all of which product was shipped to Singapore. There are a number of rivers in this island sufficiently large for log-driving purposes. Of the other larger islands we find valuable forests in the islands of Leyte and Samar. The island of Negros has been cut over rather thoroughly for a great many years, and it will not be long before it will be in the same condition as the island of Cebu, if the forests are not protected. This island (Negros), prior to June, 1901, was under a separate government with its own forestry service. The forestry bureau at Manila now has jurisdiction in this island, and will promptly introduce the forestry officials trained at Manila, enforce there the forestry regulations, and protect what is left of their forests. We may safely estimate that there are at least 20,000,000 acres of virgin forest in these islands, with an average of at least 15,000 feet board measure of valuable hardwood to the acre. Up to the present date the Bureau has listed 665 native tree species, of several hundred of which little more is known than their names. During the past year about 160 different native woods have entered the market, the most valuable of which for construction purposes is molave. Molave, ipil, yacal, and dungon are remarkable for their durability and strength. The qualities of a few of these woods are very well known to the natives, and the specifications for the main timbers in house construction carefully provide that the timbers used shall be some of these mentioned. In addition to their value in ordinary construction they have exceptional qualities when used as paving blocks. Two of the bridges in Manila were paved with molave blocks about six years ago have been subjected to the heaviest traffic in the city, and, apparently, at the present date, not a single block has been splintered. The calantas, or Philippine cedar, is almost entirely used in making cigar boxes. Narra, tindalo, acle, and luan are used principally as furniture woods. Betis, aranga, and dungon are generally used as piles, for which there is a great demand in the Manila market. The other important construction woods are baticulin, batitinan, amuguis, guijo, apitong, panao, sacat, balacat, malabulac, and malasantol. TIMBER USED IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FROM JULY 1, 1900, TO APRIL 30, 1901. There are various sources of supply for the timber market of the Philippines, namely, public lands of the islands, private woodlands, and importations from the United States and other foreign countries. A more detailed statement of the amount of forest products taken from public lands during this period will be found in the appendix. The total amount of timber taken from public lands for this period is Timber from private woodlands for the same period Amount shipped to the Philippines by the Quartermaster's Department (None but lower grade woods permitted to be used for this purpose.) Cubic feet. 1,875, 405 97, 808 155, 714 713, 642 1,629, 635 A very small total, when we consider the vast forests from which they are extracted and the great demand for timber in the islands. Much of this native timber was cut as early as 1896, but not brough to market on account of the revolution. It was only during the past year that the timber cut since 1896 could be brought to market. Up to the present t..ne it has been impossible to cut enough timber for the actual necessities, forcing the government to send to America for the timber needed for storehouses for the troops, for bridges, and other public works. The amount of timber per capita used in these islands is less than 1 per cent of the corresponding amount used in the United States. The total amount used, including importations, is much less than the annual growth of forest in the province of Cagayan alone, and when we consider that the logging parties are small and are cutting in over 40 different provinces and islands, not much danger is to be apprehended that any loss of our present capital will result. At least 50 per cent of the timber cut on public lands has been used by the government in the construction of its many barracks, storehouses, bridges, and other public works. Native property owners throughout the islands have been unable to rebuild their homes, finding it impossible to get material. When peace prevails in the islands more men will be employed in the forests, and it will take three or four years for the native and other residents of the islands to cut only such timber as is absolutely necessary for construction. The engineers and builders in Hongkong and other ports of the Orient prefer the Philippine timber to that of the other islands of the East Indies, but have been unable to secure any cargoes lately, owing to the scarcity of supply and great local demand, and in response to an inquiry from them as to when they could secure some of this timber, I replied that it would not be possible to obtain any within three years, unless they paid a price far higher than that they wish to give at the present time. It is also to be noted that no native wood has been exported since the organization of the present bureau. For the next four months a decreased output of timber will be noted, due to the fact that the southwest monsoon and the typhoon season is on and transportation by sea somewhat uncertain. The rains have commenced and will stop loggers in some parts of the islands. PRIVATE WOODLANDS. The forestry regulations provide that owners of woodlands may cut and market their timber after registration of titles to these lands in the central office at Manila. A printed form is then issued to the owner of the land stating that this registration has been made; his title is returned, and on it also is noted the fact of registration. He is also informed that this registration is no guaranty of title. Parties cutting timber on their own woodland without having registered their titles are obliged to pay the government valuation on the timber in addition to a fine. All land is considered public land until a title is shown-a title which has formerly been registered in some register of property as provided by Spanish law. Seventy-four tracts of woodland have been registered up to date, aggregating a total area of about 125,000 acres; more than 120,000 acres of this total are found in the island of Luzon. In February last the nationalities of owners of 68 woodland tracts were as follows: Spanish. English.. 7511 55 After announcement of the passage of what was known as the Spooner amendment, quite a number of titles were presented and six only were found eligible for registration. Up to the present date titles to woodlands owned by religious orders have not been presented for registration. It is believed that the aggregate of these holdings by the religious orders will not exceed 400,000 acres. It is believed that the total holdings of woodland by private parties will not exceed 1,000,000 acres. These private holders have shown a disposition to retain their properties and utilize them for their own use. The native especially shows a disposition to cling to his land, and is averse to selling, although a high price is occasionally offered to him. From July 1, 1900, to April 30, 1901, the following utilizations of forest products on private woodland have been noted:" Timber ....cubic feet.. 97, 808 .cubic meters.. 19,034 ....do.... 4, 556 Each shipment of forest products from private woodlands must be accompanied by a certificate of the president of the nearest town that this product was taken from such a party's private land. The regulations referring to private woodlands are as follows: ART. 75. Persons owning lands containing trees suitable for lumber, firewood, or other forest products, shall immediately present certified copies of their title deeds at this office for registration. 2. Forest products taken from private lands whose owners have not complied with these requirements shall be considered unlawfully taken. ART. 76. In order that forestry officials may exercise an intelligent supervision over the utilization of forest products, all said products of lands owned by towns or by private individuals, and which leave the jurisdiction where said lands are situated, shall be accompanied by a statement signed by the owner or administrator of the estate and by the president or alcalde of the town, in which statement shall be described the number, class, and amount of forest product and the place where cut or gathered, and shall also show a receipt from the forestry bureau of registration of said title to said land. Failure to present this statement will render the owner of said forest product liable to the penalties incurred by parties fraudulently taking forest products from the forests of the state. PRICES OF NATIVE TIMBER. More than 90 per cent of the native timber is used for construction purposes. The price of timber in the log at the end of the first haul varies from 30 to 70 cents (Mexican) per cubic foot. Transportation to the Manila market is from 40 to 50 cents (Mexican) per cubic foot where parties do not use their own boats. The prices of the superior or firstgroup woods is very uncertain, varying from $1.50 to more than $2.50 (Mexican) per cubic foot. When special sizes in the higher grade timbers are required, as much as $5 and $6 have been paid per cubic foot; this for timbers to be used in house construction. The finest hard woods for furniture (narra, tindalo, acle, camagon, lauan) can often be purchased at a smaller price than is paid for a few special varieties of native woods that are of particular value (molave, ipil, yacal, betis) in house construction. Under the Spanish administration the price of timber at the end of the first haul was about 20 cents (Mexican) and much was laid down in Manila for 50 cents (Mexican) per cubic foot, and even less. The government price on its timber, as per forestry regulations, must be paid before the timber leaves for the market. This money is paid into the nearest internal-revenue office. The government valuation of its timber and firewood has been close to 5 per cent of the current market price. The government valuation of other forest products has been uniformly 10 per cent of the current market price. The demand for timber for house construction is strong and will continue as peace is restored and people return to their homes in the provinces and commence rebuilding. The China market for Philippine woods is very good, but it will be some years before the people in the ports of the Orient will be willing pay the prices current in the market in Manila. to The demand for certain of our fine hard woods by furniture and cabinet makers in the United States will arise as soon as these woods become known. We have a number of varieties of fine hard woods which should appeal to these furniture makers. In the course of a year or two, when American appliances and skill are at work in the forests, we should be able to place cargoes of these varieties on board ship for not more than $1 (Mexican) per cubic foot. Transportation to the United States costs between $9 and $15 gold per 1,000 B. M. Almost any lengths can be obtained and diameters up to 5 and 6 feet. During Spanish times the large trees were left untouched owing to the lack of facilities for handling them. Occasionally a tree 6 or 7 feet in diameter would be felled and one slab taken from it, from which to make a table. Many of these fine table tops can be seen throughout the islands, some of them more than 7 feet in diameter. Ordinarily the native loggers are paid at a fixed price per cubic foot laid down at tide water or on railroad. There are four sawmills in the city of Manila and hundreds of carpenter shops where the Chinamen rip out boards by hand and make a fair profit. Parties desiring to purchase a few hard-wood boards to make a little rough furniture will often pay from 25 to 50 cents (Mexican) per running foot for the same. CAN THE FORESTS OF THE PHILIPPINES BE DEVASTATED? Not if a proper number of trained officials are provided and the present forestry regulations are enforced. The following safeguards against forest devastation in the Philippines are worthy of consideration: First. The physical obstacles. Second. The forest regulations. Third. Supervision of forestry officials. Fourth. Local demand for but few of the many hundred native woods. The physical obstacles will not be appreciated without a few months' observation on the ground. The real difficulties appear only after the work in the field has commenced and apparently all contingencies provided for. To begin with, there are no roads into the best forest tracts; the rivers are full of snags and impediments to their use as driveways. Road construction in the jungle is difficult, expensive, and hazardous. Many of the most valuable woods will not float, thus necessitating the use of bamboo rafts, or placing alternate logs of light specific gravity between heavy ones. On the logging road the only animal available for transportation in these islands is the carabao, an animal of but moderate strength who readily succumbs to overwork or disease. A plague of rinderpest has carried off thousands of these animals during the past two years, leaving many communities in a most helpless condition. There are no appliances in the island suitable for handling large and heavy logs, and if such appliances should be secured, skilled white labor must be employed until the native can be properly trained to their use. Many of the natives are good workmen, quick and clever, and in time will be able to do much of the skilled work that for the next few years must be done by white men. The great mass of the natives, especially those living near large forest tracts, seem disinclined to constant and heavy labor and can not be depended upon to remain any length of time at their work. Much depends on the kind of treatment received from the employer; the wage paid does not seem of as much importance to the natives as consideration for their whims. The average laborer while in the woods can be counted on to cut and square from 5 to 8 cubic feet a day. It will take a couple of years to make even a few good roads and improve the driveways, install appliances for handling large logs and teach the natives how to use them, and then if the native is found willing to work, lumber companies might be able to get out what they consider a paying quantity of timber. Then when they are ready to extract this timber, the regulations throw around them many restrictions which will prevent any wholesale devastation. The greatest safeguard is found in that article of the regulations which provides that the felling of any tree species of the superior or first group (35 leading woods) of less diameter than 40 centimeters (15 inches) is absolutely prohibited. Regulations provide that the timber to be felled be first selected; provide also that only certain of the low grade woods can be cut by those holding gratuitous licenses and those cutting firewood for the market. Regulations prohibit the felling of the gutta-percha, rubber, and other trees producing valuable gums. They also provide that when the trees are felled and piled notice must be sent to the nearest forestry official, which official shall measure, appraise, and see that the government valuation is paid on this timber before it is removed. When this timber reaches the market it is again inspected by an official who carefully revises the classification of the first official, measures each log a second time, and sees that the government is paid its full value for its timber. Each log receives a bureau stamp as soon as it leaves the forest. The forestry official is strictly charged to supervise the work of the logger to see that only the proper trees are felled and that the timber is so hauled through the forest as to cause the least damage to the younger growth. He reports at once any violation of the forestry regulations. The regulations provide the forestry officials with the power to fine, and to stop the movement of forest products to the market, if any of its provisions are violated. |