The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

Media

Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

Title: The American Chamber of Commerce Journal
Issue Date: Volume VIII (Issue No. 2) February 1928
Year: 1928
Language: English
Rights
extracted text: Jwahig Colonists Hauling Their Crops to Puerto Princesa. (See story.) Leading Articles in This Issue: The Iwahig Penal Colony A Gleaning from the Records The Month in Sports: Soup to Nuts Carroll D. Alcott's Own Department Can an American Grow Sugar Cane in the Philippines? Answered Affirmatively by Francis J. Cooper, Who Does It Franciscan Friars in Rizal and Laguna Provinces The “Puente Caprichoso" of Mahay hay When the Thomas Brought the American Teachers A Resume and Suggestion Regarding This Ship Admiral Mark L. Bristol, U. S. N. The Right Man in the Right Place From Balboa to Goethals Four Centuries of the Panama Canal Current Comment of Timely Interest and Permanent Value: Trade Reviews by Leading Experts ii li START THE NEW YEAR RIGHT V-O^ITjc, ROSITAS The last stage in the march of cleanliness in the making of ROSITAS is in packing. Tissue covering at the end protects them from all dust and other unclean substances 20 for 8 CENTAVOS 30 for 10 CENTAVOS Sturdy Construction: IWlgd C.G. T. F. 30 CIGARRIILOS 5ING0MA - HEBRADE LAS ME J0PE5 VEGAS DE LA ISABELA Simplicity and Sturdiness have made Willamette logging engines leaders in the forest throughout the world All parts arc built oversize to provide ample safety margin for the hard'st work. This is siblc for the low main!enan e cos! and remarkably long life of Will miette Yarders. Get Full Information: L'V:/'.'. k ’111 ions require equipment which will bring production costs down Consult Logging Engineers: engines as s lied Io your particular fores' problems. ''oniiHini/. the exclusive representatives in the Philippine Is'ands. maintain anil will gladly furnish expert advi e as to proper sole I ion of your logging KLEAMETTE Offices and Bodegas in Manila and Zamboanga MEYER-MUZZALL COMPANY 221 Pacific Building, Manila Address inquiries to Manila or Zamboanga IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 1 Amazingly Smooth and Quiet Dodge Brothers famous new "124” motor develops in creased power and speed with amazing smoothness and quietness. When you stop in traffic, it is frequently necessary to glance at the ammeter to assure yourself that the engine is at work. This astonishing quietness and freedom from vibration is equally remarkable at all speeds. More silent gear-shift, softer clutch action and easier steering add to the pleasure of driving this brilliant Dodge Brothers Four. Sole Distributors: ESTRELLA AUTO PALACE LEVY HERMANOS, Inc. 536 - 568 Gandara Iloilo ’ MANILA Cebu Oodee Brothe-rs MOTOR CARS IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 2 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 GAS Serves Best For every heating purpose, for home, hotel or in industry GAS serves best. Instantly available. . . intense heat without delay. . . economical and safe. Let us talk over your heating problem with you today. Manila Gas Corporation Main Office and Plant: Downtown Showroom: Calle Otis, Paco 7 Calle David Luzon Stevedoring Co., Inc. Lightering, Marine Contractors Towboats, Launches, Waterboats Shipbuilders and Provisions CORONAS DE LA ALHAMBRA HALF-A-CORONA EXCELENTES ESPECIALES BELLEZAS PRESIDENTES Etc,, Etc. Watch For The Name ALHAMBRA On Rings and Labels It’s Your Protection SIMMIE & GRILK Phone 302 Port Area Alhambra Cigar and Cigarette Mfg. Go. 31 Tayuman Manila, P. I. IM IT A TED BUT NEVER EQUALLED! IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL cXmerican Chamber of Commerce Journal PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS (Member, Chamber of Commerce of the United States) ENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MATTER MAY 25. 1921, AT THE POST OFFICE AT MANILA, P. I. LOCAL SUBSCRIPTION— P4.00 PER YEAR. FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTION—$3.00, U. S. CURRENCY, PER YEAR. SINGLE COPIES—35 CENTAVOS WALTER ROBB, Editor and Manager Robert E. Murphy, President P. A. Meyer, Vice-President H. L. Heath, Vice-President BOARD OF DIRECTORS B. A. Green, Treasurer C. M. Cotterman, Vice-President J. W. Haussermann, Vice-President E. E. Selph, General Counsel ALTERNATE DIRECTORS Walter Z. Smith R. S. Rogers A. B. Cresap J. L. Headington Fred A. Leas H. M. Cavender W. L. Applegate EXECUTIVE: John R. Wilson, Secretary COMMITTEES FINANCE AND AUDIT: RECEPTION AND ENTERTAINMENT: RELIEF: FOREIGN TRADE: MANUFACTURING: PUBLICATIONS: HOUSE: LIBRARY: SHIPPING: LEGISLATIVE: BANKING AND CURRENCY: CHAMBER INVESTMENTS: CONTENTS FOR FEBRUARY, 1928 Page By These Signs Conquer....................................................................... 5 Captain Robert E. “Bob” Murphy Chosen Our President......... 6 When the Thomas Brought the American Teachers............... 7 Iwahig: Where Men Are Men by Self-Reformation.................. 8 Bristol the Right Man for Asiatic Fleet Commander.................. 9 Henry Musser............................................................................................. 9 Editorials (By Walter Robb)-. A. S. Crossfield.................................................................................. 10 Hail to the Chief............................................................................. 10 The Interregnum.............................................................................. 10 Thanks to Mary Jordan................................................................ 10 Copra: Past and Present................................................................ 10 Four Best Manila Newspaper January Editorials...................... 11 The Month in Sports: Soup to Nuts (By Carroll D. Alcott)... 12 Gun-Running in China: Its Principles (By Robert J. Casey).. 13 Providing Against Infirmity: Propitiating Fate (By Earnest Elmo Calkins)................................................................................. 14 Balboa to Goethals: History of the Panama Canal...................... 18 Can An American Grow Sugar Cane in the Philippines? (By Francis J. Cooper)........................................................................ 22 Yearsley Goes West................................................................................. 23 Chinese Leaders Visit Here...................................,........................... 23 \Franciscans in Rizal and Laguna: Mahayhay Bridge (Capri cious Engineering: Seventh Paper, Mission Trail Series)...................................... 24 Page The Scuttlebutt......................................................................................... 25 Legend of the Four-Faced Towers of Angkor (By P. Jeannerat Beerski).............................................................................................. 26 Korea Deplores Japanese Ignorance of Fire Dragons (By Robert J. Casey)............................................................................................ 27 Reviews of Business: Shipping (By H. M. Cavender).............................................. 28 Real Estate (By P. D. Carman)............................................ 30 Tobacco Review (By P. A. Meyer)....................................... 30 Lumber Review (By Arthur F. Fischer)............................ 31 Copra and Its Products (By E. A. Seindespinner)........... 31 Rail Commodity Movements (By M. D. Royer)............. 31 The Rice Industry (By Percy A. Hill)................................ 32 Review of the Exchange Market (By Stanley Williams).. 32 Review of the Hemp Market (By T. H. Smith).................. 33 January Sugar Review (By George H. Fairchild)......... 33 Statistical Review of Commerce: Principal Exports............................................................................. 35 Principal Imports............................................................................. 35 Port Statistics................................................................................... 35 Carrying Trade................................................................................. 35 Foreign Trade by Countries....................................................... 35 The American Chamber of Commerce ii ready and willing at all times to furnish detailed information to any American Manufacturer, Importer, Exporter or other Americans who are interested in Philippine matters. Address all communications and requests for such information to the Secretary of the Chamber No. 180 David, Manila, P. I. The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines is a member of the UNITED STATES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, and is the largest and most adequately financed American Chamber of Commerce outside the continental boundaries of the United States. The organization has Twelve Hundred members, all Americans, scattered over the Philippine Archipelago from Tawi-Tawi to the Batanes. The organization of branches in all the American communities of the‘Asiatic Coast is being stimulated. 4 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 GORDON’S DRY GIN GOOD THE HEART OF EVERY COCKTAIL KUENZLE & STRE1FF, Inc. 343 T. PINPIN PHONE 113 Some exclusive features which will convince you that the Sundstrand is the Machine you want Enjoy the Convenience of Good Lighting this Year The lighting of a home should receive careful attention in its planning. But lighting seldom gets the necessary care in its arrangement. Good lighting does not involve expensive fixtures. A few pesos judiciously spent on electricity may accomplish wonders not only in improving the illumination but in changing the appearance of a room at night. Consult your electrical contractor for helpful suggestions as to how to obtain better illumination in your home. Only ten keys, logically arranged; simplicity itself in operation; only one hand necessary for operation; DIRECT SUBTRACTION; automatic shift for multiplying; portable; durable; 100% printed proof; and speedier than other machines on account of its simplicity of “SEEING IS BELIEVING.” Ask us to prove our claims. “THE RE-ORDERS TELL THE STORY” CAMERA SUPPLY CO. TYPEWRITER DEPARTMENT 110 ESCOLTA TEL. 2-21-98 Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) 134 San Marcelino Tel. 2-19-11 LIGHT TRANSPORTATION . POWER IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL BY THESE SIGNS CONQUER Governor General Stimson is coming, getting here March 1. The islands will be in the news. Jose Paez, managing the railroad, reports its handsome revenues during 1927 and announces plans for going ahead with the Bikol extension. Francis J. Cooper has proved that an Ameri can can make himself a successful sugar planter in the Philippines, even at the ruling market for the product. He tells about it in this issue, and it’s stimulating reading. gg A demonstration of cooperation: the universal press disapproval of A. D. Williams’ proposal to make two more breaches in the city walls. gg Iwahig Penal Colony on Palawan has been too close to us for us to see it clearly. But the visit of Dr. John Lewis Gillin put it in the per spective of Folsom, Sing-Sing and the southern prison farms. The world, Dr. Gillin thinks, doesn’t boast the equal of Iwahig. The story is in this issue. There’s a London show troupe in town, while local talent, the Community Players, under the management of Captain Kinney, periodically proves that even when imported talent is scarce there need be no dirth of theater entertainment. Say, wasn’t Gloria Swanson a pigtailed Manila gal oncit, eh? Our folks are all right. Oscar G. Steen, general manager for the Orient of the Robert Dollar Company, predicts that Pulupandan will become one of the islands’ leading ports. And why not? Much of the best land in Negros for sugar and copra still lies fallow, more than is now cultivated. The rice crop is short, though not terribly, and growers are going to have a better price for it than their 1927 crop brought. The bill to limit entries of Philippine sugar into the home market to 500,000 tons per year looks ever so much like a bounty bogey. More people buy sugar in the United States than sell it, or make or grow it. Julius Reese is back in town, to sell the new Ford. Everyone knows Lizzie, recently de ceased. Elizabeth is her daughter, brought up in the best circles, with private tutors and many other modern advantages her mother never enjoyed. Her mother’s early education was neglected, in order to get started, but hers hasn’t been, and she is reputed to be the soul of refinement. Speaking all languages, endowed rather with a knowledge of a practical Esperan to, Elizabeth inherits her mother’s love of travel. She has begun her itinerary, to continue, as her mother’s did, throughout her lifetime. Reese, as president of the Manila Trading and Supply Company, Ford’s Philippine agents, expects Elizabeth, soon arriving in Manila, to tour throughout the islands. It’s a big order, but she may make the grade. Making grades was habitual with her mother, Lizzie, one of those plain, persistent late Victorians. Shall we ever see her like again? We shall meet, but we shall miss her—only to hit some other car head-on, perhaps. The negro’s ideal in motor transport is hymned thus, Swing low, sweet chariot, cornin' to’ to carry me home! They are swinging them lower than Lizzie now adays. It is a time for fordisms. One of Lizzie’s best traits was her indifference to criticism. She was cranked" for years, but not on this; and whatever might be said of her she always went right ahead. Learning that at last she was dying, and that Coolidge would not be a pres idential candidate this year—no coincidence, of course—a scribe who, as some actually do, owned a car, stuck this legend on the tin door, I do not choose to run! And this, on a stu dent’s dejected vehicle, bored of education. In Ford’s school, half study, half applied science in producing useful things, this student might have escaped boredom. “Of all the components,” says the Outlook, “that went into the making of the old Ford car (Lizzie, Model T), the flivver of history, the greatest was imagination. * ♦ * jsjo one else had quite the imagination, the same imagi nation, that Henry Ford had.” It was, remember, 1908, Old Glory had been whipping the breezes over Fort Santiago ten years. “Buggies were still for sale and advertised alongside of the new contraptions called automobiles. ♦ * * (The flivver) has started industry on a beneficent circle. It has proved in a spectacular fashion that every producer is also a consumer, and has shown how every industry in a country like ours can help to create its own market. It has been a leader in the process of passing prosperity around. And now comes the new Ford. * * * Is there some industrial chemist that can isolate in it Henry Ford’s imagination of what this new car will mean to the multitude in the coming years?” Elizabeth, unlike her mother Lizzie, doesn’t have the popular field to herself. She’s a part of this amazing age and gangs along with her set. Lizzie sold two million. Can Elizabeth do as well? They speak of a saturation point in the automobile industry, but America ex pects to make and market five million cars this year. There’s a big order for you, there’s a grade to make. The Philippines took 5600 last year: 3828 passenger cars, 464 busses and 1308 trucks. The capital of the Pacific Commercial Com pany has been increased to $4,500,000 gold, 1 * 9,000,000 being the par equivalent. Such is the tone of confidence in the local business field. INFORMATION FOR INVESTORS Expert, confidential reports made on Philippine projects ENGINEERING, MINING, AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, LUMBER, ETC. Hydroelectric projects OTHER COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES BRYAN, LANDON CO. Cebu, P. I. Cable address: "YPIL,” Cebu. Special features will embody— Selective Gear Shift Four Wheel Brakes Multiple Dry Disc Clutch Hydraulic Shock Absorbers Irreversible Steering Gear Simplified Ignition System Combination Pump Splash Gravity Lu brication Combination Thermo-syphon and Pump Cooling System Four Cylinder Motor Forty Horse Power, unusually quiet at all speeds NEW WAIT CAR COMING SOON! The New Ford Car will be offered COMPLETELY EQUIPPED PRICES WILL BE LOW There are six Passenger Types with beau tiful body lines and low center of gravity: Touring Roadster Coupe Sport Coupe Tudor Fordor with a selective choice of four colors, Pyroxylin finish. The new car is designed for modem condi tion and possesses remarkable acceleration with unusual economical fuel consumption at a speed of 65 miles per hour. Nothing Like it in Quality or Price MANILA TRADING & SUPPLY COMPANY ILOILO CEBU BACOLOD MANILA LEGASPI PULUPANDAN IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 6 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 Captain Robert E. “Bob” Murphy Chosen Our President The Board of Directors Sitting, left to right: P. A Meyer, imports-exports, cigar and cigarette manufacturing: Fred A. Leas, cattle, copra and coconut-oil manufacturing; Robert E. Murphy, embroidery, Isuan water, and banking; H. L. Heath, ranching, hemp exporting, cordage manufacturing; C. M. Cotterman, importing, Walk-Over shoes, acetylene manufacturing and welding, banking. Standing, left to right: John R. Wilson (secretary), W. L. Applegate, stevedoring; B. A. Green, real estate, canning, sugar manufacturing; H. M. Cavender, general agent, the Robert Dollar Company. Paul A. Meyer, W. L. Applegate, and B. A. Green were elected directors of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands for three-year terms at the eighth annual meet ing held at the general offices of the chamber of commerce Saturday afternoon, January 28, the secretary casting the unanimous vote of the meeting when the three men were placed in nomination and, upon motion, nominations were closed. Precisely by like procedure, Walter Z. Smith, A. B. Cresap, R. S. Rogers, and J. L. Headington were elected alternate directors for terms of one year, to serve on the board of directors in the order which their names appear here, in the absence of directors from the islands. As several of the directors have planned to be out of the islands most of this year, it is probable that before the close of the year all of the al ternate directors will have served on the board of directors. Senator Fairchild retired from the alternate directors’ list, Mr. Headington was reelected, while Mr. Applegate, an alternate last year, is now a full-term director. S. F. Gaches, who, like Senator Fairchild, was a valuable member of the board of directors, for many years, retired from the directorate with the close of the term. A. B. Cresap is the new alternate director. Directors Meyer and Green were reelected to succeed themselves. Directors holding over are H. L. Heath, Fred A. Leas, John W. Haussermann, C. M. Cotterman, Robert E. Murphy, and H. M. Cavender. The directors organized for business at the regular weekly meeting, Tuesday, January 31. With the same accord that had characterized the annual meeting of active members, officers were chosen for the current year. Those present are the directors shown above, and the secretary, John R. Wilson, who, when the board had . organized, was reelected. The unanimous ballot of the board was cast for Captain Murphy for president, P. A. Meyer for vice president, and B. A. Green for treasurer, a post he has held almost without interruption from the date of the organization of the chamber of commerce, July 1920. Judge Haussermann was reelected a vice president, and the same honor was conferred upon Captain Heath, retiring from the presi dency, and Mr. Cotterman. With the organization of the board of direc tors, Captain Heath ended his long and dis tinguished career as president of the chamber of commerce. He was elected its first president for the half-year period following organization in 1920, and reelected in 1921. Mr. Cotterman was president during 1922 and 1923, and Captain Heath during 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1927. He cast his vote this year with the rest, for Captain Murphy. Like Captain Heath, Captain Murphy is an oldtimer. He came to the islands in 1900 with the quartermaster department and remained in that department until 1919, when he resigned his commission and took the management of the Cablenews American, a daily Manila news paper, now the Philippines Herald. In 1920 the paper was sold. Captain Murphy went from newspaper life, where his former popularity had been enhanced, for he has always been prominent in the club and social life of the city, into the embroidery business. He became the head of the Art Embroidery company, now the Robert E. Murphy Embroidery company, manu facturing and exporting to the United States. The embroidery business, the islands being justly famed for their fine hand-wrought em broideries, is one of the leading industries of the islands. It has, too, prospects of future ex pansion eclipsing its present prosperity. Pop ular, always ready to make personal sacrifices for the welfare of the community, Captain Murphy enters upon his duties as president of the chamber of commerce under most auspicious circumstances, harmony being attested by his unanimous election. He is a director of the Philippine Trust Company, a prosperous banking and trust corporation. President Murphy is also the president of Isuan Incorporated, the company manufactur ing the islands’ famous mineral water and Isuan dry gingerale. Of the latter, 500 cases are now leaving Manila weekly, by the Dollar passenger freighters going to Seattle and San Francisco. This is just the beginning, however. The demand is increasing rapidly in response to the excellence of the product and the advertising undertaken by the Isuan company in America. Walter Z. Smith, head of the telephone com pany, is already an acting director, Judge Haus sermann being in the United States. Captain Heath left Manila for a ten-month’s visit to the United States February 11, resigning from his positions in the government corpora tions before leaving. Both political parties, the Democratic and the Republican, have been invited to hold their conventions at the chamber of commerce. American DrUs. v BOTICA BOIE ' MANILA Wholesale Agents Heavy Chemicals — Fertilizer — Manufacturers We have been selling drugs for 97 years IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 7 When the Thomas Brought the Americano Teachers PUBLISHED BV TEACHERS ON IpARD TRANSPORT THOMAS. HONOLULU. THUILSDA'V. AUGl’ST 1. 1901. The U. S. A. T. (United States Army Transport) Thomas is in harbor, on her last voyage. They are counting her out, apparently they will scrap her or sell her under the hammer for what she will bring. The very thought makes a tightness in the throat of hundreds of Americans in the Philip pines, and brings moisture to the eye. It is too much like selling Old Kate, the family nag, at the homestead auction, when Dad decided to move west. For the Thomas has a real soul if a ship or any inanimate thing may boast the boon. F.or 30 years she has been the national old-reliable. She has brought us commanding officers, and taken them home, and governors general too. She has brought troops, some of them for the first campaigns, and returned to San Francisco with trooploads of casuals, men who had done their time in the islands. Time and circumstance are inexorable. She has taken our dead to the homeland for burial. She carried home the body of General Lawton, and of Liscum, killed in China, and brought back Lawton’s remains to rest beneath his monument. She has taken wives home for their accouchements, and brought them back with cooing babies in their arms. She has brought us food. She has brought thousands of teachers for the schools, and, accommodating them with her rate of a dollar per day, landed them back home with some of their meager savings. She has taken home the broken oldtimer, who has often, in the loved and familiar environment of youth, with life returning upon itself as the philosophers say it will, been reha bilitated and found himself a man after all. Alas, truth makes us say it. She has taken home the prisoner, another unfortunate part of the price .paid for going nationally abroad, and on her very last trip but one she had in the brig a youth who may shine yet as one of Amer ica’s great artists. Metropolitan editors know him as a magazine illustrator. She has taken home the fellows who couldn’t stand Guam’s loneliness, and those who could. Once when she lay at berth on one side of Pier One, the Chaumont, navy transport, pulled in on the other, from Guam. In the midst of the gay crowd on the dock a young wife was waiting, joy in her bonny eyes and youth in her slender figure. But her husband didn’t come down the gangway, and there wasn’t even a letter; she had come on ahead for shopping, and friends just told her, brokenly, what had happened there in Guam * * * the last night * * * the last weary twelve hours. And she turned bitterly away, cursing and weeping together. “Wait till I get to Washington!” she cried. “I’ll tell that navy department something— sending young people out to a damned hole like Guam!” Did she ever do it? Are they still sending them? She stayed over faithfully, she didn’t make the Thomas that trip. It’s a human-interest ship if there ever was one, and its intimate story would be but an amplification of Byron’s description of Manfred’s soul. The Thomas, going off the run! My God! We’re all getting old! Through the courtesy of Verne E. Miller of the Philippine Education Company, we have before us the log of the seventh trip of the Thomas to Manila, the one on which she brought 560 school teachers, 160 women and 400 men, from 42 states, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, and two foreign countries. We reproduce the title and device of the newspaper the teachers got out at Honolulu, a rare and enlightening piece of Americana of which many copies should find their way to the libraries for preservation. Pawing over this one for essential data, we feel somehow that we are desecrating a national memory. The voyage began at San Francisco July 23 and ended at Manila August 21, 1901. Dr. Fred W. Atkinson was then educational superintendent, organizing, with the aid of these teachers, the bureau of education of which the distinguished Dr. David P. Barrows was to become the head. Of the 560 teachers who made that voyage, ten had been in the islands as soldiers and two had been soldier-teachers in the schools opened by General Otis. Here are those remaining in the Philippines: Luther B. Parker, Mary E. Polley, Dr. and Mrs. H. S. Townsend, Charles W. Franks, C. D. Behrens, Mrs. L. R. Sweet, Maye Faurote, A. B. Powell, Mrs. Frances C. Bartter, Mrs. Nellie Louise Cook, Bertha Lincoln, Carl M. Moore, Verne E. Miller, Dr. Charles S. Banks, C. I. Halsey, E. J. Murphy, J. W. Osborn, E. E. Schneider, E. G. Turner, Mrs. J. C. Vickers, T. H. Edwards, W. S. Irey, E. E. Baker, Horatio Smith. Well, the Thomas is done. Who’ll bid on her? She could still haul something, surely—say mules for an African war, or cattle from Australia, or bananas from the Mosquito Coast. Let’s have the auctioneer describe her. Harland and Wolff built her at Belfast in 1893, and for five years she flew the Union Jack on the Atlantic run for the Hamburg-American line, under the name of the Persia. Too slow, though famed for the steadiness that has since made her defy the fiercest typhoons the China sea can brew, the owners rechristened her the Minnewaska and put her in the cattle trade between London and New York. Then they sold her to the United States, July 1898, and for a year, as the Minnewaska still, she carried troops, horses and commissary stores from the United States to Cuba and Porto Rico. Overhauled and refitted at Cramp’s in Phila delphia, she became the Thomas, queen of transports on the Pacific, making her first trip via the Suez as a show-off boat—at the request of European governments whose military depart ments wanted to see the latest thing in army transports. She wasn’t the fastest, even then, for at her best she makes but 13-1/2 knots an hour, and ordinarily 12, but she was “the newest, the IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 largest, and the steadiest of them all, and her machinery the best and most modern.” She’s 476 feet, keel 445 feet, beam 52.25 feet, draft 27 feet. We carry the technical descrip tion no farther. The Thomas should be made a national memorial, when she goes out of service, and here is something for the Philippine societies in America to do—those Americans who have Iwahig: Where Men are Men By Self-Reformation Early in January Dr. John Lewis Gillin made a trip to Iwahig Penal Colony on Palawan island with Director Ram6n Victorio of the prisons bureau. They were not quite alone. Dr. Gillin’s son, John Lewis, Jr., was with him, and two inspectors, not guards, and 111 prisoners were with Victorio. This at the start, on the cableship Bustamante, turned for the occasion into a convict ship below and a pleasure yacht above. But presently, beyond the lights of Corregidor and on the outside passage, seasick ness joined Victorio and the two inspectors, who lay helpless in their berths. Dr. Gillin, however, was not much perturbed. He hadn’t seen any arms in evidence, and he knew there were 111 prisoners aboard, but to be among prisoners, without any means of defense, was an old story with him. He is a somewhat celebrated criminologist. A professor of sociol ogy at the University of Wisconsin, he holds the chair of criminal pathology there; and he is the chairman of the committee on crime of the Social Science Research Council, for which organ ization he made the trip to the Philippines to visit Iwahig. (He studied Bilibid too, the insular penitentiary in Manila, but that doesn’t count so much: Iwahig was, quite rightly, his real objective.) Next August Dr. Gillin will present his report to the annual conference always held in August at Darmouth college. Seven different national organizations are united in the Social Science Research Council: The American Sociological Society, the American Economic Association, the American Political Science Association, the American Statistical Society, the American Historical Association, the American Anthropological Association, and the American Psychological Association. Many reports will be read at their meeting, but none can have more interest than Dr. Gillin’s on Iwahig. “It stands without a rival in the world,” is Dr. Gillin’s verdict on the colony. He wasn’t uneasy when Victorio and the in spectors got seasick, since he supposed, as he told his son, that the prisoners on board, who might easily have mutinied and taken possession of the ship, were men sentenced for crimes against property. He afterwards confessed that he should have been uneasy, when he learned that among the 111 men no less than 11 were parri cides, 40 were homicides, and 15, murderers; and the rest were bandits, highwaymen and cutthroats generally. “Why wouldn’t they mutiny?” he asked Victorio. “Because they wished to go to Iwahig, a priv ilege they had earned by good conduct in Bilibid, and because they would eventually be caught.” The men, in fact, though they had committed the most heinous and desperate of crimes, were, as prisoners of the state, the highest class of prisoners: in Bilit>id they had become trusties, and at Iwahig they were to be colonists, for such is the milder designation applied to the men making up the colony. In due course the voyage ended, at Puerto Princesa, where officials and colonists alike had gathered to welcome Victorio and his guests. An old Moro datu, with many notches on his kris, had been at the most distant station, in charge of some 40 colonists there. It was about 25 miles off, the farm comprises about 100,000 acres, and he had walked all day and part of the night in order to be at Puerto Princesa on time. Dr. Gillin was now to be still further astonish ed, learning that Captain R. P. Mitra, the colony superintendent, and only 25 others, half of whom are ex-colonists, comprise the entire official staff, and that they are all habitually without arms, save the conventional cane, their badge been in the islands and returned to the homeland, where thousands are influential who surely can’t forget a sturdy ship that has rendered them all unmeasured service. If peace hath her victories no less renowned than war, then let her have her monuments as well. The Thomas, too, has a double claim, her honors are equally of war and peace.■ — W. R. of authority. Iwahig is really a place regainful of men’s souls. It is under discipline, but wholly free from the vengeance society still commonly seeks in the condemnation of men who have infringed its laws. Colonists there number more than 1800; there are 26 officers and employes, 82 members of their families, and about 250 members of colonists’ families, there being 85 Ye Editor (left) interviews Dr. John Lewis Gillin (right) on Iwahig. See text. such families domiciled on the farm and governed by its mild discipline. There is, of course, a hospital; and there is also a public school, attended by the children of officers, employes and colonists, without discrimination. Justice seems to be the motto of administration, daily justice, and men’s, pasts are put behind them. There is a band, a recreation hall; and all the wholesome activ ities of a free community are carried on, by and for the colonists. Snaking Timbers Out of the Iwahig Forest “During my whole visit I saw but two fire arms, pistols, which probably couldn’t be fired,” said Dr. Gillin. “And as we rode over the farm I quizzed Director Victorio about this, he admit ting that all depended upon the men’s good behavior. And he said this good behavior resulted from several causes, chief among them being the proof, from early instances, that the escaped man is always caught, the second being the certain loss of rating, return to stripes and Bilibid, solitary confinement and leg irons, and further sentence and punishment for new crimes committed.” Victorio also told the Journal, “No excuses are ever accepted, and the men know it.” Bilibid is a dreary place for the lifer and longtermer. There is work, well enough organized, but no gain from it; the dormitories are over crowded, the whole atmosphere rigid, cramped, depressing. When they have earned the priv ilege of leaving Bilibid, men have put themselves through a voluntary course of discipline that has furnished them with a new character; and when they doff its stripes for the clothes of the colonist, they have put their old lives behind them. Iwahig has 22 separate activities, given a general classification. Many branches of farm ing and horticulture are carried on, at many stations, where groups of 40 men or so work under the surveillance of one of their number. The colonists in charge of these stations call up headquarters daily at stipulated hours, report ing what was done the day before and what will be done that day. The inspectors can come along at any time, and see that all has been done as reported. Coconuts, rice and sugar cane are all important crops, grown on the shares, and upon com pleting their sentences colonists have already had as much as 1’6,000 to their credit, something upon which to begin life anew. Merchants, Filipinos, of Puerto Princesa, assured Dr. Gillin that the best settlers in Palawan are, as a class, the ex-colonists, who have all acquired habits of thrift, industry and sobriety. There is a herd of 2,000 Indian cattle, one of the pictures shows the ox-teams at work. Fine Berkshire hogs are raised by the hundred, and chickens and other fowls abundantly. An irrigation and water supply system is a part of improvements valued at more than P95.000 made last year, estimates all appearing very reasonable. The colony is not as yet self-supporting, though it will soon be more than that. Let us mention 2,342 coffee trees planted last year, 53 cacao, 44 orange, 1,247 jackfruit, and 37 mango trees. “The parfi rubber trees in Abukayan rubber station are growing luxuriantly.” Fishing is important. Many thousands of coconuts are in bearing. To subsist the colonists costs the public '1 * 0.144 per day per colonist, and out of this must be taken the value of the products accruing to the government’s account, before there is a charge against taxes. Captain Mitra wants a revolving fund for the colony, and with fre quent auditing, for his own protection, it might well be given him. His report shows work inter rupted, abandoned sometimes, or indefinitely postponed, because his requisitions, such as for spare machinery parts, have been cancelled. Iwahig was established February 16, 1904, by R. J. Shields, when Forbes was the commis sioner- of commerce and police, and so it is a monument of Forbes’ administration. The ex penditures last year were 1’282,160 and the income 1’215,270, the net expenditure being the immaterial sum of 1’66,890. February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 9 Bristol the Right Man for Asiatic Fleet Commander Henry Musser If one has attempted to learn his China while sojourning in the Philippines (which are but an adjunct of America’s problem in China), he will not converse long with Admiral Mark L. Bristol, U. S. N., commander of the Asiatic fleet, before coming to realize that this distinguished officer of America’s sea power is precisely the right man to be in command of the fleet in the extreme Orient. It is revealed at once that Admiral Bristol has familiarized himself with-America’s naval and diplomatic policy in China, one of the most consistent state policies in the national annals. More, it is at once revealed that Bristol has studied that policy critically, placed it over against the perspective of China’s own history and retarded politico-social development, and that he believes in the policy, as recently restated by President Coolidge, down to the ground. It is a policy of waiting for China to find herself and to achieve self-control and self-sufficiency; that’s what it always has been. America wants China to become a forthright nation, just that is what she has always wanted. Through suc ceeding revolutions, the Chinese struggle toward this goal. Sometimes the policy seems tawdry and opportunistic in the eyes of the world, in American eyes too: the contending native fac tions occasionally do such outlandish things, and nations with big vested interests at stake take quicker action than America does, or more drastic action: America comes in for another round of criticism. But the same thing occurs in respect to Mexico, it is something which may not be avoided when and while America is waiting for nations like China and Mexico to become competent national forces and international partners. America doesn’t make alliances, even in the Great War it was the United States and the Allied Powers. It is the same in China, where, aloof from alliances and pacts, America co-operates qpon occasion, as in the relief of foreigners in Nanking last spring, as in the relief of Peking 28 years ago, as in the patrolling of the Yangtze. But when the specific job is done, America is her independent self again. Although this independence sometimes has an ugly look, those who watch intelligently and intrepidly and wait patiently may certainly be comforted with the assurance that in the long run America’s policy in China is to work out best for herself and all her friends. That is why Admiral Bristol believes in the policy, because it only seems, sometimes, to injure America’s friends—without really injur ing them, nor China, also America’s friend. For every nation concerned in China has its immediate interest there, and its more remote interest; and it is this more remote interest that is the more important, which by all means must be conserved. China will be a long time, a very long time indeed, in shifting from the old to the new order: America is an impelling force, by the simple means of her neutrality. Other Admiral Mark L. Bristol, U.S.N., commander of the Asiatic fleet: now in harbor on his flagship, the U. S. cruiser l‘itt*burUli. nations may.be restraining influences, but it is for all to be on a par with one another when the right day comes, when China achieves nationhood. Admiral Bristol makes no com ment upon other nations’ policies in China, America’s occupies him fully. The number of nationals to be protected is increasing. Equipment for this purpose begins to include the six gunboats being assembled at Shanghai for the Yangtze patrols. One is launched and in service, another is coming off the ways. They are armored and fully prepared for their necessary police duties, and their rivals are not to be seen on the river anywhere. Protection of American lives and property is a part of the restated national policy. Admiral Bristol has called upon Governor Gilmore, after having paid his respects to General Sladen, commanding ashore, and he will remain in Philippine waters with his flagship, the Pittsburgh, for the inauguration of Governor General Henry L. Stimson and for conferences with him, whom the admiral greatly admires. Consistency of action and a common accord will be the purpose of the conferences. It has been a month of courtesy exchanges, what with the flagship and the admiral with nearly the whole fleet in the roadstead, Admiral Blakely too, and the visits of the Japanese cruiser Ohi and H. M. S. Hawkins and Admiral and Lady Tyrwhitt. Marine and shore salutes have been booming away at frequent intervals, bands have been on repeated special duty at ceremonies, and the pomp and circumstance of courtly customs have kept the ranking officers ashore and afloat busily engaged. Henry Musser, member of the chamber of commerce, who left his plumbing business to his boys, Henry and George Musser, and died in St. Luke’s hospital December 27, was an American and oldest of the oldtimers in point of length of residence, who had had various experiences with his citizenship. He was residing in Manila when Dewey defeated the Spanish fleet, as he had been for some time. Living at the European hotel, on the site of what is now the Roxas building, Escolta and David, he was suspected of liaison connections with the fleet and had difficulty in keeping out of the clutches of the authorities. However, the risk was soon over. Musser was in his 77th year when he died, on October 5 last year he was 76 years old. He had been the first Elk to touch Philippine soil. As a member of the Leadville, Colorado, lodge, his funeral was under the auspices of the Manila lodge. It was also published that he and two others of the antlered tribe organized the Elks in Manila, but the actual facts, obscured in the haze of men’s recollections, may be that the three formed the habit of * >regathering together as Elks, or because they were Elks. Perhaps the charter came later. It was very early in the American period. Musser had established the American Hard ware and Plumbing company in the walled city. Henry Musser One of the very first American enterprises estab lished in Manila, this business now flourishes as (Turn to f>uge 11, column J) CONCRETE FOR PERMANENCE When building SEE that “APO” Portland, the Super-Cement is employed in your construction “APO” is Best by Test—Makes Best Concrete Sold only by reliable dealers and the CEBU PORTLAND CEMENT COMPANY China Bank Building MANUFACTURERS Manila, P. I. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 10 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 Vol. VIII No. 2 February 1928 EDITORIAL OFFICES American Chamber of Commerce 180 CALLE DAVID P. O. Box 1638 Telephone 2-11-56 A. S. CROSSFIELD Judge A. S. Crossfield has succumbed to the injuries he received in a fall New Year Day. He died at his home at 4 a. m. Friday, February 10, after making a gallant fight to ive. He was 73 years old and had been prominent here since 1900, whei he arrived in the islands as Captain of Company L, 44th U. S. Volunteer Infantry. Hosts of friends mourn his passing. The Journal and the chamber of commerce extend their sym pathies to the bereaved family. Our biographical sketch of Judge Cross field, now reprinted or rewritten in the daily press, appeared in the issue of February 1927. HAIL TO THE CHIEF Colonel Henry L. Stimson, our new governor general, is already on his way to Manila, to arrive here March 1. Hail to him. He comes with everyone’s best wishes and enjoys universal confidence. Last month we published a first rate photograph of him, and a front-cover of General Wood and him shaking hands on the steps of Malacanang. Here we give the Et tinger cartoon, reproduced from the Outlook. Although he has gathered about him a staff of military men, Winship, Dorey, A. Parker Hitchens, all from the Army, and Commander Jules James from the Navy, no one seems perturbed about this. Why not? Exactly, the reader’s own thought has already for mulated the answer. No one is perturbed because everyone feels that whoever may be as sociated with Governor General Stimson will be an aide, an as sistant, helping with details and minutiae but not making decisions. It is assumed that Governor Stim son’s purpose in coming to Manila is to disclose the islands’position in their permanent union with the United States, and to fit them into this position. Because of this, it is expected that the interest of investors of capital will swing this way, enhancing opportunities and dispensing prosperity. The governor general’s objective has of course not been revealed, but many straws, all whirling away in one direction, show whence the wind is blowing. THE INTERREGNUM Toward the beginning of Governor Gilmore’s administration, when he had said and done enough to give a general understanding of his methods and policy, we commented upon it at some length, expressing confidence in it and giving our reasons therefor. It now becomes our privilege to sum it up, before the Journal is out for March another administration will have begun. Gilmore has been the insular chief executive during ten months. Honesty compels admiration of this period as eminently out standing in the islands’ history. The cooperation spoken of on every hand as being desirable, Gilmore immediately achieved without the slight est deviation from General Wood’s sound principle of the sharp separation of the distinct branches of the government. This fact is evident in the work of the legislature which was approved, and in the acts which were not approved—the summum bonum of the session, a constructive record that will not soon or very easily be surpassed. Among the qualities of character which immediately won Gilmore that wide and spontaneous public confidence responsible for the achievements to which we allude, are his admitted integrity of purpose and his familiarity with, and respect for, the law. Criticism was at once disarmed and its acerbities abated, because the law informed the chief executive’s every action, and an un biased and plainly honest objective was manifest in all that was done. Happy is a people so governed, their progress is assured. Fortunate will be the succeeding administration, and all of us shall share that good fortune, if it too is disposed, as we all trust and believe it will be, to place its first reliance in the law and to advance as the legalities of the situation point the way toward advancement. JOSEPH’S AND JOSE’S COATS School children are to be uniformed throughout the Philippines with the opening of the schools in June. A committee has acted, native ma terials are to be preferred when available. The nearest approach to Ches terfield is a cheap cravat, girls in plain blouses and petticoats of uniform cut and color will be as like as peas in a market basket. Maybe, and maybe not. It will be interesting to observe this experiment. Board schools get away with rules of this kind, we think, precisely because they are board schools. Economy is the reason behind the new rule for the public schools. But is there riot the danger of too much regimentation of youth? Won’t teachers be exclaiming, like top sergeants and shavetails, you’re a disgrace to the uniform? And we shall have, perhaps, a crop of rollicking dual personalities, instead of the thrifty young people expected?—boys and girls under too much restraint during school hours, inclined to go to the opposite limit after hours. We accept the rule skep tically, we have to salt it to make it go down. Will it imbue the schools with a genuine democracy of spirit, or only seem to do so? Does it lean backward toward tribalism and provincialism, or forward toward that early expression of individualism identified with the freer civilizations? If it were voluntary, then it should be good; but in this age youth resents im positions, and the sullen protests of its physical weakness are no salutary influence on society. In other words, the cheap uniforms are likely to provoke further extravagance and class estrangements. THANKS TO MARY JORDAN Mrs. Charles C. Cresson, Mary Jordan, has thrilled audiences in San Antonio, Texas, recently with her renditions of Filipino native music. (She is the wife of Major Charles C. Cresson, U. S. A., formerly stationed at Fort Wm. McKinley.) This is the kind of international courtesy that counts. She sang a love song composed for her by Victoria Veloso, a nature song arranged by Mrs. Cavan, and another nature song, the bath ing song of the Igorots. Our Philippine music is melodious. It has in it the sob of the wind through palm trees, the sheen of the moon on the eb bing sea. It is distinctively south-sea. As such it will woo visitors to our shores when it is known abroad. It is more worthwhile to have these plaintive airs sung by Miss Jordan than to submit voluminous data on the islands’ resources, if we wish to have tourists come to see us. Let us hope she tours America, letting folks hear in New York, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia what has been heard and applauded in Dixieland. This is why, too, Mayor Earnshaw’s theater project is so important, and that other project, to convert the Ayuntamiento into an art museum. It seems that only the details of a land trade between the city and the insular government are now delaying the theater project. For goodness’ sake let’s have done with talk and start building. It is our art, our poesy, that people wish to enjoy. Give the public what it wants, and give the people spiritual outlet. COPRA: PAST AND PRESENT Leo Schnurmacher, 61 Juan Luna, Manila, has his annual coconut industry tables and graphs out, and they are very excellent. Injuries to the groves, caused by storms months ago, are now being felt in the yields; up into April this year the prediction is that arrivals of copra in Manila will be as much as 40 per cent below the same period last year. After April, however, more abundant arrivals are expected to bring Manila’s total for the year above that of last year by possibly five per cent, and the islands’ whole crop for 1928 is expected to exceed that of 1927 by ten per cent. It is noted from Journal records, verified with Schnurmacher’s figures, that yearly arrivals of copra in Manila increase over extended periods. In 1923 they were 2,696,233 piculs; in 1924, 2,542,892; in 1925, 2,392,883; in 1926, 3,198,310; in 1927, 3,147,257. When it is recalled that there are considerable exports to the United States from outports of south eastern Luzon, and that the desiccated coconut produced last year was 12,777 tons (lading value 1 * 5,634,657), an idea is gained of how considerably the annual yield of coconuts is increasing. The copra equivalent of the 12,777 tons of desiccated coconut is 24,244 metric tons. February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 11 Four Best Manila Newspaper January Editorials University Selection: Also the Best Among the Four NOT BAD—BUT IS IT CONSTITUTIONAL? {Herald-. January 10) The students of the University of the Phil ippines are satisfied with the style of uniform decided upon by the Student Council for adop tion in the state university in the next college year; but the student-body, under the guidance of several professors, will bring the matter of law enforcement to the court to test the constitutionality of the act. It seems that, while the student-body is satis fied with the law and the new uniform, they will refuse to wear it until the court declares that it is constitutional for them to be required to do so. So it is not a question of taste, but a matter of “Constitution.” This is to be expected from a center of learning like the University of the Philippines. Every thing there must be done on an intellectual basis. The students are not a flock of sheep which can be driven to the fold blindly. They are not so meek that they will accept anything that is dished out to them. It would be a sad commentary upon their intellect were they to accept a law without protest as to its constitu tionality. The people are satisfied that our tax-supported university has students who can look up to the “Constitution” as the source of individual rights. But why not submit the question to Ben F. Wright, our best and highest authority on the constitutionality of laws? —Best amontr the four. MORALITY (Tribune: January 10) Morality is an elastic word. What is moral to some may be immoral to others. It depends on one’s training, education, traditions, and civil ization. But there are certain tenets of morality that are universal. Honor, for example, is held priceless by all nationalities. The man from the Fiji Islands may have a notion of what honor is different from the interpretation that is given it by the gentleman in the most approved cut away in a Paris mansion, but the cannibal will adhere strictly to his concept of honor and risk his life to uphold it in the same manner that the civilized man will do everything to keep his honor unsullied. The difference lies in inter pretation. Once the standard is established, it is closely followed. In the Philippines, there may be divergence of opinion when it comes to drawing the demar cation line between what is moral and what is immoral. Our Oriental traditions have been somewhat upset by radical changes wrought by Occidental civilization. But public con science has approved certain conventions that must be followed. The standard of what is moral and the judgment of what is immoral are left to public opinion which dictates that which should be upheld as deserving of emulation and that which should be condemned as degrading and unworthy. If we are to have a country built on the permanent, foundation of a moral citizenry, then let us adhere strictly to our standards of morality. MOVED BY EXPEDIENCY (Bulletin: January 18) After the storm is over in connection with the release of funds from the public works bill passed in the overtime hours (or days) of the recent session of the legislature the finger of censure remains fixed in its position pointing toward the legislative halls. Apparently con siderations of expediency have moved the insular auditor and Washington officials to call off resistance to the release of funds without court action. But official sermonizing has been done to warn the legislature against repetitions of its embarrassing record of 1927. The precedent of court decisions indicate that the law would have been upheld had the case come to an issue, but that would not erase 1. Not Bad—But Is It Constitutional? (Herald, January 10).—Selected by Mr. Marcial Lichauco. 2. Morality (Tribune, January 10). —Selected by Mr. Jesus Valenzuela. 3. Moved by Expediency (Bulletin, January 18).—Selected by Profes sor Vicente M. Hilario. 4. Mindanao (Times, January 11).— Selected by Professor Jamias. Best of the month, from all four: Not Bad—But Is It Constitutional? (Herald, January 10).—Selected unanimously by the above four judges and Dr. G. P. Shannon. Certified. —G. P. Shannon. the black spot from the Philippine law-making record. In fact any action in court would have focussed the lights upon the legislature’s bung ling. The 1927 session was deplorably bungled from the start to the finish—long after the time which should have been the finish. Speculation on what transpired in Washing ton or between Washington and Manila to bring about the ban on the release of funds is futile, but it is known that the insular auditor now in Washington explained to the officials there what the situation was. It is certain he knew the official attitude before he ordered the withholding of appropriations. Also it is a safe guess that dispatches from the office of the governor general to Washington stressed the critical situation which would result here if funds should be withheld for an extended period. There were strenuous efforts to get the money loose. Expediency was foremost in the con siderations. But from this the legislature is not to assume that it can get away with such a policy year after year. It is not warranted in taking the decision to lift the ban and release funds as official endorsement of the course pursued in 1927. An election campaign is getting into swing. Now is a most opportune time to give serious consideration to the conduct of those elected to legislative office, especially the ones elevated to places of leadership. The leaders are not only the men who preside in the chambers of the legislature, but also the heads of committees, the, ones who have any responsible voice in shaping the program. The last two sessions of the legislature have not showed forward progress in the mode of procedure in the passage of laws. The policy has come to be one of squandering time early and stealing time late. The people who choose lawmakers should know that and should re member it on election day. MINDANAO (Times: January 11) What the wild and wooly West was to the United States in the eighties, Mindanao is to the Philippines in the present. Next to Luzon, Mindanao is the largest of the islands in the archipelago, and, not excepting Luzon, is the richest in natural resources. Its forest and mineral products have been slightly touched, and the possibilities for their development and exploitation are tremendous. Its fertile lands for agriculture are vast, only the coastal portions being cultivated with large areas still awaiting the hand of man to make them yield the produce that is wanted. Any step that may be taken for the develop ment of that island will be an incalculable con tribution to the progress of the Philippines in general. The last Philippine legislature deserves commendation for the efforts it put forth to investigate conditions there and for its appro priation of the necessary fund for the construction of a network of highways which will open up rich virgin regions and give impetus to trade and travel. Mindanao is one of the beauty sports of the Philippines and the construction of these roads will constitute a potent agency for the promotion of peace and will be an added at traction to tourists and homesteaders. The non-Christian tribes bureau reports peace and order in Mindanao during last year. 'These will be greater peace and order after these roads are opened to traffic. Outlawry and restlessness will disappear for wherever roads are laid out, towns spring up along them and with the estab lishment of peaceful communities, agriculture and industries and trade are developed hand in hand. Mindanao will find its salvation in roads and schools. Let there be more of them in the years to come. Henry Musser: Oldtimer (concluded from page 9) a hardware and merchandising entity of the Pacific Commercial company, as it has for many years. Henry M. Jones became Musser’s partner, and Musser sold Jones his interest and went down into Davao to try his hand as a planter. Henry and George Musser carry on their father’s business After several years, he returned to Manila to open the plumbing business, Henry Musser, Plumber and Contractor, which his boys in herited and propose to carry on at the old stand, 662 Rizal avenue. They are fine manly boys, both devoted to their father, and both seem ingly very capable and enterprising. Both were educated in Inglewood High School, Los Angeles, after attending the Central School in Manila. Henry took honors in athletics, George returned to Manila in 1925, prior to graduation, “because my father was growing old,” he says, “and he wanted me to have some prac tical experience in the business before he died.” The Musser estate includes a large property in Pandacan, the family home. Mrs. Musser’s maiden name was Hermogena de Jesus. It is a prominent Manila family. Mrs. Musser is a cousin of Dr. Paz Mendoza Guazon and Dr. Guazon, and similarly related to the Romualdez family. It was in 1920 that Henry Musser had his second queer experience with his citizenship. It seems that he had been out here so long that some one questioned whether he was an Amer ican. He went back to the United States and traced his genealogy back to Dutch settlers in New York in 1612. His mother’s family had settled in Virginia in 1791, succeeding generations moving westward. Musser found his mother’s people living in Oklahoma. He himself was born in Richmond, Va., 1851. But the national border, receding ever westward, beckoned him on. Naturally he at last arrived in Manila, and, when the flag came after, quickly decided to remain here. Pursuing his craft of master plumber, he lived the sturdy and busy life of the thrifty and useful citizen, and every acquaintance became a new friend. His adventures, like the adventures of so many Manilans, have the color of romance. Of course it was gold that took him to Leadville, and the same lure took him on to Alaska. He seems, however, not to have gone into the mines, but to have traded with the miners; and he obtained a mail contract and carried the mails by dog sledge between Juno and Nome. Kindly and generous and rugged, such was Henry Musser, our neighbor for nearly thirty years. 12 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 The Month in Sports: Soup to Nuts By Carroll D. Alcott There are tricks in almost every trade that the layman never knows about. He may get some sort of inkling of their existence but his knowledge of their char acter is usually vague. In sports it is the little tricks that the grandstands and the gallery seldom notice that win games. Knute Rockne, Notre Dame’s famous football coach, starts his second string men in almost every big game he plays, not because he partic ularly wants to give the second stringers a chance, but because of the psychological effect it has on the opposition. The fresh second string team, starting, of course, against a fresh team, puts up a good fight for a time. Knute jerks them when they start losing their punch and in goes the first team. It is not hard to imagine the effect on the team in the field when Rockne’s first line men leave the sidelines after finding the second string tough opposition. During the years when Nebraska and Notre Dame were on peaceful terms, the Huskers were the only aggregation not fazed by Knute’s strategy and they broke even in victories with the powerful Hoosier eleven. Red Grange, Illinois’ galloping ghost and now a professional football star, was made by news paper headlines. Before the start of the Ne braska-Illinois game five years ago, Grange was an unknown in the football world. By the time the Sunday papers had reached the street, Grange was the most feared half-back in the Big Ten. Grange made tmee sensational runs against the Huskers thanks to brilliant interfer ence, and the Chicago Tribune announced the victory with a 72 point streamline Grange Sprints to Fame. Every other paper in the middle west carried similar toplines on the event. The same day the writer witnessed a game between two small universities in South Dakota and watched a quarterback named Welch per form, against the toughest kind of opposition, in a manner that compared with what Grange had done. He made two long runs, netting one touchdown off the kickoff and then went Grange one better with a sensational display of forward passing to a younger brother who was co-starring with him. Both schools played good football and the fact that they were small had nothing to do with Welch’s work. The opposition was tough. Welch and his brother received a few lines in the local papers and only a few inches outside of the city for their running and passing. In a different setting, a big school for example, Welch would have been a big star, a Friedman, a Grange or a Kipke. On the same day that Illinois scored its sensational victory over Nebraska and gave its Grange to the world, Nick Kutsch, playing with a small Catholic school, ran rough-shod over a school of the same size. The story was reported in only one newspaper. Two years later this same Kutsch, playing with Iowa University, demoralized Grange and the rest of the Illini. He beat Grange at the running game and went him one better by booting two 40 yard field goals at 45 degree angles. The reports of Grange’s big day at Nebraska were electrifying. Michigan took the field against the Illini. Watch Grange! was the word passed around the Wolverine squad room. Michigan watched Grange but failed to take notice of Britton and the rest of the Illini inter ference. It was a great victory for Grange and the press came in for a big share of the glory. There is a certain golfer in the Philippines who has the bad habit of sneezing about once or twice during an 18 hole match. He sneezes at most critical moments, when an opponent is half through with his swing or on the greens. There is another who plays the municipal links who compliments an opponent when the latter is starting his swing. In his case compli menting the opposition wins his matches. A Chicago pro fessional won a $5,000 side bet on a tournament match in the southeast three years ago by crawling up in the branches of a tree, at the edge of the 18th green. He was one up on his opponent who was on the green in three, with only a two-foot putt to make. The Chica goan had taken four to get on and his lie was 15 feet from the cup. He missed the hole by inches and then took to the branch es of the tree unnoticed. The match was excit ing and the gallery was too busy watching the play to take any notice of what the Chi cagoan was doing. Just as his oppo nent was ready to start his shot, the man in the tree lost his balance, screamed and fell a distance of six or seven feet to the ground. His opponent drove the ball several feet off the green. It would have taken a mashie or niblick to get back on. It was a scurvy trick but none the less effective. The so-called tricks of the trade were overdone in the Philippine Baseball League last month, and the completion of the January and start Mrs. E. J. Nell, Winner cf the Women’s Golf Tournament A Super Food! Thousands of people are tcr-day reaching health by a new and pleasant route. “BEAR BRAND NATURAL MILK has now come to be recognized not only Super Food, “super” because whilst doing ordinary food, it at the same time corrects and balances the shortcomings of other foods! Bear Brand brings to your table the pure product—sterilized —of the world’s most famous herd of cows—fed on the verdant valleys of Emmenthal, Switzerland I of the February schedules saw the development of a nasty situation. Cavite has threatened to quit the league, all because a baserunner fooled a pitcher. Larry Doyle was ejected from a game because he emanated displeasure over an umpire’s decision. Bernales, Meralco shortstop, won a game when, as a batsman, he rushed in front of the plate and announced in a loud voice that the pitcher had just delivered a balk. It looked like interference, but the um pire and the league ruled otherwise. Bernales’ action was so rotten it reeked, and he should have been ejected and suspended. A week previous, he chose a spot between third and second base to start a fight after interfering with a shortstop’s efforts to field a ball, proving that there are a lot of tricks that could be left out. Last month in the Manila sport world pro duced one outstanding achievement. Com mander Charles Slayton, executive officer on the U. S. S. Richmond, magician and golfer, took only nine putts on the last nine holes of Fort McKinley’s course, thereby establishing what is considered as a world’s record. The writer has searched all reference books and records that he has on hand but has failed to find where the nine consecutive putt mark has been touched. Several have made 14 putts on 18 holes but they were not consecutive and there were no nine in a row. There are two or three instances of men taking 11 putts on nine holes. Three years ago the writer witnessed Walter Hagen take only seven putts on as many greens. That feat furnished the sport scribes with good copy for several weeks. Certainly Com mander Slayton’s achievement is worthy of record. The commander’s achievement was made on Sunday, January 29, while playing in a four some with Captain John C. Whitaker, of Manila, a McKinley officer, and a junior naval officer. The first round produced little more than ordi nary golf. The second was a thrill from the start. Slayton had but one easy putt on the round. That was on the 18th green. He made an excellent approach and dropped the ball within 15 inches of the pin. Ordinarily, the putt would have been conceded him, but not under those circumstances. He sank it after a full five minutes of walking around in a circle. It was a harder job to sink his 15 inch shot than any of the 15 to 20 yards putts he had made on the other greens. The achievement is all the more remarkable because of the fact that Commander Slayton did not make any exceptional approaches. His driving was good on eight tees. He dubbed one shot. After making four straight putts, all tough shots, the other members of the foursome cen. as a drink but as a the work of an IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 13 Three McKinley Stars: Jacob, CF; Le Loup, P; Escamos, C.—Leaders in their positions and high in the batting list. tered their interest around the commander’s put ting. After he had sunk the fifth and sixth putts, their part in the golf match was practically forgotten. His seventh putt was sensational. It was over 20 yards. The excitement was at a high pitch on the eighth. The commander was visibly nervous and anticipated a break in his putting powers. He got by the eighth, and the ninth, as previously stated, was easy. “I wouldn’t take a $100 for the thrill of witnessing Slayton’s performance”, Captain Whitaker stated after the match was over. “It was worth all of that.” Gun-Running In China: Its Principles By Robert J. Casey* Business vs. Sentiment Mukden, Manchuria, Nov. 7.—There is good money in filibustering if you can sell your product. And whatever the advantages of peace times, they furnish a very poor market for second-hand rifles. The question of peace is, of course, an academic discussion. China is pretty old now and get ting older every day, but not within the memory of the oldest inhabitant has there been any of this thing called peace that threatens so much peiil to the arms market. However, it is sometimes necessary to provide new markets for one’s wares. It is a principle of gun-running, if gun-running may be said to have any principles, that when one army is completely equipped one must provide a new army that is not equipped. And through a strict adherence to this simple rule of the trade I. Namahashi, the eminent Japanese gun runner, has made quite a nice thing out of his business. Not once has Mr. Namahashi allowed senti ment to creep into his transactions with the factional chiefs of this fair land. And he has had plenty of cause to be thank ful for his sturdy reluctance to let friendship, if any, inter fere with the marking of his price tags. Consider, for instance, the case of Chee Yuankai. Chee Yuan-kai was a lieutenant of Chang Tso-lin and, as such, was widely respected. In point of fame he was almost as great as the dic tator he served. In fact, one of the few differ ences between him and his commander-in-chief was that the loot all went to Peking instead of to G. H. Q. This, of course, did not seem fair, and he mentioned the situation to I. Namahashi. “I am just as good a general as Chang Tso-lin and I am sure that I would make just as good a dictator. I know seventy-five new and un tried methods of levying taxes Just as Good and I could get rich very as Chang speedily if I were allowed to put them into practice. But I certainly would be a fool to tell what I know to this Chang. He would merely give me another medal or a silly citation and I should Other events in Manila golf last month wer e many. Mrs. E. J. Nell defeated Mrs. E. F. Butler in the finals of the Women’s Open Golf Championship Tournament, winning the title left vacant several months ago by Mrs. Merrill. P. B. Santos won the Yamato Trophy at the Wack Wack Golf Club after some heavy compe tition. The Manila Golf Club team made a successful invasion of foreign shores, visiting Hongkong and returning home with a scalp. The Caloocan stars, headed by J. R. H. Mason, defeated the Shanghai team in the 1928 interport matches after losing their first match to the Hongkong aggregation. This month should produce some spectacular golf at Caloocan, with the annual open cham pionship of the Philippines on. Several new faces are on the entry list, while Larry Montes, the muny links caddy who created a stir last year, gets his second crack at the title. In the boxing world, nothing of great im portance happened in January. A sailor named Joe King made his appearance as a main event boy and kayoed Plamus of Corregidor in the short space of 45 seconds, and then lost to Harry Wills in a fight that went the limit of 12 rounds. The other contests of the month were only mediocre. The evening of February 4, Pete Sarmiento lost to Little Moro in the sixth round of a sched uled 12 round encounter. Sarmiento actually won the fight by a kayo. The blow, called a foul by the referee, was in reality a solar plexus punch well above the waistline. A body puncher of Sarmiento’s type is out of luck in the Phildie possessed of only a couple of million yen.” “I am sure you would be the most able dicta tor China hai ever seen,” replied Mr. Nama hashi. “And I can supply you with enough arms to equip a pair of divisions at $50,000 Mex.per thousand, and some of our grade B am munition—plenty good enough for the fighting of a Chinese war—at $10 the thousand lounds, * * * And I shall require $500,000 Mex. cash in advance.” “I can hear the country calling for me,” mur mured Gen. Chee. “The time is ripe for a new savior of China to rise up and get his cut.” So Chet Yuan-kai took the field. And what happened is now history. The maps of the world have been changed before now because a strategist was just a little too good He Takes for his job. the Field Chee Yuan’s attack on the right wing was so unexpected that his opponents had no time for preparation—a per formance so much at a variance with the local etiquette as to seem incredible. His fresh divi sions swung into action so energetically and fired off their rifles so continuously that the enemy had only one maneuver left. The foe leaped out of the trenches and ran and several hundred men were fearfully injured by getting trodden under foot. The result, of course, was what might have been expected. Gen. Chee’s troops, led on by this simple strategy, got spread all over north China. Their line of communication was broken Mindoro Sugar Company San Jost, Mindoro, P. I. WELCH - FAIRCHILD, LTD SUGAR FACTORS AND EXPORTERS MANILA, P. I. Cable Address: VVEHALD, Manila Standard Codes Agents Hawaiian-Philippine Company Operating Sugar Central Silay, Occ. Negros, P. I. Manila’s Babe Ruth, Luke Gage, Cavite CF, has no local rival at the bat. ippines. Every time he lands in an opponent’s mid-section and the latter gets hurt, the crowd yells foul. In these islands a boxer is not con sidered unless he throws his leath er at long range. The remainder of the fights this month hold nothing much for the fans. Jimmy Hill, the worst fighter in the is lands, is slated to fight Irineo Flores, while Louis Logan squares off with Ceferino Garcia. The latter en counter may prove interest ing. Baseball was featured by the rise of the Eagles from last posi tion in batting averages to the top spot. The All-American nine came out of its slump to hammer every pitcher in the league. They won the majority of their games by attenuation and the general himself found that he was open to attack at any moment. Under the circumstances there was only one thing to do. Gen. Chee also ran. He got back to Mukden undetected and was congratulating himself on the narrowness of his escape when two of Gen. Chang’s secret service operatives arrived to question him. “A revolution?” he repeated. "Yes, I have just heard of it. I know what happened. This 1‘ . villain Namahashi has been tampering with ” some of my stupid lieutenants Oh, Another and I am just at this moment Revolution! going out to kill him and prove my undying loyalty to our tupan, Gen. Chang.” “It might be a good policy to do that at once, or else shoot yourself,” admitted one of the detectives. So Gen. Chee picked up one of Mr. Namahashi’s bargain rifks and set out to wipe out his disgrace, ii any, by killing his cor rupter. He met Namahashi out in front of the rail road station and he fired a complete clip at him from a range of 100 feet. Mr. Namahashi looked pained, walked into the station and took a train for Antung. “No use talking, you can’t mix anything but business with business,” Mr. Namahashi ob served to the Japanese guard as the train pulled out. “Just think of what might have happened if I hadn’t cut the corners a little and sold him paper bullets.” *While Captain Robert J. Casey is on his Far Eastern trip, the Journal will frequently reprint his articles from the Chirayo Dail;, Km. His war diary TheCannoncers llate Ilairy Ears, is his latest book.—ED. Eat New York Agents: Welch, Fairchild & Co., Inc. 135 Front Street San Francisco Agents: Welch & Co., 215 Market Street IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 14 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 Providing Against Infirmity: Propitiating Fate Earnest Elmo Calkins The whole world has * * * been thrilled in contemplating the feat of a gallant young American who flew alone in one continuous flight from New York to Paris. It was one of those happenings which make us proud of the human race. Each of us went about our task with a little more enthusiasm. The world where such things could happen was a pretty good place after all. Suppose it had been possible for Lindbergh to take off without publicity. Sup pose for some unimaginable reason the news papers did not consider the event news. Re member, the Wright brothers’ first flight was not considered news. And so there would have been gathered together down there on Curtiss Field a little group of well-wishers, backers, and airmen. All that night, instead of hanging breathlessly on scraps of news while Lindbergh winged his way through night and silence, the civilized world would have gone about its ap pointed business, not knowing that a great event was in the making. When Lindbergh reached Le Bourget what happened would have been something like what Lindbergh, with his innate modesty, imagined would happen. He would have landed in an empty field, watched by airmen and others who happened to be on the spot; he would have told them what he had done, and they would have been slow to believe him. He would have parked his plane, hunted up a mechanic, got a cab, and set off to Paris to present his letters of introduction and convince another thrilled group that he had really flown across the Atlantic. What a loss that would have been to the known world! The feat would be just as fine, just as brave and skillful and wholly admirable, but no one would know it. We should lose all the thrill, the inspiration, the enhanced faith in humanity that the knowledge of it gave us—the take-off, the long night of anxious waiting, the safe arrival, the spontaneous reception; two whole hemispheres warmed and stirred and drawn together, not by what young Lindbergh did, but by the high privilege of knowing what he did, and sharing it. Most of the benefit of that flight would have been lost without publicity. It is not unknown good, but known good, that benefits the world. And so with insurance. The life companies have written $11,000,000,000 new insurance in the last twelve months, and not one of us a whit wiser or better or more uplifted because of that fact. It all happened off stage. Yet the stories behind that vast gain would move and stir us, did we know them, as did Lindbergh’s flight or the Mississippi flood. If insurance were being presented constantly to all who can read, in terms of living, in terms of man’s daily interests and dreams and ambi tions and affections,—as one of the basic things of life, like getting on in the world, or marriage, or health, or recreation,—and especially if all the picturesque and entertaining stories which grow up around the practice of insurance were used, the sight of the word “insurance” in print would be the signal for such interesting and agreeable mental pictures as accompany the words “raise in salary,” “home run,” or “tax reduction.” Of things that ai’e basic in us, resting on natural and primitive instincts, self-preservation and self-perpetuation have always been consideied two great ones. Self-preservation includes every thing from a pay envelope to dodging an auto mobile. Self-perpetuation includes not only the great function of bearing and raising chil dren, but also every yearning for posthumous fame. The man who gives one hundred thousand dollars to found a public library is moved by practically the same motive as the man who brings up a fine family, though probably it is easier for many men to earn a hundred thousand dollars than to raise a fine family. I have been reading an interesting book called This Believing World. It is a history of reli gion. It shows that fear is the origin of all religion. Primitive man found himself at the mercy of forces which he did not understand. Rain, hail, lightning, flood, and fire snatched away his humble store of food, his flimsy hut, or his family. There seemed to be no reason for these happenings. He believed that they were caused by malignant spirits which were hostile to him. He tried to find some way to propitiate them. By charms, fetishes, totems, sacrifices, and rituals he endeavored to appease the enemies he believed lived in the forces of nature, and out of this fear of the unknown grew the first primitve religion. As man became more civilized and intelligent, and learned more about the world around him, his religion kept pace. He did not lose fear, but he became wiser about it; and when he was intelligent enough to know that religion had nothing to do with the forces of nature at work in the world, he invented in surance, the modern and scientific method of micigating the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Indeed, much of the world’s folklore, Greek and older myths and legends, and many a fairy tale are based on an instinctive but blundering groping for insurance. Achilles’ mother bathed him in the Styx to make him immune. How many legends rest on the idea of propitiation of some impending evil, or providing some armor or charm or rite to wfird off the dangers surround ing the adventure of life! And what is insurance, all insurance, but preparation to mitigate the accidents of fate, to soften the blow, to render one’s stlf, family, income, possessions, as safe as possible from what may happen? Another human instinct out of which insurance grows is cooperation. Cooperation is the finest flower of civilization. When hundreds of thou sands of people are washed out of their homes by the overflowing Mississippi the nation passes the hat and responds with millions to care for the refugees. This is spontaneous cooperation. But if every one of the dwellers in the lowlands bordering the Mississippi had been for years paying a small sum annually to insurance com panies to provide against losses by flood, that would have been organized cooperation. In surance is organized cooperation. It is a form of public utility. The need of insurance is a basic need—primal, intuitive, fundamental. Self-preservation, yearn The West Coast Life Insurance Company offers A full line of modern life insurance contracts designed to meet every need of business or personal protection. For particulars and quotations consult the Philippine Branch Office West Coast Life Insurance Co. Kneedler Building Manila, P. I. Telephone 664 ing for immortality, love of family, ambition thrift, fear, the sad aftermath of war, the sustain, ing solidarity of cooperation, all demand and are to a great extent met and satisfied by some form of insurance. Insurance runs up and down the whole gamut of human emotions, interwoven with all our hopes and fears, a human service if there, ever UNIVER SAL SATIS FACTION of discriminat ing men has been the boon of our tailor ing depart ment for more than 28 years. Largest selection of good suitings. NEW YORK-PARIS-MANILA 12 Escolta Phone 706 IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 15 UFE INSURANCE eftailtyMan-J^E^D lund-is an asset to any To^idow-MAINT£ contort and provWw cation foe the children What Is i to You The Insular Life Assurance Co., Ltd. MANILA, P. I. Low rates iberal conditions ocai investments oans on real estates repayable monthly instalments, at ow interest If a mindful man with a fixed salary dies, he will only leave a small saving to his family For about F31.00 annually our company guarantees the payment of Pl,000 to your wife or sons in case of death, or to the insured himself if he survives the policy. Call or write for particulars to: The Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. E. E. ELSER, General Agent 405 Kneedler Building, Manila P. O. Box 598 Phone 2-24-29 HOME OFFICE 4th Floor, Filipinas Bldg. Plaza Moraga, Manila, P. I. P. O. Box 128 C. S. SALMON 3rd Floor, Gaches Bldg. Escolta cor. T. Pinpin 115 P. O. Box 734, Manila V. SINGSON ENCARNACION, President J. McMICKING, Manager was one. I am, I believe, what almost any life company would consider a good customer. Last year I paid to the largest company in the world premiums aggregating something over $23,000. The form of insurance of which I buy most is what is known as annuity. It is less popular in this country than in England, and there was little demand for it. But it fitted my peculiar needs, and the story of how I came to that con clusion is pertinent to this discussion. I am engaged in a race with deafness. I have been deaf all my life and am growing deafer as I grow older, facing the menace of diminished earning power. I desired to establish an income which would provide for me as long as I lived, and which would be outside of my control. If deafness interfered with contacts by which I earned my living, it would equally interfere with the intelligent investment of my own funds. Men learn about good investments from each other, often in casual conversation. A deaf man is dependent solely on himself. It seemed a great privilege that I could hire a competent organization to invest a certain portion of my savings and pay me a greater return on it than I could receive from other investments, however fortunate, at the risk of leaving in the company’s hands all that I had not used before I died. I have bqught freedom from worry about ways and means for the rest of my natural life. An organization, safeguarded by restraining laws, is bound by contract to pay me a certain stipulated amount as long as I shall need it. The other day I drew a check for $16,012 and sent it to that company. It was quite an event in my economic life. It was the final payment on the largest of my annuities. I had been hard put to it at times to get together the money to meet the payments, but I had at last achieved this one ambition and had as far as was humanly possible propitiated one of the enemies of man kind. But while it was a red-letter day for me. it was just Tuesday at the insurance company’s office. Promptly I received the standard receipt —a green slip, filled out by an adding machine. No human hand had touched it. No red and gold ink marked it as the special and final pay ment, the goal, the capstone, the magna charta of my new liberty, the privilege of living free from at least one form of worry as long as life should last. I wrote for information. This was the final payment, was it not? And was my understanding of the policy the correct one? In two weeks came the reply. My understanding was correct. The payments would begin on such a date. Next! Just like that. It was as hospitable as lunching at an automat. The story of my unusual annuities came to the attention of one of those exceptional in surance agents who are building up their busi ness along lines of human relations. He asked me if I would write him a letter telling him the story I have told here, and allow him to use it as a means of interesting others in old-age insurance. I would and did. He tells me that my letter has been a great help to him; that through it he has sold a great deal of such in surance. —Atlantic Monthly. Mayor Tomas Earnshaw is reported to be sufferinig from eye trouble, making it difficult for him to attend to his duties; yet he goes ahead Telephone China Bank Bldg. 2-21-86 Manila, P. I. A. A. U. FIRE-MARINE-LIFE-AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE CENTRAL AGENTS AND ATTORNEYS: United States Fire Insurance Company of New York Agricultural Insurance Company of Watertown, N. Y. Hudson Insurance Company of New York North River Insurance Company National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburg, Pa. National Union Indemnity Company of Pittsburg, Pa. Asia Life Insurance Company of Wilmington, Delaware AMERICAN ASIATIC UNDERWRITERS, INC. with his theater plans, and tries in every way to put his announced program into effect. M. H. O’Malley, president of the Philippine Trust Company, is quite ill, suffering from ar thritis. The bank had an excellent year 1927. The report of the auditors, Clarke and Larkin, published in condensed form shows assets of 1’13,298,253, with deposits alone of P6,216,781. The Bank of the Philippine Islands shared the general prosperity of 1927. A dividend of four per cent has been declared, with the con sequence that the stock is again in demand and mounting toward par value. No dividends had been declared since 1923, but this bank has earned large profits for its shareholders since its organization under royal charter in 1851 as the first chartered bank in the Orient. The charter granted under the United States having been renewed by the Philippine legislature, the bank is preparing to publish an illustrated volume this year, covering its long history in the eastern financial world. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 16 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 TWENTY EIGHT YEARS Steady Growth under the same Management As the “Exponent of Philippine Commerce” with the constant purpose of service to the public, the MANILA DAILY BULLETIN has kept pace with the upward trend of the barometer of economic progress. The confidence and loyal support of the public has enabled the BULLETIN to maintain the lead in the daily field since 1912. Total Advertising, Carried by Leading Manila Dailies During Last Four Years: Column Inches 1924 FOUR leading papers - - - - 1,090,603 1925 FIVE leading papers - - . - 1,146,931 1926 FIVE leading papers - - - - 1,224,875 1927 FIVE leading papers . - - - 1,206,640 In 1924 the BULLETIN carried: 1% more than the 2nd paper 29% more than the 3rd paper 78% more than the 4th paper In 1925 the BULLETIN carried: 31% more than the 2nd paper 41% more than the 3rd paper 65% more than the 4th paper In 1926 the BULLETIN carried: 35% more than the 2nd paper 37% more than the 3rd paper 54% more than the 4th paper 95% more than the 5th paper In 1927 the BULLETIN carried: 33% more than the 2nd paper 38% more than the 3rd paper 69% more than the 4tli paper 98% more than the Sth paper WHERE MOST BUSINESS GOES IS A GOOD PLACE TO GO FOR MORE BUSINESS TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OLD FEBRUARY 1, 1928 IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 17 COMBINE THE USE OF “SHELL MOTOR OILS” WITH “SHELL GASOLINE” FOR SPEED, SAFETY, AND SATISFACTION SINGLE SHELL .(LIGHT BODY) For your Ford Car or Ford Truck DOUBLE SHELL MEDIUM BODY) For your Auburn or—Buick,—Cadillac, Chalmers, Chandler, Chevrolet, Citroen, —Dodge,—Essex,—Gray,—Haynes, Hudson, Hupmobile,—Jewett,—Lincoln, Loco mobile,—Mannon, Maxwell, Minerva, Moon, Morris,—Nash,—Oakland, Olds mobile, Overland,—Packard, Paige, Pierce-Arrow—Renault, Reo, Rickenbacker,— Scripps-Booth, Standard, Studebaker, Stutz,—Willys-Knight, Wolseley touring car(s). Also for your Bethlehem-truck or your Buick,—Chevrolet, Clydesdale,—Daim ler, Dennis, Dodge,—Federal,—Garford, G.M.C. Graham, Gray,—International,— Jewett,—Maxwell,—Overland,—Peerless,—Reo, and Traffic truck(s). TRIPLE SHELL (HEAVY BODY For your Austin, or—Bianchi,—Chrysler, F.I.A.T.,—Hispano-Suiza—Itala,— Lancia, —Mercedes, —Napier, — Opel,—Rochet - Schneider, Rolls-RoyceSinger, Star,—Windsor touring car(s). And also for your Austin truck and Berliet, Bianchi,—Chrysler, Clayton, Ensign,—F.I.A. T.,—Kelly Springfield,—Lancia,—Napier,—Opel,—Packard, PierceArrow,—Renault, Republic,—Star,—Thornycroft, Trojan,—Warwick, Watson, or White truck. This grade is also the ideal tractor oil for your Acme and or Avery, Austin,—Case, Chase, Clayton, Cletrac,—Eros,—F.I.A.T., Fordson,—Garner,— Hart-Parr, Holt,—Samson,—Titan, Twin City, and Simplex. GOLDEN SHELL (EXTRA HEAVY BODY) If you own a Morgan, or Rover touring car, a Vulcan Truck or a motorcycle S-H-E-L-L G-E-A'R O-I-L FOR TRANSMISSION AND BACK AXLE The Asiatic Petroleum Company (P. I.), Ltd. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 18 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 Balboa to Goethals: History of the Panama Canal From the inception of the realization that America was America, rather the Americas, a great new continent instead of a new-found shore of Asia, the notion of effecting interoceanic communication across some narrower portion of the new lands took hold of men’s minds and commanded the attention of monarchs and their councils thereafter during hundreds of years. The Spanish conceived project after project, during the 16th, 17th and 18th centu ries. On the other hand, William Paterson, the man principally identified with the founding of the Bank of England, secured parliamentary action and all but established an overland route across Darien, at the close of the 17th century. This was, of course, an act of the Scottish parlia ment, chartering the “Company of Scotland, Trading to Africa and the Indies,” which was popularly known as the Darien Company. This information and all that follows is from The Pacific Ocean in History, a volume of the papers read at the meeting of the American Historical Society in San Francisco in 1915, at the Panama-Pacific exposition celebrating the opening of the Panama canal, and the data are chiefly from the excellent historical review contributed to that occasion by Dr. Rudolph J. Taussig, of Harvard. Paterson was a man of such initiative and vision, atuned to practical enterprises, as would be expected to be met with in a founder of the Bank of England. He planned a British colony on the Atlantic side, another on the Pacific, with the overland route for goods and passengers maintained between them. In other words, he visioned in 1698 what America put into execution in the 1850’s, under the exigency of the traffic to California. He assured the British commercial world that the time and expense of navigation to and from the Far East would be cut in two by his project, and trade doubled: “Trade will increase trade, and money will beget money, and the trading world shall need no more to want work for their hands, but will rather want hands for their work. Thus this door of the seas, and the key to the universe, with anything of a sort of reasonable management, will of course enable its proprietors to give laws to both oceans and to become the arbitrators of the commercial world, without being liable to the fatigues, expenses and dangers, or contracting the guilt and blood, of Alexander and Caesar.” Preoccupation with wars was, no doubt, the reason why Britain never carried Paterson’s project at Panama into effect. She intrigued, but nothing more. Alexander von Humboldt listed nine several projects for uniting the oceans at Panama or along routes north and south of the isthmus, in his Political Essay on the Kingdom of New Spain. This caught the imagination of the German poet Goethe, who, predicting that with the development of the United States "new trading centers will spring up in the safe and roomy harbors on the Pacific coast (this in 1827), for developing commercial relations with China and the East Indies,” said it would not only be desirable then, but also necessary, “that both merchant vessels and men of war should have a quicker connection between the Atlantic and the Pacific than is possible by a voyage around Cape Horn. I therefore repeat that it is absolutely necessary for the United States to build the interoceanic canal and I am sure that she will do so. ... It would be worth while to bear life for fifty years longer for this purpose,” that of seeing the canal undertaken and accomplished by the United States. Either this demonstrates that there is some practical sense in some poets, or that in men of practical affairs there is some poesy. When the Latin colonies in America created themselves into republics, in the first quarter of the ,19th century, “they turned their attention to the construction of an interoceanic canal.” Bolivar gathered a congress at Panama in 1826, where America sent commissioners, bearing this instruction from Henry Clay, secretary of state: “The benefits (of a canal) ought not to be exclusively appropriated to any one nation, but should be extended to all parts of the globe upon the payment of a just compensation or reasonable tolls.” The commissioners reached Panama after the congress, which never reassembled, had ad journed. A senate resolution of 1835 authorized nego tiations on the basis of Clay’s principle, and a similar house resolution of 1839 is the first offi cial suggestion that the canal be built by the United States. WHEN TRAVELING CARRY NATIONAL CITY BANK OF NEW YORK LETTERS of CREDIT — •>,r'- — TRAVELERS CHECKS SAFE - - CONVENIENT - - SELF-IDENTIFYING INTERNATIONAL BANKING CORPORATION I PACIFIC BUILDING MANILA, P. I. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 19 La Flor de la India We carry complete lines of Beautiful Haori Coats, Spanish Shawls of the Latest Designs, and everything made of silk. Persian Rugs: 50% Dis count from our regular prices. Try Us Before You Buy 30-32 Escolta Manila, P. I. In 1845-46, when still a political prisoner in France, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte got a con cession from Nicaragua for a canal by way of the San Juan river and the two lakes to Realejo, the canal to be named in his honor. And when he had escaped to London he published a pamph let furthering his project and picturing Leon as a rival of Constantinople, saying “Nicaragua can become, better than Constantinople, the necessary route of the great commerce of the world,” a contention equally applicable, of course, to Panama with a canal cut through it; and we are thus able to weigh the value of the property America now holds in the canal and the canal zone. Louis dropped his project when he became emperor of France, but his intrigues in England had led to the alarm and indignation in the United States that gave cause for the ClaytonBulwer treaty (Washington, April 19, 1850), which James G. Blaine, when secretary of state in 1881, described as “misundertandingly en tered into, imperfectly comprehended, contra Maj. Gen. George W. Goethals. 1858-1928 Builder, Panama Canal When Goethals took charge of the building of the canal appears elsewhere. He was bom in Brooklyn, June 29, 1858, and is a shining example of the city chap who suc ceeds. First attending the College of the City of New York, he was graduated from West Point in 1880. He was, as a volunteer officer, chief of engineers, SpanishAmerican War, 1898, and was made a major in the en gineering corps, U.S. A., 1900, rising by merit to his major generalship, 1915. He was instructor in civil and military engineering at West Point after graduation until 1888, and then took charge of the Muscle Shoals canal construc tion on the Tennessee river. This prepared him for the Panama job, but in manifold other duties he proved his exceptional ability and personal initiative. He received the thanks of Congress "for distinguished service in con structing the Panama canal,” and was made a I). S. M. man for "meritorious and conspicuous service” in re organizing the quartermaster department during the Great War. He died three weeks ago, one of the greatest dictorily interpreted, and mutually vexatious.” In such an instrument there was traced a joint and several jurisdiction and opportunity, of England and the United States, respecting canal projects; the United States had been impelled to such an agreement—infringing, as was pointed out by critics at the time, the Monroe doctrine— by England’s establishment of a protectorate over the territory at the mouth of the San Juan river. The treaty was a thorn in America’s midriff until abrogated, December 16, 1901, by the HayPauncefote treaty granting the United States the right to construct the canal and ‘‘the exclu sive right of providing for the regulation and management of the canal.” But as late as his message to congress of December 8, 1885, Cleve land had said ‘‘whatever highway may be con structed . . . must be for the world’s benefit, a trust for mankind, to be removed from chance of domination by any single power, nor become a point of invitation for hostilities or a prize for warlike ambition.” But how may Panama, any more than Constantinople, be free from the envy of the world, or the United States, as its custo dian—as, indeed, the actual owner and sovereign of the canal and canal zone itself—be free from the necessity of being at all times prepared for its defense? Though he seemed to reiterate the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, still in force, the objective sought by Cleveland, except the United States become a belligerent, is most nearly secured under the terms finally effected. The rush to California setting in in 1849 could not wait upon diplomats or hydraulic engineers. New York chartered a railroad company in 1850, which completed a line across Panama from ocean to ocean January 27, 1855, operating under a treaty between the United States and New Granada (of which state Colombia is the resid uary legatee). The road cost $8,000,000, and was profitable. Its trade, however, was only 1/15 with California, and 14/15 arose from commerce between England and the United States, and Central and South America. The treaty of Bogota, December 1846, was the diplo matic fabric, or at least a principal part of it, CANADIAN PACIFIC LARGEST—NEWEST—FASTEST—STEAMSHIPS ON THE PACIFIC to CANADA, UNITED STATES and EUROPE Proposed Sailings: Steamers Leave Leave “Emp. Russia” “Emp. Asia”. . . “Emp. Canada” “Emp. Russia” “Emp. Asia” . . “Emp. Canada” Manila llongkong Mar. 3 Mar. 7 Mar. 24 Mar. 28 Apl. 14 Apl. 18 May 5 May 9 May 26 May 30 June 17 June 20 Leave Leave Shanghai Kobe Mar. 10 Mar. 13 Mar. 31 Apl. 3 Apl. 21 Apl. 24 May 12 May 15 June 2 June 5 June 23 June 26 Yokohama Vancouver Mar. 16 Mar. 25 Apl. 6 Apl. 15 Apl. 27 May 6 May 18 May 27 June 8 June 17 June 29 July 8 CANADIAN PACIFIC EXPRESS TRAVELLERS CHEQUES Experienced Travellers carry them because of their convenience and safety DESCRIPTIVE FOLDERS ON APPLICATION TO CANADIAN PACIFIC PHONE 656 14-16 CALLE DAVID PHONE 657 GOOD THE WORLD OVER Aek any Canadian Pacific Agent IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 20 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 upon which Roosevelt finally rested the canal project. He and Hay utilized it to confound the efforts of Maroquin, in his own person the Colombian government in 1902-04, to squeeze the United States. With the Clayton-Bulwer treaty in view, the United States and England to extend their joint protection, in 1851 Dr. Edward Cullen recom mended to Great Britain the construction of the Isthmian Ship Canal, utilizing the Savana river and, a tidewater project, shunting ships into the Atlantic from the Pacific at flood tide, and vice versa at ebb. The usual joint stock ocmpany with limited liability was formed, capital L’15,000,000, the estimated cost of the canal being £7,000,000. Subsequent engineering investiga tions showed Cullen’s plans to be unfeasible, he had left a mountain range out of account. In 1866 the senate called for a navy report on all the canal projects, and Rear Admiral Davis furnished it. The United States also set to work to abrogate the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, Seward saying, as secretary of state, that the prospect of undertaking the building of a canal was imminent when the treaty was made, but that “at present there does not appear to be a likelihood of its being undertaken.” President Grant enunciated the doctrine of “an American canal under American control,” and caused thorough surveys to be made of the various projects. The conference on the subject of an inter oceanic canal in Paris in 1879 resulted in the organization of a French construction company under the presidency of the famous builder of the Suez canal, Ferdinand de Lesseps. Again the United States was aroused, everyone con cluding, with de Lesseps’ name coupled with the business, that it would be speedily terminated, and President Hayes made occasion to say that “the policy of this country is a canal under American control.” Garfield, succeeding Hayes, added his word: “It is the right and duty of the United States to assert and maintain such super vision and authority over any interoceanic canal across the isthmus as will protect our national CHRONOLOGY Canal treaty with Colombia signed Jan. 22, 1903; ratified by senate March 17, 1903; rejected by Colombia Aug. 12, 1903. Revolution in Panama Nov. 3, 1903. Canal treaty with Panama negotiated Nov. 18, 1903; ratified by republic of Panama Dec. 2, 1903: ratified by the United States senate Feb. 23, 1904. Canal commissioners appointed Feb. 29, 1904. Papers transferring canal to the United States signed in Paris April 22, 1904. Bill for government of Canal Zone passed by the senate April 15, 1904; passed by house April 21; approved April 26. Canal property at Panama formally turned over to the United States commissioners Work begun by Americans May 4, 1904. President outlines rules for the government of the Canal Zone and war department takes charge of the work on May 9, 1904. Gen. George W. Davis appointed first governor of Canal Zone May 9, 1904. John F. Wallace appointed chief engineer May 10, 1904; resigned June 29, 1905. Republic of Panama paid $10,000,000 May 21, 1904. First payment on $40,000,000 to French com pany made May 24, 1904. Lorin C. Collins appointed Supreme court judge for Canal Zone June 17, 1905. New commission with Theodore P. Shonts as chairman named April 3, 1905; Shonts resigned Mor 4, 1907. John F. Stevens appointed chief engineer June 29, 1905: resigned Feb. 26. 1907. Lieut.-Col. George W. Goethals appointed chief engineer Feb. 26, 1907. Gatun dam finished June 14, 1913. Dry excavation completed Sept. 10, 1913. First vessel lifted, through Gatun locks Sept. 26, 1913. Gamboa dike blown up Oct. 10, 1913. First vessel pass through Miraflores locks Oct. 14, 1913. Permanent organization cf canal administra tion in effect April 1, 1914; Col. George W. Goethals first governor; existence of isthmian canal commission ended. First freight barges go through canal from ocean to ocean May 14, 1914. First steamship (the Cristobal) passes through canal Aug. 13, 1914. Canal opened for general traffic Aug. 15. 1914. Canal blocked by slides September, 1915, to April, 1916. interests.” Blaine, his secretary of state, in structed America’s European representatives to explain that this policy was in strict accordance with "principles long since enunciated by the highest authority of the government.” He referred to the Monroe doctrine. Now it was that James B. Eads, builder of the wonder-working jetties at the mouth of the Mississippi, came forward with a project for railroading full-laden ships across the isthmus of Tehuantepec; and, while nothing came of this, Mexico did grant the concession. (It should be mentioned that with Louis Napoleon’s project, went 200,000 acres of land; a hint of the present canal zone). The Universal Inter-Oceanic Canal Company, headed by de Lesseps, was organized February 1, 1881, and commenced its work. The Panama route had been decided upon, and the cost of the canal estimated at $132,000,000. It is amusing to read, in Willis Fletcher Johnson’s Four Centuries of the Panama Canal (the author is a former editor of the North American Review), of the enormous schemes by which investors in the company—with which, so un fortunately, de Lesseps’ name was connected,— were bilked out of their money. In 1888, after seven years, the company was bankrupt. It had spent $400,000,000 and not half the work was com pleted. Reorganized in 1893, with $180,000,000 more, the French company expected to complete the canal. Its work proceeded, always under the jealous eye of the United States. And it soon had a rival in the Maritime Canal Company, taking up the Nicaraguan project and beginning work at Greytown—old San Juan, renamed when England, under Palmerston’s aggressive policy, practically resolved upon war, if necessary, to have the canal, and established her protectorate over “the king of the mosquito coast”—and spending all its capital, $6,000,000, before the panic of 1893 made it impossible for the time being to raise any more money. The project might probably have been taken over by the American government, as was proposed, had the Spanish-American war not intervened. Because it’s pure and healthful—its popu larity is ever increas ing. The most refreshing drink in the Islands Made by SAN MIGUEL BREWERY IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 21 But it did, the Oregon made its spectacular voyage from San Francisco to the West Indies around South America under the command of Fighting Bob Evans, and the public demand for a canal was renewed with a persistency that would not down. McKinley appointed a com mission, in 1899, which recommended the Nica raguan route because, while the Panama route seemed to be cheaper, “the Colombian govern ment is not free to grant the necessary rights to the United States, except upon condition that an agreement be reached with the New Panama Canal Company.” The commission believed that no such agreement could be effected, the company holding out for $109,000,000 (on its outlay of more than $400,000,000), and the com mission’s ideas being $40,000,000. When the company came to the commission’s figures, the commission changed its recommendations from Nicaragua to Panama. The Spooner bill of 1902 then authorized the president, Roosevelt, to purchase the rights of the French company and to proceed with the work at Panama, under certain conditions to be granted by Colombia—in which government, succeeding New Granada, Panama was a poli tical entity with the right of secession. Such had been her stipulation with New Granada, and it resulted in the building of the canal by the United States. With the canal a fait accompli, speaking to the historical society at San Fran cisco, Roosevelt said “it is a mistake for any person privately, or for all persons publicly, to hire me to do anything unless they want it done.” We observe that talk of building the canal, by the United States, had been going on for 75 years; Roosevelt proposed to change discussion into accomplishment. Not Colombia, but Co lombia’s dictator, Maroquin, stood in his way, Panama being then still under Colombia, from her provisionary uniop with New Granada. Maroquin had begun as vice president, but achieved the presidency by jailing the elected incumbent; and when he had done this he pro rogued the congress. So situated, he was treat ed with: for $10,000,000 the United States was to acquire the canal rights, when, with not more than the $40,000,000 Congress authorized, the French‘company’s rights were purchased. The agreement effected with the French com pany, Maroquin developed scruples, and con vened the Colombian congress, which held null the extension of the company’s rights, for ten years, which otherwise would have expired in 1904, and null also Maroquin’s agreement to grant the United States canal rights for $10,000,000. Roosevelt says that the American minister, Baupre, learned that to assuage the new scruples of Colombia would require another $10,000,000. Roosevelt himself went on the war path, as was natural with him, and Hay went into the records once more. As to the United States, Hay found that its covenant with New Granada bound it only to protect the canal zone from any assault from without, which covenant he held to run with the land, not with succeeding governments as they might legally or arbitrarily be established; and that the covenant did not extend to suppres sion of revolutions. As to Panama, Hay reread the terms upon which it had originally united with New Granada, and its subsequent history, culminating in what Roosevelt describes as its seizure by Colombia “without regard to the articles in the treaty under which it had joined.” In Panama, too, Roosevelt discerned a dozen revolutions brewing. Roosevelt says anyone falsifies who intimates that he fomented a Pana ma revolution. From army officers sent to find out the facts, he learned that a revolution would occur in Panama if the Colombian con gress adjourned (in November, 1903) without ratifying the treaty Maroquin had made with the United States—for it was now clear that either Nicaragua or Panama was to get a canal and get one quick, and they were at keen rivalry for the boon. Instead of fomenting a Panama revolution, therefore, Roosevelt merely let one brew; and when Panama had thus asserted her privilege to secede, Roosevelt made terms with her and started the steam-shovels to working. He paid the French company $40,000,000—“We drove, as was our duty, a hard bargain with LABOR FORCE The actual working force on the canal aver ages about 12,000, of whom nearly three-fourths are colored or “silver” employes. The Panama canal completed twelve years of operation at the close of business on Aug. 14, 1920, having been opened to commerce on Aug. 15, 1914. During the twelve years of opera tion 35,560 commercial vessels transited the canal, on which tolls aggregating $145,043,734.55 were collected. Approximately 70 per cent of the total transits and 76 per cent of the total tolls collection have occurred during the last six years of operation. PANAMA CANAL TOLLS Merchant vessels carrying passengers or cargo, per n ton (each 100 cubic feet) of rning capacity.. Vessels in ballast, without passengers or cargo, per net vessel ton (each 100 cubit feet) of actual earning capacity.. . Naval vessels, other than transports, colliers, hospital ships and supply ships, per displacement ton................. Army and navy transports, colliers, hos pital ships and supply ships, the ves sel to be measured by the same rules as are employed in determining the net tonnage of merchant vessels, per Tolls may not exceed the equivalent of $1.25 per net registered ton, as determined by United Stated rules of measurement, nor be less than the equivalent of 75 cents per net registered $1.20 .72 .50 1.20 CANAL STATISTICS (OFFICIAL) Length from deep water to deep water—50.5 miles. Length on land—40.5 miles. Length at summit level—31.7 miles. Bottom width of channel—Maximum, 1,000 feet; minimum (in Gaillard cut), 300 feet. Depth—Minimum, 41 feet; maximum, 45 feet. Summit level—85 feet above mean tide. Locks in pairs—12. Locks, usable length—1,000 feet. Gatun lake channel, depth—85 to 45 feet. Gatun lake, area—164 square miles. Locks, usable width—110 feet. Concrete required—5,000,000 cubic yards. Time of transit through canal—10 to 12 hours. Time of passage through locks—3 hours. Length of relocated Panama railroad—46.2 Canal Zone area—About 448 square miles. Canal Zone area owned by United States— About 322 square miles. French buildings acquired—2,150. French buildings used—1,537. Value of utilized French equipment—$1,000,000. Cubic yards excavated by French—108,046,960. Cubic yards excavated by Americans—250,000,000. Canal force, average employed—About 39,000. Approximate cost of construction—$375,000,000. them,” he says—for work done, of the actual value of about $70,000,000, “and also a little machin ery.” He adds: “It was of vital importance to Panama that the canal should be built. It quadrupled,’ quintupled, multiplied many times over the value of the isthmus to the people as a whole, and to each individual thereof. . . . There is not one action of the American government, in connection with foreign affairs, from the day when the Constitution was adopted down to the present time, so important as the action taken by this government in connection with the acqui sition and the building of the Panama canal.” But Roosevelt’s interest in the canal did not date merely from his advent in the White House. While he was yet governor of New York he had de nounced the qriginal draft of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. The virility of his eloquence before the historical society on this point is worth marking: “The first draft of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty did not vest full power in the United States over the canal. (It) provided in effect that the canal should be under the joint control, not only of the United States and Great Britain, but also of France and Germany. Imagine! Imagine the pleasure of administering a canal under such a combination during the past year (1914); and yet all the pacifists, all the peace-at-anyprice people, all of the ‘old women’ of both sexes, prattled and screamed in favor of our adopting such a policy, apparently on the ground that, as it was going to be bad for ourselves it might be good for somebody else. . .. The treaty that was adopted shortly after I became pres ident contained the two provisions for which I had asked. ... In the treaty itself it was made our duty to police the canal, and by an inter change of notes immediately afterwards the construction was explicitly put upon the treaty that we were at liberty to fortify it, and England and France and Germany were all eliminated from the control of the canal, and that is why the canal has been at peace.” Manila Cordage Co. P. O. Box 131 Manila, P. I. TOWLINE BRAND High Quality Pure Manila Rope CROWN BRAND Good Quality Pure Manila Rope PLOW BRAND Mixed Fiber Rope Low in Price DRAGON BRAND Made of Pure Philippine Maguey Ask for Prices PANAMA RAILROAD The Panama railroad and the steamships run in connection with it between New York and Colon are owned and operated by the United States government. The road virtually parallels the canal nearly the whole distance. It is fortysix and a half miles long and runs between the CANAL ZONE about 436 square tad a total populapoint three marine lark in each ocean ds for five miles on each side of the center line of the route of the canal. It in cludes the group of islands in the Bay of Panama, named Perico, Naos, Culebra and Flamenco. The cities of Panama and Colon are excluded from the zone, but the United States has the right to enforce sanitary ordinances and main tain public order there in case the republic of Panama should not be able to do so. CANAL TRAFFIC BY YEARS summary of the commercial traffic through the canal in 1925, as compared with other calendar years, is given in the following table: Year Ships 1914 * 350 1915+ 1,154 1916+ 1,217 1917 1,960 2 2 2 5 ♦Tonnage 1,284,293 3,902,592 3,817,704 6,217,054 6,409,886 6,943,087 10,378,265 11,435,811 12,992,573 24,737,437 24.411,760 22,958,158 Tolls $1,508,737.56 4,297,467.11 3,671,162.68 6,107,696.63 6,317,455.39 6,973,095.30 10,295,362.21 11,261,098.80 12,573,407.77 22,966,838.18 22,809,416.34 21,380,759.70 1,758,625 4,893.422 4,774,822 7,443,610 7,284,159 7,477,945 11,236,119 10,707,005 13,710.556 25,160,545 25,892,134 23,701,277 total.. 32,179 135,478,437 130,162,497.67 144,040,219 * Canal opened to ‘traffic Aug. 15, 1914. + Canal closed approximately three months by slides. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 22 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 Can an American Grow Sugar Cane in the Philippines? By Francis J. Cooper I have heard this question asked time after time during my eight years in the islands, so I was not surprised to have my friends ask me, “How are you making out?” I recall also a long discussion I had with an oldtimer, Ameri can, before I commenced operations on the island of Negros. He assured me that I would be broke before the first crop was ready to harvest. He had been in the sugar business during the muscovado mill days and had failed. Well, the oldtimer was not far wrong. I had forgotten, however, to tell him that I had sound financial backing, besides all my savings, which would assure getting through the first year. Operations were started at haciendas Los Angeles and Concepcidn about four years ago. The Haciendas were rented for 10% of the crop and the lease was for five crops with an option for five more. Previously the haciendas produced about 2,000 piculs of sugar, for the Victorias central. Eighteen pesos per picul was the price when my first operations started. All my estimates were made however for 1 * 12.00 per picul. The following year, when the first crop was har vested, eleven pesos was the price and twelve pesos is the highest price offered to me to date. With the above figures, one will wonder what really happened. *Java has learned, according to the current Tropical Life, that a crop of 42 tons of sugar canc per acre removes 76 pounds of nitrogen from the soil, 53 of phos phate, 72 of lime, and 173 of potash. “Whilst excessive manuring with nitrogenous fertilizers leads to luxuriant growth, the sugar content of the cane at the same time is lowered, and the mechanical strength of the cane is diminished. Potash counteracts these tendencies and should therefore always be supplied when heavy nitrog enous manuring is practiced, although it is generally found best to apply nitrate of soda little and often, rather than ’lots’ at once. Phosphate hastens ripening and should not be omitted from a balanced fertilizer for sugar cane.” We give the formula worked out in Cuba: nitrate of soda, 300-600 pounds per acre; superphosph ate of lime (or basic slag), 300-600 pounds per acre (or bone meal, 200-400 lbs. per acre); sulphate of potash, 100-200 pounds per acre.—Ed. I started my plowing by using four tractors, 15-30 horse power, with petroleum and distillate as fuel, later changing to motor alcohol. Heavy cogon fields were plowed. Five plowings took about as many months, as many of the fields had never been planted to cane at Hacienda Concepcidn. No animals were used except for plowing around the stumps of trees and for cultivation. It was decided to plant by the Hawaiian method, of leaving the husks or dried leaves on the cane points, thus saving half the time and naturally the labor. Except for the little delay in the first shoots the results have been very satisfactory, but it is strange to note that none of my neighbors will follow this method. Fertilizer experiments were started the first year, to determine the kind of fertilizer required. The results have caused several thousand tons of the best fertilizer to be purchased for the district and not one single bag of the fertilizer which was standard then is being used today. * Cultivation was commenced with the sole idea of weed control, and this has been followed. Labor houses had to be built and wooden model houses were erected. From experience I have learned that an ordinary nipa house, well built, suits the laborer better, unless a first-class wooden house is built, which means concrete foundations and a good drop-siding. Unless this precaution is taken the walls are as good as nothing during a typhoon, whereas the nipa shacks can be made water-tight. It was necessary for me to use petroleum tins carefully cut and painted for an outer siding to my first houses. I planned to have the new houses attract the laborers, but I "soon found that it took more than that; it was necessary for me to give ad vances, anticipos, from 15 to 50 pesos. This seems to have been the custom ever since sugar cane has been grown on this island. I had previously read about the habits of the laborers getting their advances and working for one day or a week, and then making good their escape to repeat the same thing somewhere else. Scenes on Francis J. Cooper’s Plantation Upper left, laborers’ cottages; lower left, Mr. Cooper’s residence; upper right, a corner of the garden; lower right, a closer view of a cottage, showing the utilization of oil cans for siding. (See text) It was less than two days after giving the first advances, when it was found that one family I had paid about sixty pesos advance had run away during the night. I soon learned that this sort of thing was happening too often, and that the wages paid would be only a small part of the hacienda’s expense unless the truancy was checked. A weekly payroll was started, and paid by me personally. All advances were then con sidered a permanent advance, and no debits or credits were made unless the laborer expected to leave the hacienda or a death occurred in his family. These rules were strictly adhered to, and have proved more than successful. Each laborer gets paid weekly, when his mind is fresh on what he did during the week, and all rapidly see the results of any spurts or extra efforts given to their work. It has been months since any of my men have taken French leave, and I have found it very easy to get all the laborers required. The first crop was harvested. After going over the accounts, it was found that a little over 1 * 1,000 had been lost. The second crop showed a loss, but a very small one. The figures, of course, included a monthly salary for myself as manager. Looking over the results of the two crops I was about ready to believe that the oldtimer had been right; however, an accurate account of crops was kept and it was easy to see that the third crop would bring a surplus. Last year the Victorias Milling Company offered a prize to the best average hacendero. One prize was offered to haciendas which could mill oVer 100 hectares, and was 1 * 10,000. The two other prizes, of 1’5,000 and 1 * 1,000, were offered to those milling less than 100 hectares. Handicaps were arranged on the basis of the class of soil. In this district there are distinct zones, good and bad soil. Points were given for the largest area planted, as compared with the available land, and also points for the highest yield of piculs per hectare, and tons of cane per hectare. I was fortunate, and won the first prize. Having sufficient capital, I was able to plant most all available land, and to use fertilizer. An increase of about 50% over the previous record of the hacienda, as operated by the former tenant, made it possible for me to win. There were other planters in this district who could have beaten my record, had they had suffi cient money to purchase fertilizer. Forgetting the prize, not taking it up on the hacienda books as an earning, and figuring the last crop of 18,000 piculs, just harvested, to gether with 4,000 piculs being harvested at this time, but belonging to 1926-27 crop, it is easy THE FERTILIZERS Corona No. 1 Formala 10- 6- 2 Arado No. 1 “ 10 6-2 Non Pina Ultra “ 20-20 FOR SUGAR CANE are manufactured in Manila of the best materials from Germany and America. We also manufacture fertilizers for: Palay, Coco, Corn, Vegetables, Flowers and other plants A trial will convince you that these fertilizers give excellent We are Importers of: Sulphate of Ammonia - - Min. 20.6% nitrogen, neutral salt Superphosphate of Lime 18-20% Phosphoric acid Sulphate of Potash - - 49-50% Potash and all other fertilizer materials Menzi&Co. ,Inc. ILOILO CEBU 17SantoNiflo 105-109 Norte America P.O. Box 302 P.O. Box 148 MANILA 180 Juan Luna Tel. 4-98-04 P.O. Box 603 IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 23 to see that I can grow sugar cane and make money. But it has taken a lot of hard work and time to get the original money back. For those who care to enter into the cane growing business, I advise the following rules, which are very simple: House your laborers well. Pay them weekly. Keep medicine at hand. Keep animals under cover at night, and have plenty of fresh water for them to drink at all times. Prepare all fields for planting until a perfect seed bed is ready, as a great saving will result in further weed-control. Cultivation with animal plows, only done to control weeds and hill up the cane to prevent it from blowing over. Destroy all diseased cane. The same plowman should be kept in charge of the same animal. Burn the fields over after cutting, and as soon after as possible. Ratoon no fields infested with bucan or any other cane disease. When buying portable track, buy 16-lb. rails as the yearly up-keep will be less and very few cars will be derailed during the harvesting opera tions.. Pay not over 28 centavos per picul to bring the cane to the loading station, and even less if the distance is short. Pay about 40 centavos per picul for cutting, and less if the cane runs more than 100 piculs per hectare. Twenty centavos per ton is sufficient to load a ton of cane at the loading station into central’s cars. Apply one-third ton fertilizer per hectare and do so as soon as possible after planting, or after commencing ratoons. Cover same by turning a furrow, if you expect rain. Apply by spread ing about the entire young shoots, but not on leaves. The average wage for daily work is 80 centavos per day, and even less if the week is not com pleted. However, contract men average over a peso per day. A cabo should receive 1 * 30 to P40 monthly, an an encargado 1’80 to 1’100, depending upon the number of years of service. Last, but very important, sell your sugar as you make it and accept the general average for the year as your price.____ For the benefit of readers not familiar with Spanish plantation terminology as in general use in the Phil ippines, it is believed that Mr. Cooper’s term cabo may be quite accurately translated oana boss, and cncari/ailo as a man having direct and general charge of a particular job, such as the railway or the cane-cutting. Contract men work on the popular paliuto plan, a flat price for the job, as for plowing a field or planting it.—ED. YEARSLEY GOES WEST A. W. Bert Yearsley succumbed to a heart attack at his home in Caloocan Sunday morning, January 29, aged 51. He was one of the best known Americans in the islands, and a member of the chamber of commerce. Funeral services were held Tuesday, January 31, the Fraternal Order of Eagles participating. Yearsley was active in Eagle circles. He was also a Mason, a member of the South African lodge. Coming from Brooklyn, he had been 27 years in the Philippines, always in the amusement business. He opened the oldtime Majestic theater, and was the original proprietor of the famous Silver Dollar Bar on Plaza Santa Cruz and the Escolta, with cartwheels at the corners of the tiles in the floor and imbedded thickly in the bar. More recently and for many years he has operated Lerma Cabaret in Caloocan, of which he became the proprietor, and he was preparing to open Lerma Athletic. Stadium when he died. He also had plantation interests in Cotabato which he was developing. Mrs. Ruby Yearsley, ap pointed administratrix of the estate, and their son, Edward, six years old, survive; also Robert John Yearsley, a brother associated with Years ley in business, and their sister, in Detroit. The Journal extends its sympathies to the bereaved family. Mrs. Yearsley has announced her intention of carrying on everything as had been planned by her husband. Bert was liberalhearted and endowed with unflinching courage, a man of many friends. His ashes rest in the family plot in the Cementerio del Norte. His demit came from Africa on the day of his fune ral. His masonic apron was placed in the urn with his ashes. CHINESE LEADERS VISIT HERE Two weeks ago several of the most prominent nationalists of China visited Manila: Dr. C. C. Wu, Sun Fo, and Hu Han Min. They are on a world mission in behalf of treaty revisions and were accorded a grand welcome in this city, where their countrymen’s interests are so im portant. _____ Trinidad Tecson, heroine of the Philippine insurrection, died two weeks ago, of old age. She is honored as the organizer of the Philip pine Red Cross at San Miguel de Mayumo, but she took part in many engagements and was several times wounded in action. Dispatches of January 28 brought the news of the death of the celebrated Spanish author. Blasco Ibanez, in exile at Mentone, France, and very fittingly the newspapers were filled with biographies and eulogies of Spain’s great son. Though his shelf is a long one, it is for the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse that he will be remembered, like Hugo for Les Mis&rables, like Cervantes for Don Quixote, and like his contemporary, Reymont, for the Peasants. He had chosen exile rather than submit to Rivero. The Manila Gas Corporation added P280.000 to its investment last year, bringing it up to 1’7,580,000. The production of gas, 10,348,610 meters, was 741,260 over 1927, while 1600 new patrons were obtained, making 13,695 altogether. The efficiency of the plant is re markable too, losses of gas being a fraction of the average loss in the United States. The company proposes, whenever its net earnings warrant, to lower its rates. AM M( l-l’IIOS 20-20 was used by Mr. Francis Cooper and is the Fertilizer referred to in the article on opposite page YOU get what you Buy in this fertilizer No rotted Bags ’ Never a shipment Below Analysis 16.45% NITROGEN 20% Phosphoric Acid All available No free acids No harmful residue Philippine Agents Philippine American Drug Company MANILA ILOILO IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 24 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 Franciscans in Rizal and Laguna: Mahayhay Bridge Capricious Engineering: Seventh Paper, Mission Trail Series This month’s excursion with the Franciscan fathers, through more of their old mission towns, will be as pleasant as the others: around Laguna de Bay, over excellent motor roads, and past the varying scenes of valley and hill land. It is Tagalog country, very old in history; there are unmistakable traces of Malayan civilization dating back some 10,000 years. On this point the Journal will comment some time with more thoroughness. ^The friars, upon converting the people, increased the size of the villages, often uniting several into one. Then, too, Spain’s monarchs gave lands, and assigned the inhabit ants thereof, to gentlemen who served them, and on these grants, called encomiendas, which were also given to the church for special purposes, churches were built and villages founded. A number of such grants are now districts of Manila, as Mayhaligue, or the San Lazaro estate. Pasay, as has been mentioned in an earlier chapter in this series, was an Augustinian encomienda. Chiefs, where found, were com monly left in places of authority over their subjects, under the sovereignty of Spain, and the old order of community affairs was not radically changed. There were places, it is recorded, where the native population declined under the new order, but there were other places where it was stimulated to abundant growth. The purpose of the new order was, according to the light of that age, nobly benevolent. That in practice it was beneficent is attested by the fact that it endured and waxed strong, with that generally cordial popular support evidenced in the navies the people built and manned * for Spain, and the ardor never quenched in their souls for the towns and hamlets under the bells of the scattered missions. Morong, now Rizal, was made a political district February 2i, 1853, “with a part of the territory of Manila and a part of that of Laguna.” Now a province, it includes the towns of the northern border of the lake as far as Talim island, vfray Juan de la Plasencia and Fray Diego de Oropesa performed the first baptisms in the town of Morong in 1578, and Fray Blas de la Madre de Dios was the first parish priest there, 1586. Patron saint, San Geronimo; the original church and much of the town burned down in 1612, and in 1615 the present edifice was completed by the Chinese master craftsmen who built it. Pililla. Until 1583 a district of Morong comprising five rancherias, and in that year made a pueblo. Fray Pedro de Canizares began the present church in 1670 and completed it in 1673, with gifts asked from the people. In 1848 Fray Jose de Guadalajara renewed the altars. Other stone churches, of 1599 and 1668, were burned. Tanay. On Tanay mountain, separated from Pililla and made a pueblo in 1606; moved from the original site in 1620, and to the present site in 1640. “One hundred forty-eight priests have administered this town since its foundation, the first being Fray Pedro de Talavera.” Patron saint, San Ildefonso. The image of the Im maculate Conception is very celebrated, being a relic of Juan de Salcedo’s military conquest of this region in 1572. ^Left behind, Plasencia and Oropesa found the natives worshiping it ignorantly, and when a church was built, only to become a victim of the flames, this image was all the little congregation could save. Many of the Chinese of the Parian in Manila, frightened into desperate rebellion in 1639, fled into the mountains of this region; and under the leader ship of the parish priest, Fray Geronimo de Frias, the people hid this image from them. But three of them discovered it. One rent the crown with his cutlass, the second gave it a blow, and the third, horrified at their conduct, struck them both dead. The people’s veneration of the image was now greater than ever, and they willingly lent their services to the building of a church and convento of stone, completed in 1680. In 1773, Fray Ildefonso Fentanes, then the parish priest, tore down the old church and convento and began the present structures, with but P39.25 in hand for the work; yet in 1783 the work had been completed, from alms collected in Majayjay and Manila. Fray Antonio Santiago repaired the parochial house in 1851. Bar&s. Founded 1595, transferred to the Jesuits in 1616 (the church being burned by montescos in 1635), transferred back to the Franciscans in 1679. The site has twice been changed, for greater safety, once under the Jesuits in 1635 and once under the Franciscans in 1682. Patron saint, Santiago: naturally, because of the hostilities constantly engaged in to maintain the Christian settlement. “In 1682 the stone church was commenced which still exists, under Fray Pedro Tomeu, and com pleted under Fray Antonio de la Concepcidn in 1686, who dedicated it to the glorious San Jose. In 1849 it was repaired, painted and fitted with seats by its zealous pastor, Fray Tomas de Sisante.” A bridge of a single arch, in one of the six original streets of this town, was built by Fray Felipe de la Parilla in 1728 and was still standing and in use when Huerta wrote in 1863. (Our quotations and all our data are from Father Huerta.) “In the baptistry of this church is conserved a piece of the first cross raised by our missionaries on the original site of this town. The relic is greatly venerated by the faithful, because of the miracles they have witnessed in it—which are omitted, how ever, since they have not been judicially verified.” Binangonan. Separated from Morong in 1621; first priest, Fray Matias Argete; exchanged with the Jesuits for Baras in 1679; ceded by the Jesuits to the Augustinians in 1697; returned to the Franciscans, the founders, in 1737, togeth er with the visita of Angono, when Fray Blas de San Diego was assigned as priest. Patron, Sta. Ursula. Church begun in 1792 by Fray Bernardo de Perdigon (afterward bishop of Nueva Caceres, the Bikol region), and completed in 1800 by Fray Fermin Revilla. Church and convento given general repairs in 1853 by Fray Francisco de Paula Gonzalez. ^yPila. (Villa de Pila.) “This villa was founded in 1578 by Fray Juan de la Plasencia Make Your Money Work For You The sooner you open your account, the sooner it will begin to work. Our Savings Accounts Department is anxious to assist you. Do not worry about your time. We will give you quick and efficient service. Your time is gold and so is ours. 4}Z% interest annually, added and compounded quarterly Do your Banking by mail Our provincial customers are highly satisfied with our banking process and their deposits are mailed to us regularly. Won’t you be one of them? One Peso will open a Savings Account with us Write us for further particulars regarding Savings Accounts Philippine Trust Company Commercial and Savings Bank “The Good Service Bank” Tel. 2-12-55 Plaza Goiti, Manila P. O. Box 150 and Fray Diego de Oropesa and was the prin cipal residence of the latter, who however did lot cease to evangelize the coasts and moun tains of Laguna de Bay until his zeal penetrated the province of Tayabas.” Patron, San An tonio de Padua. First stone church, 1599, de stroyed in 1800 when the site was changed and the present church built. Lumbang. founded by Plasencia and Oro pesa in 1578 and celebrated as the residence of the former during his mission life. Made a pueblo in 1590. i Patron, San Francisco. First church burnedr * 1586. Preoccupied with his mission work and constantly on the mountain trails, Plasencia got Governor Santiago de Vera to appoint a lieutenant solely for the building of the stone church, and a native principal, one Burlon, was appointed in 1589, who built and completed the first masonry church the Franciscans had in the islands; and this church, in 1600 and for years afterward, was the only one outside Manila "where there was permanently conserved the august and divine sacrament of the Eucharist, which function was celebrated with such solemnity that it will not have had its equal in the archipelago.” Gold and gems and precious stones, loaned from the neighboring parishes of Majayjay, Lilio and Nagcarlang, for the adornment of the images in the procession, bulked more than seven arrobas; “and one triumphal car of such gigantic size as to require 26 wheels to support it, was covered over with gems of extreme value.” The standards of 20 pueblos heralded the proces sion. Forty-four priests participated. In 1600, October 9, out yonder in the hills of Lumbang! Such a spectacle, such solemnity! So that it is little wonder after all that the people gathered round the cross and welcomed the new-built shrines. Three days, three nights, with music, chants, prayers and sermons, the gala festival continued, and was the wonder thereafter of a century. Majayjay. Tagalog, and preferable, Ma hayhay. Full ancient name of the site, IlayanMahayhay. The natives of the northwest coast of Laguna de Bay gave Salcedo little resistance, and his troops, when peace had been arranged, planted the cross in 1571 on the banks cf May-it river, where Plasencia and Oropesa found the natives venerating the emblem in 1578. The first priest, Fray Antonio de Nombela, was assigned in 1594, and when the church he built burned down in 1602, the site of the settlement was changed to Mahayhay. The first church, built by the natives around the cross Salcedo’s men planted, burned in 1576. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 25 Four stone churches (of course with timber dimensions and thatch roofs) burned between 1599 and 1711, when the one now standing was begun, to be completed in 1730, by Fray Jose de Puertollano, at a cost of 1 * 26,000. "This church is surely one of the best and strongest in the islands.” Patron, San Gregorio Magno. Patron of the chapel in the barrio of IlayanMahayhay, N. S. de la Porteria, "whose image is a crayon of considerable merit, brought to these islands from Madrid in 1759 by one of the missions and originally placed, in 1760, in a stone building then serving as the tribunal, where the annual fiesta is still celebrated.” The friars knew how to establish precedents certain to become traditions, and how to pre serve them. How naturally they themselves would cling to these traditions, how impossible it would be, as indeed the event proved, for them to behold a new age dawning. But the most remarkable relic in Mahayhay, for the worldly eye, is the quaint bridge built in 1851 by Fray Victorino del Moral, “of pure cement.” This bridge has a single arch 52 feet high and 48 feet wide, and if recent engineering hasn’t blasted it loose from its foundations, it is standing as staunch as it was the day Father Victorino proffered it to the government. But the chief architect of the then insular government would have nothing to do with the bridge, in which he said the recognized principles of bridge building had not been fol lowed—not any of them—and so he concluded the bridge was unsafe. But the earthquake of September 16, 1852, came, and left the bridge unscathed, as did that of June 3, 1863, which ruined Manila and damaged or destroyed many of the solidest structures, even in the walled city. And the terrific floods that plunge down Banahaw’s giant slopes poured under the bridge, great ones dashing against it even before it had thoroughly set, yet the bridge stood—“the caprice of Father del Moral,” as it was called. In fact, it is not hard to see that by this time there were a lot of young blades in the govern ment, disdainful of the simple friars as old fogies and know-nothings. Father Huerta, commenting on the incident, makes the Mahay hay bridge say this to future generations: “I was constructed in the year 1851 by a Franciscan friar without principles. Know that the principles applied in my construction were capricious, and more capricious than all, the audacity of building me without expending a single maravedi, and bringing such a purpose to a successful conclusion!” And it may well be, as it might be in our own times, that the most illogical feature of this bridge was that it wasn’t in the budget and had not. taken a centavo of the people’s taxes. This may have been the learned architect’s main dissent. “This bridge is found spanning the Holla river, west-north west of the town. Its arch, including the pillars, measures ninety feet, without there having been utilized for its colossal fabric (to hold and form the cement) other materials than rattan, bamboo, coconut and betel-nut trunks. All that is wanting is two modest arches at the ends, to divide the great weight which the terraplain would otherwise thrust upon the pillars sup porting the main arch.” Mahayhay falls are magnificent, quite the equgl of Pagsanjan, people say. '-The long veils commonly worn by Philippine women when attending church, were introduced in Mahayhay in 1594 by Fray Antonio de Nombela, and frbm this the custom extended through out the islandsTHE SCUTTLEBUTT It takes a lot of time to be sentimental. Nobody ever thought anything out in a shower bath. There is a pharmacist’s mate at the Hospital so stingy he won’t even wind his watch. There is not much comfort in life until one is old enough to have the courage of his cussed ness. The short skirts of today reveal the malnu trition of yesterday. “It ought to be easy for me to get a lot of money,” said Mac Robillard, “everybody gets mine easily.” All the best people come from somewhere. The brighter you are the more you have to learn. Pleasure is more trouble than trouble. We make most of our mistakes when we are optimistic. “I don’t want to expose myself to anything except the company manners of anybody” was the reason a certain young man gave for not marrying. There’s one thing about baldness; it’s neat. Going to college is the easiest way some folks ever found to make a living. Most men resent life and most of them take their resentment out on their stomachs. In speaking of short skirts, an eastern reformer characterized them as immodest as piano lamps. The chief trouble with jazz is there is not --------------. A Smoking’ and Room for Men The Oriental Limited helps to speed the hours away on your trip across America aboard the finest train between Seattle, Vancouver, Victoria and Chicago. Then too, the trip is Through Some of the Finest Scenery in all America The Great Northern Cascades and Rockies, mighty in their mile-high magnificence,-asseen from low passes, and past lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, through an agricultural empire, to Minneapolis and St» Paul and down the Mississippi Valley to Chicago. Our descriptive literature tells all about the trip. Sent free. Ask A. G. HENDERSON. AGEXf. Chaco Building AMERICAN EX PRESS CO. Manila, P. I. Great Northern A Dependable Ratlula-j enough of it; some of it we have to listen to twice. All beaches should be closed in the summer. Mail carrieis are said to be our most healthy class. This is perhaps because they don’t spend their vacations sitting around. What is home without a hot water bottle. Some persons are so ceremonious they can make a speech out of calling their floor in an elevator. There are 35,000,000,000 strangers in the world, to all of whom it is comparatively easy to be a Sophistication: Knowing enough to keep your feet out of the crack of the theatre seat in front of you. There is a great need for a suffermeter—an instrument to show others we have been through more then they.—Bamboo Breezes, Cavite Naval Station. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 26 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 Legend of the Four-Faced Towers of Angkor From Angkor: By P. Jeannerat Beerski Brahma once upon a time was deeply plunged in meditation, motionless, mumbling his prayers with lips parted and downcast eyes * * * all his thoughts were in a land of ideals and virtue, his soul had altogether departed from all terre a-terre beliefs * * * his smile was gentle, his eye lashes cast long shadows over his cheeks, his ears were shut to all outward noises, his lids lowered to all outside spectacles. * * * What greatness there was in this figure, silent and cold as stone, yet full of the highest thoughts and of the greatest conceptions. It seemed that nothing could stop for an instant the flight of his soul upon the path of virtue and inner happiness. It was rare that man, genie or god could find pleasure in the utmost purity; it was rare that man, genie or god discovered that the greatest joy resided in moral meditation. Yet Brahma was no doubt the most enviable of beings as he sat praying, holding between his fingers the beads of an amber rosary. First men stopped to watch him, stood still for a long time, then went away marveling at the strength of the god, who had then only one face, like them; two eyes, two ears, two nostrils and one mouth had so far been quite sufficient for all his wants. Later on animals, reassured by the immobility of this strange being, sniffed at his clothes, turned around him; a jackal even bit his toes, but with no effect; a tiger roared just behind his back; an eagle landed on his crown; lizards crawled over his arms, and a woodpecker, believing him to be nothing but a log, tapped on his chin to see whether a caterpillar would emerge from the nape of his neck; butterflies fluttered near his ears, and a field mouse began to build a nest in his lap. But Brahma did not stir; his skin had not the slightest quiver; his thoughts did not wander for one moment from his prayers; for you must, according to religious laws, stay motionless whilst meditating. The god’s position had remained unchanged for hours, and then for days, and then for months; his hair had grown long, and his nails were crooked like claws; he seemed rooted, and, whether under rain or sunshine, his limbs and body did not show uneasiness; during the great est storms his head did not stoop, when the thick est oaks had to acknowledge the power of the Manis with bows, or else fall, broken at their base. For how long would he have crouched imbued in prayer no one could tell, as he did not betray the least weariness. Winter had come, and on the field where Brahma sat, at the foot of the Himalayas, snow fell abundantly and covered the grass, the branches and the god with a mantle of shining white * * * yet not a shiver ran through his veins, not a shudder told that he felt the biting cold. Gradually as the flakes fell thicker and thicker not a thing in all the region kept its natural color; slowly every tint from the brightest blue to the most violent red, from jet black to gaudy orange, lost its peculiar appearance; each one blended like the colors of the spectrum into white, the most dazzling, the purest white. Animals themselves, or at least those that re mained, took the virginal hue and the hair of foxes and ermines, the feathers of some birds were blanched ♦ * * an(j an was white; even the dark leafage of pines had to abandon its gloomy green; the few flowers that could grow in this temperature were white; the sky, the earth were white; water had turned into ice * * * and the curious effect of all this white ness was that nothing seemed to possess shape, nothing could be distinguished from the rest, and indeed soon nothing seemed to exist. Brah ma opened his eyes and saw nothing. As the pure sight under his gaze did not disturb his prayers he did not close them again. He looked, but he could believe that he was in a cloud or a fog, as neither men nor beasts nor objects stood out from the white gloom. It was at this time that Tilottama, stepping over the frozen earth, discerned her god, deeply thinking under ice and snow. But she was also robed in white, a mantle of white silk on her head, a shawl of white cashmere on her shoul ders, and Brahma did not see her more than the whitened trees, or the whitened mountains and streams. She seemed to be an unsoiled, ephe meral spirit walking on an unsoiled ephemeral planet. She, and the hills, and the woods, and the plains around her were invisible to any eyes, and the motionless god remained undisturbed. The girl at last stood still before him, then slowly took off her veils and garments. As she un fastened a buckle of ivory, her robes fell sud denly to the ground and revealed to the eyes of Brahma a dream in flesh, a hope realized, an inexplicable incarnation of the utmost loveliness. At first, dazed by the eternal white rays, he merely noticed a blur, a spot of darkness rising from the snow; then he saw the most beautiful woman, and, however intent he had been on thoughts of .righteousness, he could not take his gaze away from the charming form. All his ideas of meditation flew away from his brain like a troop of unpleasant crows; but he had just recommenced a long incantation and he had to stay motionless, .according to law, till he had finished hymns and religious songs. Tilottama was standing as an idol of burnished gold, for her skin had that delightful dark hue which at first attracted the notice of the god. Indeed it could be understood why Brahma had forgotten his ideals of thought when he saw the ideal of flesh. The features of the girl had been created in the rarest mould; a mouth as bright and fresh as a lotus bud besprinkled with dew; cheeks full and round, with a delicate coloring of blood appearing under the surface, which was as smooth as silk; a small chin with a dimple at its base, as if rea’dy to receive a drop of rose water or a kiss; hair, black like the fur of otters and trailing on the ground like the train of a queen—and then—two eyes, blacker than the hair, blacker than night, blacker than doom, in the •centre of which two spots of gold shimmered; the sparks of a fire of beauty, stolen from the treasures of the goddess of love. This head made of the gems of womanly charm was merely the crown of a figure made of the jewels of femi nine loveliness. Forms exquisite and glorious. How fair was Tilottama! What grace was hers! All at once she dropped her brow, lifted her knee and started to dance a pradashina with undulating movements and supple torsions. She trod softly over the earth and so lightly that no marks were left on the snow; she took a step forward, then one back; she raised her toes and touched them with her fingers; she flung one arm to the right and pulled it back as invitation; her neck bent back, her lips opened to show pearly teeth and a small tongue impertinently pointed. Her pupils went from one corner of her eyes to the other in languishing appeal; her eyebrows contracted, a wrinkle crossed her forehead, then vanished in a smile; her tresses trailed on her shoulders and breasts, and she would resolutely throw them back in the wind, emphasizing the modelling of her limbs. She turned round the god, slipped behind his back, came later with a pace more lascivious. She ran, seemed to stumble, almost touched the ground with her elbow, but in a natural effort, unnatural in its ease, rose again like a reed when the breeze has stopped. She flew like a wraith, jumped, whirl ed, laughed. She danced like Salome must have danced, and Brahma, like Herod, was vanquished. Each time when she disappeared behind him he desired to turn his head, but he would not break the rules of religion; he cursed inwardly, but knew that he could not move; he hurried his prayers, but still he had many to say before being able to rise and clasp the tanta lizing girl in his arms. He followed her with ravenous gaze as long as he could, almost forcing his eyes out of their sockets, but she was soon again invisible behind his back, and he would boil with anger until she appeared again on the The Philippine Guaranty Cnmpany, Incorporated (Accepted by all the Bureaus of the Insular Government) Executes bonds of all kinds for Customs, Immigration and Internal Revenue. DOCUMENTS SURETYSHIPS For Executors, Administrators, Receivers, Guardians, etc. We also write Fire and Marine Insurance ow rates iberal conditions ocal investments oans on real estate repayable by monthly or quarterly instal ments at low interest Call or write for particulars Room 403, Filipinas Bldg. P. O. Box 128 Manila, P. I. MSr’s. Tel. 2211 Main Office Tel. 441 other side. The circle where she danced was now cleared of snow, and wild hyacinth and iris grew under her feet ; she was ever more beautiful, ever more joyful, ever more exhilarating. Greatly amused at the vexation of the god when she went out of his field of vision, she would muse, roguish and frolicsome, coming so near that Brahma could feel her breath passing like a burning simoon of temptation. This, however, could not last, and he soon smiled; all the gloomy expression of annoyance leaving his features. * * ♦ Tilottama came in front of him, and then went to his left, but * * * lo * * * as soon as his two eyes Wherever gentlemen foregather you will find Hike Shoes Hike Shoe Factory 286 San Marcelino Manila, P. I. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 27 could see her no longer another face appeared on that side of his head; as she went behind a third face was there and two more eyes to gaze at her; lastly, a fourth took shape on the right side of the god’s head; he assumed his name of Chaturmukha, the four-faced, and could finish his prayers at leisure, without missing a single gesture of the delightful dancer. Korea Deplores Japanese Ignorance of Fire Dragons By Robert J. Casey* Seoul, Korea, Nov. 7.—Out past the south gate and far beyond the summit of Nan San lives the fire dragon. But it seems silly to mention it. Everybody ought to know about that. The fire dragon has always lived there. The mountain was liis home even in those dim ages before Korea became the center of the world’s culture and scientific advancement—which was, of course, many years ago. Not a bad chap, the dragon * * ♦ lazy, of course, but in this case laziness is a virtue rather than a vice. He has been singularly inactive since mud replaced wood in the con struction of dwelling places and offerings placed in the hills to placate him have been more effect ive than even the soothsayers had hoped. Not to be Trusted. However, it is not a good idea to trust dragons even when sleeping. They may be good-hearted and all that, but they are dumb animals, and when a fire dragon comes in to pay a town a visit his good intentions are a minor considera tion. His flaming laughter is too much for his moral votaries to withstand. So, purely as a matter of safety first, the south gate has always been equipped with protective materials and a brace of fire dragon sentries who know just what to do should he take a notion to wander out of his mountain home. Since the day when the gate was built, large drums have .been placed in the upper gallery beneath the overhang of its pagoda roof. And it is the duty of the fire dragon sentries to see that these drums are kept filled with water which may be used to slake the thirst of the dragon and cause him to go home without entering the town and making ashes of it. Keep Up Defense. When the Japanese came there was some argument about the usefulness of the dragon guard. You just can’t get even a simple notion through the skull of a Japanese official. But in the end there was a compromise. Japanese sentries took over the gate, but the Korean gen darmerie continued to supply the tub fillers for the upper gallery. Things changed in Seoul, of course, after the coming of the Japanese. For example, the old well that used to supply the water for the tubs went dry, and a thing called a garage was built across the path over which the sentinels might in an emergency haul water from another well. However, the Koreans are a determined people. Eventually they arranged with the proprietor of a shop near by to give them what they needed. Once a month they were to pour out what water remained irt the drums and obtain a fresh supply. This regular procedure, it was hoped, would insure a constant watchfulness and maintain the equipment at a point of necessary efficiency. All went well until last night, when the Korean guards were called away to a conference and left their work in the hands of the Japanese. The Japanese promised to empty the drums and get them refilled at the shop. Which goes to show how useless it is to trust a Japanese. One Hitch in Plans. The soldiers went through all the motions of caring for the drums and carried them empty for refilling. But in their lamentable ignorance they went not to the shop but to the garage. ♦Captain Robert J. Casey’s regular job is a front-page feature story daily in the Chica iu Daily ,V< wx, but he is on a tour of the Far East just now, picking up such odd bits as the one reproduced here.—ED. Yes, it could be thou, Brahma, whom I now see in this temple of Cambodia; it would be thine eyes that ache for the forms of a woman; it would be thy mouth craving for the kiss of a girl. ♦ * * And who knows that the ghost of Tilottama, dancing with the same voluptuous ness, does not come to haunt the dream of all these stone colossi when they feel lonely and forlorn? “Fill these drums,” said the sergeant of the guard, “and charge to the Korean Dragon Protective association.” And the garage man did. The guards re turned at midnight unaware of the error and, of course, that had to be the time for the rousing of the fire dragon. Scarcely had they taken their places in the balcony when they saw his "North Coast Limited” “One of America's Fine Trains?9 shows you the Cascade Mountains, the Rocky Moun tains and the Mission Range by daylight. From the main line of the Northern Pacific, travelers see 28 ranges of mountains, and the train rolls along 1406 miles of rivers—pictures of “startling beauty” all the way. The “North Coast Limited” is a new train—new engines one-third of a block long! New Pullmans, new observation cars, wonderful new type dining cars. We Meet AllBoati at Victoria and Seattle A. D. Charlton, G. P. A., Portland, Oro. W. H. Jaynaa, G. A., Vancouver, B. C. Northern Pacific Railway “First of the Northern Transcontinentals” flaming mouth at the gate beneath them. And with heroic promptness they dumped the drums. Right there was where they learned that the fluid they had supposed to be water was an article called gasoline, which is very thin stuff and never has been known to satisfy a real thirsty fire dragon. The guards rushed to the street and spread the alarm and there came presently a red wagon known to the Japanese as a fire engine—presum ably a chariot for the transportation of the fire dragon. For a time the guards were afraid that the silly Japanese would offer the dragon a ride. But they didn’t. They went through some incantations with a pair of copper jars, and the fire dragon went away leaving nothing but the cinders of a rubbish fire in his wake. The fire department claimed credit for the victory. And the guards merely smiled with suitable tolerance. They knew, as every body knows, that the dragon had fled when they recited form prayer No. 27. But you can’t tell that to a Japanese. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 28 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 SHIPPING REVIEW By II. M. CAVENDER General Ayent, The Robet Dollar Company The December period found the shipping in terests in the Philip pines suffering from the usual year-end depres sion. With the close of the holiday season, however, we find busi ness steadily increas ing with good tonnages moving in all direc tions, and a general spirit of optimism pre vailing for the 1928 out look. The past year has been an unusual one, and as accurate statistics are now available we learn that a grand total of 1,370,746 tons of general cargo were exported from the Philippine Islands during the year. This shows a general increase of 23 per cent, over the year 1926. This increase was not confined to any one commodity but affected all items to a greater or lesser extent, the only commodities on the entire export list moving in important quantities showing a decrease were cigars and desiccated coconut, with hemp just about holding its own. THE YOKOHAMA SPECIE BANK =■ ■ : LTD. (ESTABLISHED 1880) HEAD OFFICE: YOKOHAMA, JAPAN Yen Capital (Paid Up) - - - - 100,000,000.00 Reserve Fund . 96,500,000.00 Undivided Profits ... - 6,179,045.45 MANILA BRANCH 34 PLAZA CERVANTES, MANILA K. YABUKI Manager PHONE 1759—MANAGER PHONE 1758—GENERAL OFFICE Rates have shown a slight upward trend during the past year in all directions and remain firm. During the entire year there were no breaks in the rates such as were common during the preceding year. The most outstanding feature of the year was the extension of the contract system, which has worked out very satisfactorily to all concerned and has made for stability in the freight market in the Islands. During the past month sugar has been moving to the United States Atlantic and Pacific Coasts in large quantities. Vessels on the Atlantic berth are leaving with capacity cargos, and for the present there is practically no tonnage available. This movement is expected to reach the peak psint during March/April, after which it will slacken off to a considerable extent. The amount of cargo available from the Atlantic Coast to the Islands was recently reported to have fallen off to some degree, which if it con tinues will probably result in a lesser number of vessels visiting Philippine Island ports, with a consequent curtailment of tonnage available on that berth during the forward months. The scarcity of copra reported last month has developed into what might be called an acute shortage, many important shippers finding it impossible to obtain their minimum require ments. Bulk coconut oil to this point has been mov ing in satisfactory volume to the Pacific, At lantic and Gulf ports, although the shortage of copra is now being felt keenly by the oil crushers in the Islands, some of them venturing the statement that should the general scarcity of copra continue they would find it necessary to shut down their plants for lack of supplies. The Pacific Coast movement of Philippine lumber, and logs has again hit its stride, a number of fairly good shipments having moved during the latter part of the month. There seems to be considerable activity on the part of the combined lumbering interests in the Islands all pointing to greater development in the in dustry and consequent greater exports. Passenger traffic has shown a considerable increase to Europe, Pacific Coast and Honolulu. Interport business as well has shown a decided increase. Ships calling at Honolulu are being booked to capacity with the prospect that this movement will continue until the end of June. To the Pacific Coast steerage traffic is showing a very heavy gain, forward bookings indicating that there will be an unusually large number moving during March, April and May, a good proportion of which will move through Seattle. During the month of January a total of 1693 passengers, all classes, are reported to have IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 29 departed from the Philippines (first figure represents cabin passengers, second figure steerage): To China and Japan: 135 316; to Pacific Coast 65-316; to Honolulu 2-797; to Singapore 40-11. These figures, so far as steerage passengers arc concerned, show a slight decrease. This is due to the fact that there was one sailing less last month than usual to the Pacific Coast. From statistics compiled by the Associated Steamship Lines there was exported from the Philippines during the month of December, 1927: To China and Japan ports 9725 tons with a total of 48 sailings, of which 6498 tons were carried in American bottoms with 15 sail ings; to Pacific Coast for local delivery 34021 tons with 15 sailings, of which 23623 tons were carried in American bottoms with 12 sailings: to Pacific Coast for transhipment 2750 tons with 12 sailings, of which 2573 tons were carried in American bottoms with 10 sailings; to At lantic Coast ports direct 67204 tons with 19 sailings, of which 38955 tons were carried in American bottoms with 7 sailings; to European ports 22633 tons with 19 sailings, of which 136 tons were carried in American bottoms with 2 sailings; to Austrailian ports 438 tons with 14 sailings of which American bottoms carried none; or a grand total of 136771 tons with 73 sailings, of which American bottoms carried 71785 tons with 22 sailings. Of still more interest are the figures for ted past year, also compiled by the Associathe Steamship Lines, showing exported from the Philippines: To China and Japan ports 141874 tons, of which 86644 tons were carried in Amer ican bottoms: to Pacific Coast for local delivery 317750, of which 264656’tons were carried in American bottoms; to Pacific Coast for tranship ment 25485 tons, of which 22748 tons were carried in American bottoms; to Atlantic Coast ports direct 662715 tons, of which 347495 tons were carried in American bottoms; to European ports 212108 tons of which 2028 tons were carried in American bottoms; or a grand total of 1,370,746 tons with 770 sailings, of which American bottoms carried 727,571 tons with 238 sailings. Much interest has been taken in the rumors which have come via grapevine telephone from the States regarding the purported loan which caused the United States Shipping Board to summarily cancel their managing operators’ contract with Swayne 8s Hoyt covering the American Australia Orient Line, and speculation is rife as to who will be named to succeed Swayne 8s Hoyt in the operation of this line. Of authen tic information, little is available. SHIPPING PERSONALS George Simmie, of the Luzon Stevedoring company, arrived from San Francisco December 22 aboard the Dollar steamship President Taft. Mr. Simmie is in Manila on business and expects to return to San Francisco in the Manila to New York via Suez and Europe See the Old World on your trip home. Stops of several days in many ports. You can travel through Europe and catch our boat for New York via Southampton, England, at Bremen. “The Most Interesting Trip In The World.” NORDDEUTSCHER LLOYD Zuellig S’ von Knobelsdorff Agents 90 Rosario, Manila Phone 22324 A. W. Parry, vice-president of the Tampa Inter-Ocean Steamship company, accompanied by Mrs. Parry and their young son, arrived in Manila January 12 aboard the American Mail liner President Grant. Mr. Parry’s head quarters are in New York and he is in the Orient on an inspection trip. It is expected he will leave Manila February 15 aboard the Dollar liner President Van Buren for Singapore. Don Tinling, of the traffic department of the Robert Dollar Company in the Orient, arrived in Manila aboard the s.s. President Grant January 12 and returned to Shanghai aboard the s.s. President Lincoln January 21. Mr. Tinling was in Manila on business for his company. L. Everett, President of L. Everett, Inc., arrived in Manila from Shanghai January 12 aboard the American Mail liner President Grant. AMERICAN MAIL LINE DOLLAR STEAMSHIP LINE COMBINED TRANSPACIFIC SERVICE SAILING ONCE A WEEK The “President” Liners Offer Speed—Service—Courtesy—Comfort Excellent Food, Comfortable Cabins, Broad Decks, American Orchestra, Dancing, Swimming Pool, Sports SAILING ONCE A WEEK TO SAN FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES via Hongkong, Shanghai, Kobe, Yokohama, and Honolulu SAILINGS ON ALTERNATE FRIDAYS 24 Calle David ROUND THE WORLD President van Buren - Presiden t Hayes President Polk President Adams - President Garfield President Harrison Sailings every fortnight Feb. 15 - Feb. 29 Mar. 14 Mar. 28 April 11 April 25 MANILA VICTORIA AND SEATTLE via Hongkong, Shanghai, Kobe, and Yokohama SAILINGS ON ALTERNATE SATURDAYS Telephone No. 2-24-41 IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 30 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 O. G. Steen, general manager for the Robert Dollar company, arrived in Manila from Shanghai January 19 aboard the s.s. President Lincoln and returned to Shanghai February 4 aboard the s.s. President Madison. Mr. Steen was on an inspection trip. Messrs. A. W. Parry, O. G. Steen, George Simmie, R. C. Morton and H. M. Cavender made a business trip to Pulupandan and Iloilo January 25, having left Manila aboard the s.s. Venus and arrived back in Manila aboard the s.s. Cebu January 30. Newland Baldwin, Manager of the Shipping Department of Macondray & Co., Manila, is spending a holiday in Baguio. The genial figure of “Vic” Smith, assistant director for Orient, U. S. Shipping Board, is once more in evidence in shipping circles, his temporary stay at Shanghai having terminated with the appointment of Wm. P. Hunt to the Shanghai post. J. E. Gardner, Jr., assistant general agent, the Robert Dollar company, was elected chair man of the Associated Steamship Lines for the year 1928, at their meeting held January 10. Mr. Gardner was also elected chairman of the United States Shipping Board committee for the year 1928, at their meeting held the same day. FLYING THE OCEANS During 1927 the North Atlantic has been crossed four times in nonstop flights; twice only did the pilots arrive and land safely at the intended destination and without mishap, and twelve lives were lost in disastrous ventures. During the year the Pacific has been traversed by air from California to Honolulu four times, three times without mishap, while seven perished in attempting this ocean crossing and three were killed in preparatory flights. The causes of failure in the many'disasters over the seas will forever remain hidden. Saint-Roman, Nunges ser, Frost of the Golden Eagle, Padlar of the Miss Doran, Redfern, Colonel Minchin, Lloyd Bertaud, Captain Tully, and their companions have left no trace. The SOS of Captain Erwin, “We are in a tailspin. * * * We have come out of it. * * * It was a close call. * * * We are in a spin * * * SOS ♦ * * ’’points the peril that is ever present in flight. —Neon, in the January Atlantic. RETAIN RETAIL STORE Contrary to original plans, Frank and Com pany are continuing their retail stationery department at the old quarters, 113 Escolta, where they have new stocks and are undertaking extensions. ERLANGER AND GALINGER ARE BACK ON THE ESCOLTA With all their old lines save sporting goods, notably office supplies and equipment, phono graphs and records, and automobile tires and accessories, Erlanger and Galinger are back on the Escolta at N.os. 601 to 609, with a half block frontage on calle David as well. This is in the new Perez-Samanillo building, especially arranged for the lessees. RIU HERMANOS ON ESCOLTA That the horse has his devoted master in the Philippines is attested by the brand new store of Riu Hermanos at about their old stand on the Escolta, No. 623, in the new Perez-Samanillo building. Riu Hermanos carry a full line of leather goods, trunks, etc., an old but progressive Manila business house. “ESCO” IN NEW QUARTERS The Escolta retail store of the Hale Shoe company, handling the Esco shoe made by that company and other lines, is now handsomely installed in the new Perez-Samanillo building. More than 3000 Engines in the Philippines MACLEOD AND COMPANY 154 M. de Comillas Manila, P. I. REAL ESTATE By P.- D. CARMAN San Juan Heights Addition January is the only month since 1920 that Manila Real Estate sales have passed the 2-million peso mark with the one exception of October, 1925. Even in 1919 and 1920 there were but six months with sales over two million pesos. January and the last quarter of the preced ing year 1927-1928 ex ceeds the same period 1926-1927 by over a million pesos but is some what less than 1925-1926 or 1924-1925. December. January. Sales City of Manila 19’7 19’8 Sta. Cruz........................ P 130,298 P 708,187 Malate............................. 381,244 32,003 Paco.................................. 48,164 234,154 Sampaloc......................... 43,407 118,358 Ermita............................. 79,889 86,482 Tondo............................... 67,549 352,113 Sta. Ana.......................... 41,753 18,399 San Nicolas.................... 118,898 252,408 Binondo........................... 354,549 32,168 Quiapo............................. 86,000 34,560 Pandacan......................... 32,083 Sta. Mesa....................... 6,300 San Miguel.................... 42,458 230,000 Pl,400,504 P2,130,915 BABCOCK & TEMPLETON, INC. NEW YORK MANILA CEBU SAN FRANCISCO Exporters of Philippine Produce HEMP, COPRA, MAGUEY, COCONUT OIL Head Office: Head States Office: China Bank Bldg., Manila 3 South Williams St. Phones 2-29-62 and 2-29-63 N. Y. Agents for United Kingdom and Europe: ROBINSON, FLEMING 8b COMPANY 6 Billiter Sq., London, E.C. 3 Centrifugal Pumps 1" to 6" Suction With An INTERNATIONAL ENGINE TOBACCO REVIEW By P. A. Meyer Alhambra Cigar ami Cigarette Manufacturing Co. Raw Leaf: The greater part of the 1927 crop of Cagayan and Ysabela has arrived in Manila. However, no important transactions have yet been reported. The export market, with the exception of Holland and Germany, was very weak in January. Ship ments abroad during January were as fol lows: Leaf Tobacco Kilos Australia..................................................... 17,146 China.......................................................... 9,759 Hongkong.................................................. 53,428 North Atlantic (Europe).................... 296,387 United States......................................... 116,450 j493,no Cigars-. Shipments to the United States were, as usual in January, very low. Judging by orders lately received, February exports will show an improvement. A new tax project on luxuries, which includes tobacco products, at present being worked out by the Nationalistic Government, is, unfortunately, again clouding prospects of the China market. Comparative figures for the trade with the United States are: January 1928, 11,247,174 cigars; December 1927, 18,969,592; January 1927, 11,165,358. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 31 LUMBER REVIEW For November, 1927 By Arthur F. Fischer Director of Forestry Compared with the month of October, market conditions were favorable in November. Not only were local prices better but a sharp rise in the prices of flitches and round logs for the United States was also felt as a result of greater demand in America for round timber of the Philippine Mahogany species. Out of the 4,711,064 board feet shipped to the United States in November, 28,728 board feet represent round logs of Tan guile and the Lauans. These were consigned mostly to the door and furniture manufacturers of the Pacific Coast. Of the total export to Japan of 1,635,792 board feet, 180,000 board feet at least represent Tanguile and the Lauans round timber. This is much smaller than similar shipment to Japan in November, 1926, for the reason that the principal exporter of round timber to the Japanese Empire employed his ship (which was to carry round timber to Japan) in carrying supplies and machineries from Ma nila to his logging operations during the month. From data on hand, there is reason to believe that both the Japanese and American consump tion in 1928 will be still greater than that of 1927 and that, in addition, the European consumption will also be materially increased. With the approach of the new year, a more active market is expected as the appropriations for public works will be released. Government construction works, the proposed extension of the Manila Railroad from Bauang Sui to San Fernando, La Union, the usual construction of new houses and the repair of old ones which ordinarily take place during the first half of the year mean more demand for lumber. The production of 33 miles for November were about 17,000,000 board feet as compared with about 14,000,000 board feet during similar period last year and shipment or sales were over 18,500,000 board feet (or 1,000,000 board feet more than the total production) as compared with about 13,000,000 board feet in November last year. The trade in squared logs consisting principally of first and second groups species, like Narra, Ipil, Molave, etc., amounting to about 3,000,000 board feet should be added to the total sales for the month. The lumber in stock were about 1,000,000 board feet smaller for this period than similar period last year, being 30,000,000 and 31,000,000 board feet, respectively. The export trade registered an increase of about 80% as compared with the preceding month of October, and about 30% as compared with similar period last year. The main bulk of this export, or 4,711,064 board feet valued at 1 * 399,634 over 50% of the total export of 7,599,776 board feet valued at 1 * 619,272 found its way to the United States. Japan, as the table shows, runs second with over 1,500,000 board feet to her credit valued at ovei 1 * 105,000. TIMBER AND LUMBER EXPORT 1927 1926 Destination November November Board Feet Value Board Feet Value United States Japan............ China............ Great Britain British Africa Hawaii.......... .Netherlands.. 4,711,064 1,635,792 628,368 471,912 1 * 399,634 105,130 54,339 91,584 60,208 2,504,144 2,378,640 109,392 35,192 640,240 P247.633 104,844 9,605 3,270 51,699 424 200 110 23,320 2,100 9,328 1,527 Total......... 7,599,776 P619.272 5,700,256 P420.709 ‘. H. S. Andreas, well known oldtimer, has returned to the Philippines after an absence of more than a year and a half, spent in the United States. BECK’S ANNOUNCES THAT ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY On account of the sudden deal for the NEW HOME of ours, we will ask the public to give us time to serve them better than ever. We intend to make our new store the shopping place for the Manila Public. Latest styles and new lines are being ordered in the U. S. and Europe by cable and mail. Courtesy and better attention will be studied by the management. Same as before and better. MANY IMPROVEMENTS TO COME LITTLE BY LITTLE WE WILL DO BETTER AND BETTER Ladies’ dressing room as well as a public telephone will be installed. Later we contemplate a third floor and electric elevator. In fact we will try to make it as convenient and comI fortable for our shoppers and friends | as we possibly can. , American-made new furnishings for ; gents, ladies and children. Latest styles as fast as shown abroad will be i seen in our NEW HOME. j WEIGHT FOR WEIGHT MEASURE FOR MEASURE QUALITY FOR QUALITY OUR PRICES WILL BE THE SAME . OR LOWER Remember everything we sell comes direct from manufacturer to you, through our own buying office in New York with a staff of experienced buyers. I. Beck, Inc. (which is the same firm) carries on a big wholesale trade selling to over 1,000 dealers throughout the provinces. If buying in quanti ties, apply to our Import Wholesale offices upstairs at our new address. BECK BUILDING, 89-91 ESCOLTA The more business we do the better buying you can do. Larger turnover, smaller profit. We will not carry the cheapest nor the highly expensive and luxurious items. We will leave these to others. GOOD QUALITY MEDIUM PRICED GOODS WILL BE OUR MOTTO Charge accounts can be opened. No extra charge. Same as cash. Please don’t fail to arrange for an open month ly charge account. PRICES REASONABLE SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR MONEY REFUNDED Respectfully yours, I. BECK. A reminder to old timers. I. Beck started on November, 1898, on a small part (12'X50') of this very same plot. COPRA AND ITS PRODUCTS By E. A. SEIDENSPINNER Vice-President and Manager, Copra Milling Corporation Throughout the en tire archipelago copra production during Jan uary continued light with the result that Manila arrivals for the month reached the low est total for the last five years. There is little improvement ex pected during the month of February and it will be necessary for almost all of the local mills to discontinue opera tions until there is more copra in sight. At the same time, due to the ample supply of other raw materials in consuming markets, copra on the Continent and in the United States has declined and buyers’ ideas are much lower than Manila prices. Total arrivals at Manila for the month were 129,549 bags as compared with 290,478 bags for January 1927. Latest quotations from foreign markets follow: San Francisco—$.05-1/8; London-Cebu £27-5/0; F. M.M.—£27/0/0; Manila—Resecada, 1’13.00 to 1’13.25. There was very little of interest in the U. S. coconut oil market during January with little anxiety on the part of the larger buyers, all of whom are well covered. The recession in prices during the month was caused in the main by reduced prices in all competing fats, partic ularly tallow and cottonseed oil, assited some what by liquidation of the January position by U. S. crushers. Although scattered tanks sold up to 8-1 4 cents f. o. b. coast, the bulk of the January business was done at 8-1/8 cents. Latest cables follow: San Francisco—$.08-1/8 f. o. b. tank cars; sellers offering futures freely at $.08-1/4. New York—$.08-3/8 c.i.f., nominal; London—£39/15/0, nominal; Manila—1 * .36 to 1 * .37 per kilo. Continental buying pressure for copra cake was eased considerably during January and the large premium for nearby and afloat has been reduced to approximately S-7/6. At this writing latest quotations are £8/12/6 March shipment and £8/5/0 April/September shipment. Against the decline in foreign markets, we have an acute shortage of stocks at Manila which, coupled with low production for the next several months, makes local crushers reluctant to offer forward at present prices. Latest cables follow: San Francisco—no quotation; Hamburg— £8/12/6 March, £8/5/0futures;Manila—buyers, 1 * 57.00 to 1’58.00, sellers, 1 * 60.00 to 1 * 62.00. RAIL COMMODITY MOVEMENTS By M. D. Royer Traffic Manager, Manila Railroad Company The following com modities were received in Manila December 26, 1927, to January 25, 1928, both inclusive, via Manila Railroad: Sugar, piculs...................... Tobacco, bales................... Copra, piculs...................... Coconuts.............................. Lumber, B.F........... Desiccated coconuts, cases January December 1928 1927 246,688 185,438 355,488 285,712 2,560 3,720 49,250 115,800 1,449,000 1,113,000 220,050 120,150 2,870 15,785 IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 32 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE RICE INDUSTRY By Percy A. Hill Director, Rice Producers' Association. Prices remain as of last review, with the exception of the supe rior grade, at 1 * 8.30 per sack of milled rice. The exchange in Manila has been extiemely quiet for the reason that both buyers and sellers know little of the exact situation, amounts of the 1926-27 crop undisposed of, and the net recovery of the present crop. This is due again to the fact that we possess no service either public or private of the estimated harvest, except that which is submitted too late to be of any service to the market, the consumer or the producer. The general law of averages should give a much higher price for palay than is being offered. There is no region that reports a good crop this year, and the loss which has been stated as high as 50% for the Ilocano regions by the director of agriculture, and that of certain other districts at from 30% to 40% denotes a large decrease in domestic supply. Carefully taking into consideration the checked decreases in several localities it may safely be said that the net decrease from last year’s crop ranges from 11% to 18% even for the irrigated varieties, which would mean some eight million cavans less. The low prices of the last two years offered for the cereal have had a tendency to reduce the area cultivated in several regions, as the growers are turning to more profitable crops. Of course it is useless to expect an industry to serve the public at a loss to the producer. Nor does it need a wizard to. find out upon what basis the costs of production are predicated. As a matter of fact, production caught up with subsistence needs for the first time last year, as lands taken up during the last two decades have come into full bearing. It is not too much to expect that in the next decade the law of diminishing returns will reduce this from the present peak. REVIEW OF THE EXCHANGE MARKET By Stanley Williams Manager International Banking Corporation. Telegraphic transfers on New York were quoted at 1-1/8% pre mium on December 31st and remained unchanged at that level until Jan uary 23rd, when the rate was lowered to 1% premium all round. The rate was unchanged at 1% premium until the close on January 31st. At the opening buying rates were call ed 3/4% premium Jan uary/February, 5/8% premium March, but on January 6th and 7th were altered to 3/4% pre mium January, 5 8% premium February,'March. On the 9th buying rates were again altered to 3/4% premium ready 5/8% premium second half of January and February, 1/2% premium March, and on the 30th to 3/4% premium ready and first half of February, 5/8% premium second half of February, 1/2% premium March, at which level the market closed on the 31st. Market generally quiet. Purchases of telegraphic transfers from the Insular Treasury since last report, according to the report of the Insular Auditor, have been as follows: Week ending December 24th........ $325,000 Week ending December 31st......... 225,000 Week ending January 7th.............. 1,375,000 Week ending January 14th............ 750,000 Week ending January 21st............ 350,000 Figures for the week ending January 28th are not yet available. Sterling cable transfers were quoted at 2/01/4 on December 31st and were unchanged with buyers at 2/0 3/8 until January 9th when both rates were raised l/16th, and remained un changed throughout the rest of the month, with, however, occasional buyers at l/16th lower. 3 m/s credit bills were quoted at 2/0 15/16 and 3 m/s D P bills at 2/1 on December 31st and remained unchanged until January 9th, when both rates were raised l/16th, at which level they were unchanged until the close of the month. The New York London crossrate closed at 488-9/32 on December 31st and then dropped away to 487-3/16 on January 7th. Rising again gradually to 487-27/32 on the 13th it Important Notice to Those Traveling by Railroad SPECIAL tickets Kilometrage Tickets Very convenient for travelers. Sold in books of 1000 coupons each. Cheaper than Round Trip Tickets and may be used on any passenger train. Valid for 12 months from date of purchase. Suburban Tickets—Third Class only Sold in sheets of ten tickets, each ticket is valid for one person’s fare between the stations shown thereon. Available for use between Manila and any station as far as Calumpit on Main Line North, and as far as Baliuag on Cabanatuan Branch; on Southern Lines between Paco and any station as far as Calamba, Canlubang and Tanza. About 48% reduction from regular one way rate. Tickets may be used by one person or by a party when duly accomplished as per instructions printed on ticket. Commutation Tickets Sold in books of 54 tickets each, 50% reduction from regular one way rate. Available for use between any two stations from Bauang Sur to Aloneros including branches. Not transferable. Valid on any passenger train within 40 days from date of purchase. Party Rates A discount of from 10% to 35% of the regular rate is allowed, depending upon the number of persons' included in the party. For a group of 50 or more persons a special coach is furnished for exclusive use of the party. For further information ask the Station Agent in the locality or apply to Traffic Department, Central Office, Telephones 4-96-34 or 4 98-61, Manila. Manila Railroad Company 943 Azcarraga Manila, P. I. again sank away to a low for the month of 487-1/8 at the close on January 31st. London Bar Silver was quoted at 26 1/2 spot, 26 7/ 16 forward on December 31st. During January it touched a high of 26-11/16 spot 26 1/2 forward on the 5th, and a low of 26 1/16 spot, 25-15/16 forward on the 19th. 24th and 26th, closing easy at 26 1/4 spot 26 1/16 forward on January 31st. New York bar silver closed at 57 1/2 on December 31st, touched a high for January of 57 7/8 on the 5th, a low of 56 1/2 on the 19th, 24th and 26th, and closed at 56 3/4 on the 31st. Telegraphic. transfers on other points were quoted nominally at the close as follows: Paris................................. 1240 Madrid............................. 172 3/4 Singapore........................ 116 Japan................................ 95 3/8 Shanghai.......................... 77 3/8 Hongkong........................ 101 7/8 India................................. 134 Java.................................. 122 IN RESPONDING OT ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 33 REVIEW OF THE HEMP MARKET By T. H. SMITH Vice-President and General Manager, Macleod &• Company I S O trade 11 /mark 18/ ° This report covers the markets for Manila hemp for the month of Jan uary 1928, with statis tics up to and including January 30, 1928. U. S. Grades: New York opened the month with a quiet tone, buy ers did not show any desire to operate and sellers were rather an xious to make progress, D, 17-1,4 cents: E, 15-5 8 cents; F, 14-1.’8 cents; G, 9-1/4 cents; I, 12-5/8cents; JI, 10-3/4 cents; SI, 14 cents; S2, 12-3/8 cents. A weaker tone set in and by the middle of January a further decline was registered to a basis of F, 13-3/4 cents; I, 12-1/4 cents; JI, 10-1/2 cents. The latter two weeks of the month reflected an exceedingly dull market with a declining tendency, buyers evidently having made up their minds to stay out of the market for a much lower range of prices to become established. At the close of the month nominal prices ruling in New York were: D, 16-1/2 cents; E, 14-3/4 cents; F, 13-5/8 cents; G, 8-7/8 cents; I, 11-7/8 cents; JI, 10-1/2 cents; SI, 13-3/8 cents; S2, 11-3/4 cents with buyers still holding off in expectation of lower prices. The opening month of 1928 has been decidedly disappointing both as regards the volume of business and prices obtainable in the U. S. The Manila market for U. S. grades opened quiet but steady with export houses bidding E, 1 * 35; F, 1 * 33.4; G, P20; H, 1 * 19; I, 1 * 19.4; JI, P23.4; SI, 1 * 32.4; S2, 1 * 28.4; S3, P24. A fair business was transacted round these figures. The market soon turned on the easy side with business done down to F, 1’33 to 1 * 32.4; G, P19.4;H, P18.4; I, 1 * 28.4; JI, 1 * 23.4; SI, 1 * 32; S2, P28; S3, 1 * 23.4. The market from then on held fully steady with dealers refusing to make concessions on price in spite of the lack of business in the consuming markets. At the extreme close of the month an easier tone was apparent, quo tations in Manila being nominally: E, 1 * 34; F, P31; G, P19; H, 1 * 18; I, 1’27; JI, 1 * 23; SI, 1 * 30; S2, 1 * 26; S3, 1 * 23. U. K. Grades: London opened dull, J2, £41; K, £38; LI, £36.10; L2, £35.5; Ml, £35.5; M2, £33; DL, £32.10. During the first two weeks of the month little business passed but prices remained steady. By mid January a better tone became apparent with business passing at J2, £41; K, £38; LI, £36.10; L2, £35.10; Ml, £35.10. Prices appreciated still further, sales made J2, £41.15; K, £38.5; but towards the close the tone turned dull with sellers in London at J2, £40; K, £37; LI, £34.15; L2, £33.15; Ml, £33.15; M2, £31.10, DL, £31. The Manila market for U. K. grades opened steady with buyers nominally quoting J2, 1 * 19.2; K, P17.6; LI, 1 * 17; L2, P16.4; Ml, P16.2; M2, P15;DL, P14.4. For actual parcels arriving much higher prices were paid up to a basis of J2, P20.2; K, P18.6; LI, P17.4; L2, 1 * 17; Ml, P16.6; M2, P15.2. Prices eased off a little in mid January to J2, 1’19.6; K, 1 * 18; LI, 1 * 17.2; L2, 1 * 16.6; Ml, P16.4; M2, 1 * 15.2, at which prices business was transacted. Values con tinued fairly steady with business passing at the close of the month at J2, P19.6; K, 1 * 18; LI, 1’17; L2, 1’16.2; Ml, 1’16.2; M2, 1’15. • The market in Japan was quiet throughout the month. Freight Rates remain unchanged. Statistics: We give below figures for the period extending from January 1st to January 30th, 1928. Twines and Yarns Transmission Rope 1928 1927 Stocks oni January 1st......... 139,632 112,382 Receipts to January 30th.. . 99,689 95,946 Stocks on January 30th.. . . 153,344 102,026 85,977 106,302 Shipments To Jan. To JanJO. 1928 31. 1927 To the— Hales Hales United Kingdom............... 25,431 31,498 Continent of Europe.... 12,019 11,103 Atlantic U. S..................... 15,812 29,946 U. S. via Pacific.............. 4,177 7,871 Japan..................................... 20,330 18,868 Elsewhere and Local.. . . 8,208 7,016 BECK’S NEW ESCOLTA HOME Rope and Cordage Beck’s new department store at 81-89 Es colta rises finely upon the very site of the antique building in which Israel Beck, the owner of this prosperous Manila department store, opened for business in Manila November 15, 1898, only three months after the military occupation of the city. During the interval of 29 years and more, the business has been steadily expanding, and the proprietor announces further plans in this issue. The business had quite outgrown the capacity of the old familiar corner, the Escolta and Plaza Moraga. Mr. and Mrs. .Beck have also removed their residence from calle Dakota to 1175 M. H. del Pilar, Malate, where they will be at home to their many friends. JANUARY SUGAR REVIEW By George H. Fairchild Bolt and Yacht Rope New York Market: —The American sugar market continued weak and dull during the month under review. After small parcels of Cubas were sold at 2-7/8 cents c. and f. (equivalent to 4.65 cents 1. t. duty paid for P. I. centrifugals) on the 4tfi of the month, prices gradually declined to 2-25/32 cents c. and f. (4.55 cents 1. t.) in the second week; 2-11/16 cents c. and f. (4.46 cents 1. t.) in the third week; and 2-9/16 cents (4.33 cents 1. t.) at the close of the month. The Cuban milling season has started with a crop limited to 4,000,000 tons allocated as Drilling Cables Bull Rope Whale Lines follows: Tons For export to the United States.. 3,050,000 For export to other countries....... 600,000 For Cuban consumption.................. 150,000 In reserve............................................... 200,000 Total............................... 4,000,000 Lath Yarn Bale Rope Hide Rope Hay Rope Johnson Pickett Rope Co. 106 Calle Lara Manila, Philippines Willett & Gray estimated the U. S. con sumption for 1927 at 6-1/2% below that of the previous year. The 1926 sugar consumption bf the United States amounted to 5,671,335 tons and, deducting 6-1/2% or 368,636 tons, the 1927 sugar consumption in the United States would be 5,302,699 tons as compared with 5,510,060 tons in 1925 and 4,854,479 tons in 1924. This decrease of sugar consumption in the United States together with the stationary consumption in Europe, which, according to Dr. Mikusch, was 8,616,000 tons as compared with 8,592,000 tons in 1926 and 8,031,000 tons in 1925, was apparently one reason for the prevailing low prices. Commenting on the European con sumption, Dr. Mikusch said: The noteworthy point about the foregoing table is that apparent consumption in 1926-1927 was practically unc ange rom^t te jrrevious^year.^ as^compare wit ^an consumption probably showed less apparent decline in France, for example, large invisible stocks carried over, while in Czechoslovakia the falling off is to be attributed to the smaller production. For 1927-1928 a substantial gain in distribution is anticipated as a result of the general depletion of invisible IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 34 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 Commercial Printing is a silent but Powerful Messenger Your letter heads, bill heads, cards, envelopes, etc., when well printed, all help to build up that “feeling of confidence”. Our reputation for producing GOOD PRINTING has been earned and merits your patronage. McCullough Printing Company 424 Rizal Ave. Phone 800 YOUR LOGGING PROBLEM can be solved readily by some type of WASHINGTON LOGGING ENGINE The Washington Simplex Yarder above leads all Yarders in ease of operation and low cost of upkeep. Washington Iron Works, Seattle, U. S. A. Agents for the Philippine Islands The Edward J. Nell Co., Ltd.,—Manila. WASHINGTON ENGINES supplies. Statistics for the show a decided increase in Stocks in the U. K., U. S., Cuba and European statistical countries at the end of the month were 3,910,000 tons as compared with 3,723,000 tons at the same time in 1927 and 4,066,000 tons in 1926. Philippine Sales. Sales of Philippine cen trifugals in the Atlantic Coast, afloats, near arrivals, and for future deliveries, for the month under review, aggregated 32,250 tons at prices ranging from 4.40 cents to 4.64 cents landed terms, duty paid. Futures. Quotations on the New York Exchange fluctuated as follows: High Low Latest January 1928............ 2.76 2.62 2.66 March.......................... 2.84 2 58 2.58 May.............................. 2.92 2 66 2.66 July.............................. 2.98 2.74 2.74 September.................. 3.07 2.81 2.81 December................... 3.11 2 86 2.89 January 1929............ 2.95 2.84 2.86 Local Market:-^-Influenced by the weak tone of the American sugar market, there was but insignificant business transacted in the local market for centrifugals. Quotations ranged from 1 * 10.25 to 1 * 11.00 per picul. In the local muscovado market the Chinese were the invariable purchasers of small parcels at prices ranging from 1’6.75 to 1’6.85 per picul, basis No. 1. Philippine Crop Prospects. Harvesting is progressing satisfactorily and a majority of the Centrals report less delays due to insufficiency of cane than in previous years. On Negros some of the Centrals report lower yields per hectare than in the previous year, so that this year’s crop on that island would be expected to be slightly less than the previous crop; on the other hand, on Luzon there is slightly an in crease in yields amounting to about 10% which would offset the decreased production on Negros, making the total production of the Islands for this season equal that of the previous year. The late rains in January have been beneficial to the young cane which looks more advanced in growth than it was last year at the same period due, particularly on Luzon, to the application of fertilizers at the time of planting, which practice has been urged by the Philippine Sugar Association with satisfactory results. Recently considerable anxiety was aroused in the local sugar circles upon the receipt of press despatch from the United States announcing that a bill will shortly be introduced in the U.S. Congress advocating the restriction of the free importation of Philippine sugars into the United States to 500,000 tons. While it is believed the bill has little chance of passing, steps should be taken by local sugar men to protect the Phil ippine sugar industry from the enactment of the proposed measure. With the foregoing despatch, came another reporting the formation of an “American Do mestic Sugar Producers” association composed of representatives of the American beet, Louis iana, Hawaiian and Porto Rican interests, which association was reported to be agreeable to limit their production as follows: Tons American beet....................................... 1,000,000 Hawaii...................................................... 800,000 Porto Rico.............................................. 700,000 Louisiana................................................. 150,000 It was also reported that they would not be opposed to increasing the preference of the Reciprocity Treaty between the U. S. and Cuba to 30% which would mean an additional pre ferential in favor of Cuba of 56 centavos per picul. The representatives of the Philippine sugar industry were reported to be excluded from participation in the above combination on the ground that Philippine sugar is not “domestic sugar”. Cuba’s claim, for reasons of expe diency for selfish interests, is apparently receiving the benediction of the “American Domestic Sugar Producers” that the Philippines is a territory foreign to the United States and there fore occupies a territorial status different from that of either Porto Rico or Hawaii. This claim is not based on anything more than pre judice or selfish interests. The best answer to such claim is found in the following statement contained in an article entitled “Cuba and the United States” appearing in the Foreign Affairs, an American Quarterly Review, for January 1928 (Vol. vi. No. 2, page 238): Cuba resents particularly the free admission of Phil ippine sugar into the United States, which she contends is in violation of the clause of the Reciprocity Treaty quoted above. However, the legal basis of her claim, whereby she protests that the Philippines are foreign territory, is a weak one, since the United States Supreme Court has declared the international status of the Phil ippines to be that of American soil. The Cubans assert with considerable justice that, in view of the far greater magnitude of American investments in the Cuban sugar industry, that industry is deserving of relatively more consideration in the American Tariff than is the case at present. Legally, there is no difference in the status of the territories of Hawaii, Porto Rico and the Philippines as decreed in decisions of the Supreme Court. They are all “unincorporated territories”, Alaska being the only “incorporated territory” of the United States, to which state hood has not as yet been granted by Congress. Philippine Exports. Sugar exports from the Philippines for the month of January 1928, amounted to 24,434 long tons segregated 17,000 7,380 54 24,434 as follows: Long tons of 2,240 lbs United States Chinaa Atlantic Pacific & Japan Total Centrifugals. . 17,000 7,380 ------ 24,380. Muscovados.. — ------ 54 54 Java Market:—The Java market during the month of January was reported quiet and dull. Latest quotations are as follows: Superiors—Feb./. Mar. Gs. 15—1’8.03 per P. I. picul; June/July Gs. 15-1/8—1 * 8.10. Head sugar spot, Gs. 13- 3/4—1 * 7.38 per picul; June/July/Aug. Gs. 14— 1 * 7.51. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 35 Commodities Coconut Oil.......................................... Cigars (Number)................................. Embroidery........................................... Maguey.................................................. Leaf Tobacco....................................... Desiccated and Shredded Coconut. Hats (Number)................................... L umber (Cubic Meter) ................... Copra Meal.......................................... Cordage................................................. Knotted Hemp.................................... Pearl Buttons (Gross)....................... Canton (low grade cordage fiber).. AU Other Products............................ Total Domestic Products................. United States Products..................... Foreign Countries Products............. Grand Total......................... PRINCIPAL EXPORTS December, 1927 Quantity Value % December, 1926 Quantity Value Monthly average for 12 months previous to December, 1927 Value ... 55,626,800 P 9,273,127 40 ... 14,376,894 5,234,811 17 ... 14,199,182 4,825,355 16 ... 19,924,845 4,006,302 13 ... 21,618,450 948,323 3 550,056 2 ... 2,057,273 464,410 1 ... 2,430,800 689,267 2 1,410,315 523,148 1 93,478 458,206 1 10,871 383,372 1 ... 10,398,490 666,477 2 579,191 319,108 1 11,384 45,165 0 77,704 68,021 0 731,814 180,258 0 611,925 2 0 37,396,863 P 7,339,253 25 6 14,748,742 6,209,532 24 2 9,336,300 3,145,226 10 5 25,644,648 4,857,933 20 3 28,508,226 1,300,378 4 0 1,049,137 3 7 1,449,693 395,993 1 4 1,265,263 374,928 1 9 1,345,114 516,873 2 6 92,888 299,693 1 4 13,044 472,014 2 3 8,482,815 396,176 1 2 546,533 321,063 1 3 77,215 282,050 1 4 70,228 70,572 0 6 275,649 58,663 0 1 549,532 2 6 46,110,334 P 8,382,668 32 1 12,402,143 4,947,855 18 3 12,066,890 4,140,114 15 2 16,609,915 3,192,623 12 6 17,297,384 775,376 3 7 646,529 2 3 1,464,874 342,744 1 3 1,965,750 653,125 2 2 1,265,304 474,177 1 0 58,889 260,481 1 0 12,422 438,260 1 3 7,563,498 414,090 1 1 464,326 277,784 1 0 42,194 156,713 0 1 65,899 61,142 0 1 625,486 151,647 0 0 613,716 2 P29.133.247 99 71,742 0 42,342 0 S P27,541,369 99 3 39,564 5 28,083 8 P25,779,395 99 1 101,544 0 1 48,075 0 P29.247.331 100 0 P27.639.016 100 0 P25.929.014 100 NOTE:—All quantities are in kilos except where otherwise indicated. PRINCIPAL IMPORTS December, 1927 December, 1926 Monthly average for 12 months ending December, 1927 CARRYING TRADE Value Value Value % IMPORTS 1 9 8 3 0 5 8 0 7 6 6 2 6 4 2 0 Cotton Cloths................... Other Cotton Goods.... Iron and Steel, Except Machinery...................... 'Vheat Flour..................... Machinery and Parts of.. Dairy Products................ Gasoline.............................. Silk Goods......................... Automobiles....................... Vegetable Fiber Goods.. Meat Products................. Illuminating Oil............... Fish and Fish Products. . Crude Oil........................... Coal..................................... Chemicals, Dyes, Drugs, Etc................................... Fertilizers........................... Vegetables.......................... Paper^ Goods, Except Tobacco and Manufac tures of.......................... Electrical Machinery.. .. Books and Other Printed Matters........................... Cars and Carriages, Ex cept Autos..................... Automobile Tires.............. Fruits and Nuts.............. Woolen Goods................... Leather Goods.................. Shoes and Other FootBreadstuffs, Except Wheat Flour................. Fggs..................................... Perfumery and Other Toilet Goods................. .u Orica ting Oil................. Cacao Manufactures, Ex cept Candy................... Glass and Glassware.... Paints, Pigments, Var nish, Etc........................ Oils not separately listed. I'arthen Stones & ChinaAutomobile Accessories.. Diamond and Other Pre cious Stones Unset.. .. Wood, Bamboo, Reed, Rattan............................ India Rubber Goods.... Matches.............................. Cattle and Carabaos.... Explosives........................... Sugar and Molasses........ Motion Picture Films... All Other Imports........... Total.....................................! 392,328 650,060 262,626 506,275 246,979 344,564 236,206 186,468 267,780 188,342 79,913 144,219 58,366 53,742 108,426 163,532 158,921 133,5.52 15.8 5.6 16 5 3 7 P Nationality of Vessels December, 1927 December, 1926 Monthly average for 12 months ending December, 1927 7 3 3 2 2 4 8 7 2 8 2 7 5 3 0 2 9 9 0 8 1 7 6 4 4 2 9 7 3 3 9 9 1 2 2 5 3 2 2 6 1 9 0 0 9 0 0 6 3 0 0 3 5 0 0 0 8 8 0 7 P21.176.933 100 310,299 126,544 83,336 71,316 142,471 2 0 0 8 3 3 2 2 9 9 7 2 2 9 9 1 2 9 0 0 American... British........ Dutch........ German.. .. Philippine.. Spanish.... French........ Chinese.... Swedish.... Danish....... Value % Value % Value % P10,499,553 6,960,810 1,214,743 757,529 1,088,047 65,912 11,815 49.8 P10,201,991 33.0 4,876,497 5.6 1,060,735 3.5 574,729 5.1 902,180 316,619 0.5 92,471 0.3 80,033 16,571 55.1 P 9,845,159 26.3 4,755,372 5.7 1,116,070 3.1 736,501 4.9 1,028,558 1.7 68,256 0.5 131,140 0.4 133,752 449 0.1 15,514 13,869 3,923 2 2 7 0 1 8 0 0 0 2 0 7 5 0 0 0 0 3 7 1 2 0 0 3 0 0 390 * ,68 7 457,645 409,316 247,218 152,027 337,704 208,051 136,983 205,524 150,069 142,883 125,548 92,666 100,386 137,374 135,958 125,833 123,645 8 6 6 2 0 2 2 3 1 3 0 1 0 1 0 8 8 0 8 0 7 6 0 0 6 7 0 7 7 0 0 7 8 0 By Freight............................P20,710,000 97.8 P18,121,826 97.8 P18,696,278 97.1 By Mail............................... 466,933 2.2 405,650 2.2 612,301 2.9 Total...................P21,176,933 100.0 P18.527.476 100.0 P19,308,579 100.fr EXPORTS Nationality of Vessels December, 1927 December, 1926 American............................ British................................. Japanese............................. German............................... Norwegian.......................... Spanish............................... Dutch.................................. Philippine........................... Chinese............................... Argentine........................... Panaman............................ By Freignt......................... By Mail............................. Value % Value P14,615,207 8,587,504 2,292,389 1,202,501 294,552 24,163 11,699 . 1,645,241 P28,673,256 574,075 Monthly average for 12 months ending December, 1927 49.1 P12.975.362 29.0 8,584,666 38.0 1,953.398 4.6 1,699,738 1.2 269,180 0.3 6,958 4,986 _________ 1,136,207 97.9 P26,630,495 2.1 1,008,521 Value% P12.480.862 8,367,598 2,642,832 905,599 41,033 117,906 283,611 117,465 30,702 13 43 820 383,128 96.5 P25,371,611 3.5 557,403 5 Total.....................P29,247,331 100.0 P27.639.016 100.0 P25.929.014 100.0 TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES Monthly average for December, 1927 December, 1926 12 months previous •to December, 1927 5 7 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 3 3 2 5____________________________________ 0 P18,527,476 100 0 P19,308,579 100 9 2 5 Countries PORT STATISTICS TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES Monthly average for December, 1927 December, 1926 12 months previous Ports _____________________________________ to December, 1927 Value % Value % Value % anilo ...........P30.950.419 60.9 P30.651.620 66.7 P29,690,876 65.9 ......... 8r797.263 17 5 6,565,800 7,412,567 ......... 7,213,223 14.3 12 * 7 5,814,430 12^8 Zamboanga.............. ......... 555,629 506^438 1.2 434,520 0.8 Zolo........................... 76,791 0.3 80,294 0.2 ......... 1.168.651 2 * 4 1,177,205 2.6 932,045 Uegaspi..................... ......... 1,659,609 3.4 1,376,129 2.1 872,861 1.9 Total........ ..........P50.424.264 100.0 P46.166.492 100.0 P4S,237.593 100.0 United States............ . United Kingdom..... J?P“........................... French East Indies.. Germany...................... Australia.................... British East Indies... Dutch East Indies... Netherlands................ Italy.............................. Hongkong..................... Belgium........................ Switzerland.................. Japanese-China.......... Denmark...................... Other Countries......... Total............ Value 72 4 % 2 0 2 3 0 1 1 1 8 0 2 8 9 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 3 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 Value Value 2 0 0 0 0 0 69 5 7 3 0 0 1 5 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 8 9 6 8 5 4 2 1 0 0 1 5 0 36 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1928 BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY B. A. GREEN REAL ESTATE Improved and Unimproved City, Suburban and Provincial Properties Myers Buck Co., Inc. Surveying and Mapping PRIVATE MINERAL AND Expert valuation, appraisement and reports on real estate Telephone 507 34 Escolta Cable Address: “BAG” Manila Manila, P. I. Philippine Islands PHILIPPINES COLD STORES Wholesale and Retail Dealers in American and Australian Refrigerated Produce STORES AND OFFICES Calle Echague Manila, P. I. PUBLIC LAND 230 Kneedler Bldg. Tel. 1610 MACLEOD & COMPANY Manila Cebd Vigan Davao Iloilo Exporters of Hemp and Maguey Agents for INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER CO. Agricultural Machinery Rosenberg’s Garage TELEPHONE 5-69-55 « ® » * CHINA BANKING CORPORATION "MANILA, P. I. Domestic and Foreign Banking of Every Description “LA URBANA” (Sociedad Mtitua de Construccidn y Prtstamos) Prestamos Hipotecarios Inversiones de Capital 111 Plaza Sta. Cruz P. O. Box 1394 Telephone 22070 J. A. STIVER Attorney-At-Law Notary Public Certified Public Accountant Investments Collections Income Tax 121 Real, Intramuros Manila, P. I. HANSON & ORTH, Inc. Manila, P. I. Buyers and Exporters of Hemp and Other Fibers 612-613 Pacific Bldg. Tel. 2-24-18 BRANCHES: New York—London—Merida—Davao Phone 2-22-33 “El Hogar Filipino” Building WARNER, BARNES & CO., LTD. Insurance Agents Transacting All Classes of Insurance SANITARY - CONVENIENT - SATISFACTORY! Five European Barbers Special attention given the ladles Shampoos, facial massage and hair cuts under skilled management LA MARINA BARBER SHOP 117 Plaza Goiti Jost Cortina. Prop. MADRIGAL & CO. 8 Muelle del Banco Nacional Manila, P. I. Coal Contractors and Coconut Oil Manufacturers MILL LOCATED AT CEBU Derham Building Phone 22516 P. O. Box 2103 MORTON & ERICKSEN, INC. Surveyors AMERICAN BUREAU OF SHIPPING Marine and Cargo Surveyors Sworn Measurers Mr. MANUEL VALENTIN TAILOR Formerly Chief Cutter for P. B. Florence & Co. 244 Plaza Sta. Cruz Manila, P. I. Phone 2-61-30 SALEEBY FIBER CO., INC. Fiber Merchants P. O. Box 1423 Manila, P. I. Room 318, Pacific Building Cable Address: “SALEFIBER” Quality ffi Shirts TOYO SHIRT FACTORY 1044 AZCAnnAGA, MANILA. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL EL ORIENTE CORONAS ORIENTE FABRICA DE TABACOS, INC. 72 Calle Evangelista MANILA MANUFACTURERS OF Coronas Oriente Jean Valjean Fighting Bob HIGH GRADE CIGARS FRANK G. IIAUGIIWOLT Biological Laboratory 915 M. H. del Pilar Manila, P. I. Stool. Blood and Urine Examinations Special Sunday and Holiday Hours for Business Men: 8 to 9 a m.; 3 to 5 p.m. Week-days: 7:30 a.m. to 12 m.; 1:30 to 5 p.m. D Riu HERMANOS S 623 ESCOLTA 623 Recommended By Leading Doctors Drink It For Your Health’s Sake Manila Wine Merchants, Ltd. 174 Juan Luna Manila, P. I. P. O. Box 403 Phones: 2-25-67 and 2-25-68 I WEANDSCO I Western Equipment and Supply Co. Exclusive distributers in the Philippines for Western Electric Co. I Graybar Electric Co. ' 119 Calle T. Pinpin P. O. Box 2277 Manila, P. I. THE AMERICAN EXPRESS CO., INC. Railway and Steamship Tickets at tariff rates Express and Freight Forwarding TEL. 1106 Nature’s Best Mineral Water i J American Express Travelers Cheques IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL Predominant! There are no shattering reasons these days for unusual success in the automobile building world. Predomi nance there comes for one reason only—sheer quality at a price that grips the imagination and encourages economy. BUICK offers you motoring performance —all-round service — that improves on the general standard of excellence. It offers you genuine beauty and wellestablished reputation; also a strength and stamina that stands by you under all circumstances. Automotive 5ales Company Distributor of tDuic/c JTtotor Cars