflsetting the disadvantages of mere tropical location. At \aiions 



