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The National Geographic Magazine 



population is about 160 per square mile, 

 whereas the average population per 

 square mile in the United States in 1900 

 was but 26. The Island of Cebu has a 

 population of 336 per square mile, or a 

 greater density than Japan, France, Ger- 

 many, or British India. It is, therefore, 

 reasonable to suppose that the passenger 

 earnings on these railroads will be very 

 large. 



THE FILIPINO LABORER IMPROVING 



It was anticipated that the labor prob- 

 lem would be a difficult one to solve in the 

 construction of these roads. This has 

 not proved to be true. The Philippine 

 labor has shown itself capable of in- 

 struction, and by proper treatment of 

 being made constant in its application. 

 Of course, the prices of labor have 

 largely increased, but the companies con- 

 structing the roads have found it wise to 

 increase wages, and thereby secure 

 greater efficiency. Even with increased 

 wages the cost of unit of result is less in 

 the Philippines in the construction of 

 railways than it is in the United States. 



I do not hesitate to prophesy that dur- 

 ing the next twenty-five years a develop- 

 ment will take place in the agricultural 

 and other business of the Philippine 

 Islands which will be as remarkable in 

 its benefits to the United States and the 

 Philippine Islands as was the develop- 

 ment of Alaska during the last ten or fif- 

 teen years. Hope of this is not what has 

 actuated the government in pursuing the 

 policy that it has pursued in the develop- 

 ment of the islands, but this is as inevi- 

 table a result as if it had been directly 

 sought, and perhaps the absence of sel- 

 fishness in the development of the islands 

 is a greater assurance of profitable return 

 than if business exploitation by the 

 United States had been the chief and sole 

 motive. The growth in the production; 



of hemp and other fiber products, in 

 cocoanuts, in rubber and many other 

 tropical crops, and in peculiar manufac- 

 tures of the islands may be looked for- 

 ward to with certainty. 



The city of Manila has not been given 

 autonomous government. It is under the 

 control of a municipal board of five per- 

 sons appointed by the central government, 

 and is governed, therefore, as Washington 

 or the City of Mexico is governed. In 

 the proper improvement of Manila some 

 six or eight millions of dollars had to be 

 expended, and much business experience 

 and foresight were required to build the 

 new water works and the new sewer sys- 

 tem, to repave the streets, to canalize the 

 esteros, or creeks, to organize an effective 

 police force and a new fire department. 

 It was thought that it would not be safe 

 to intrust the conduct of such important 

 business matters to a body selected by 

 the electorate of Manila for the first time. 

 The city of Manila has been well gov- 

 erned. Very large sums of money have 

 been expended in most extensive im- 

 provements, and not the slightest scandal 

 or dishonesty has been charged in any of 

 the city administration. It has offered a 

 most useful model for other municipal- 

 ities in the islands to follow and has lent 

 engineers, policemen, and firemen to 

 other towns to help the latter to better 

 organization. 



There is no city in the world better 

 governed than Manila. The streets are 

 well cleaned, are well policed, there is a 

 most excellent fire department, the parks 

 are being enlarged and improved, the 

 street-car svstem is as good as anywhere, 

 and with the improvements in the water 

 supply the sewerage system and esteros 

 or canals, which are now under foot and 

 part of which are ciuite near accom- 

 plished, the face which the Filipinos turn 

 toward the world in the city of Manila 

 will be a most pleasing one. 



