IV.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LOCAL PURCHASING AGENT, LAND TRANSPORTATION DIVISION, FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1904.

INSULAR PURCHASING AGENT, Manila, P. I.

MANILA, P. I., July 15, 1904.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report on the transportation operated and furnished by this office in the city of Manila during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1904:

VEHICLES.

The average daily number of vehicles used for hauling and delivering supplies and furnishing transportation for the different government bureaus in Manila was as follows:

In addition to the regular work of this office in the delivery of supplies, the following bureaus and departments have been furnished transportation: Bureau of agriculture, bureau of architecture, bureau of public printing, bureau of internal revenue, bureau of customs and immigration, Philippine civil hospital, bureau of government laboratories, bureau of forestry, insular treasurer, Philippine civil-service board.

Of these, the offices of the treasurer and bureau of architecture have had at their service 1 truck and 4 escort wagons at all times, this number being increased whenever necessary. The custom-house and insular treasurer have had 1 light wagon daily.

The 9 American jacks and 1 stallion were purchased in the United States for breeding purposes. Two jacks and the stallion were sold to the bureau of agriculture.

According to above statement 18 animals died and 24 were destroyed, constituting a mortality of 42 during the year, or about 13.3 per cent of the above number handled. Of these about one-third of the loss were American mules, which have been in the service about three years, having been purchased from the Quartermaster's Department, United States Army.

Surra has been the cause of the death of most of the animals. The Australian horses have not been a success as heavy draft animals. A number of fine animals were bought, but in most cases they deteriorated rapidly after being put to heavy work. The light Australian horses do not seem to have been affected so much and have given satisfactory service.

The native ponies have had extremely hard work and many of them have been worn out in the service, some of them having worked steadily for the department for the last three years.

In addition to the above the following animals, which were bought for other bureaus, were handled and cared for at the stables of the department while waiting transportation to their places of destination in the provinces: Nine American horses, 70 Australian horses, 9 Chinese horses, 70 native ponies, 5 American mules, 65 Chinese mules, 2 American jacks, 1 American stallion, 30 Chinese bullocks, 12 native mares, 9 American mares.

STABLES.

The old stables in use at the exposition grounds are in very poor condition and the facilities for the care of animals and stock are not what they should be.

The veterinary service at the corral has been supplied by veterinary surgeons of the board of health and by the superintendent of the corral, and everything possible has been done for the sick animals.

On November 1, 1903, the stock and ambulances of the board of health were turned over to this department and have been kept at the board of health stables at San Lazaro. A number of cases of surra have appeared in this stable, and several animals have been lost on this account.

Average daily cost of maintaining vehicles (in case of escort wagons and trucks, wages of laborers furnished with the wagons included under “salaries and wages").

It is believed that the cost of maintenance of vehicles and stock will be lessened when the new corral is completed and suitable buildings are provided for the storing and care of vehicles and horses.

On June 20 the new buildings and grounds situated at Calle Cervantes, San Lazaro district, were so far completed as to permit this department to begin with the transfer thereto, and, as this department is still engaged in the work connected therewith, report and statistics thereon fall under the next annual report. Respectfully submitted.

A. L. B. DAVIES, Local Purchasing Agent.

V.

REPORT OF CARABAOS PURCHASED BY LOCAL PURCHASING AGENT DURING THE PERIOD FROM FEBRUARY 20, 1903, TO JUNE 30, 1904.

INSULAR PURCHASING AGENT, Manila, P. I.

MANILA, P. I., July 15, 1904.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report on the purchase and sale of carabaos by this bureau:

The statement marked Exhibit A, and attached hereto, shows the number of carabaos purchased since the commencement of purchase under the provisions of Acts 738 and 797, and the disposition of same covering a period from February 20, 1903, to June 30, 1904. This additional period is covered in order to show the entire transactions in regard to carabaos, as no statement was made on June 30, 1903.

This shows a mortality of 1,702 animals, or 47.6 per cent of the total purchased. Out of this number 435 died before shipment and while passing through the innoculation period. The percentage of deaths from surra and rinderpest is not taken up, as it is understood this matter will be covered in the reports of the board of health and bureau of government laboratories.

The facilities for handling the cattle landed in Manila have not been good. The government rented the pastures and corrals at Calle Nozaleda San Lazaro, Pasay, and Santa Mesa. The two former were only temporary quarters for the animals and the two latter became infected with surra and had to be abandoned.

The fifth shipment of 230 animals arriving here on September 25 was sent to Orani, Bataan Province, and almost immediately surra broke out in the herd, on account of which all but 18 died or were destroyed to prevent the spread of the disease.

The tenth shipment of 197 animals were shipped direct to Occidental Negros. In addition to these carabaos, 149 were shipped at the same time from the pasture at Santa Mesa. On account of bad weather the steamer had to put into Iloilo, where the animals were landed, and later reembarked for Negros. Three hundred and twenty-one were landed and taken in charge by the supervisor of that province. A number of these animals died from surra, while others contracted the disease and were isolated. Many of them afterwards recovered sufficiently to be sold and put to work.

On account of the fact that the Santa Mesa pasture had become infected, it was thought desirable to find some new location for the carabaos. A committee was appointed in January to undertake the matter and their favorable report of the island of Burias was approved by the committee on purchase and sale of carabaos, and the shipment arriving September 25 ordered shipped to that place.

The island of Burias lies about 150 miles south of Manila, off the coast of Albay, and is well watered, and furnishes abundant pasture for almost any number of animals. During the time that the carabaos have been on the island the losses have decreased considerably.

The first shipment of animals from, Burias for sale was made on June 29, and 99 out of 100 animals arrived in Manila in first-class condition. These were immediately shipped to Tarlac Province, where they have all been sold, bringing from P80 to 190 per head.

These animals have had time enough to recover from the effects of innoculation, shipping, and the change of climate, and appear to be doing well.

It will be seen from the tabulated statement that 1,352 carabaos have been distributed, and that 516 were on hand on the island of Burias on June 30.

The following statement will show the disposition of the 1,352 distributed by this office:

It has been found in a great many cases that, after requests had been made by provinces and the animals shipped to them, the farmers did not desire or would not purchase them, and they have remained in the hands of the provincial officers for a long period, and many have died on account of their being kept herded together, as the provincial officials have no facilities for caring for stock.

Owing to the large area of the island of Burias (40 by 12 miles) and the necessity of allowing the carabaos to constantly change their pasture ground, some of the animals have strayed and can not be gotten together without a systematic round-up of the whole island as soon as the rainy season is over.

There are employed at present as foremen and herders on the island 2 Americans and 31 natives. On account of the small number of native inhabitants, it has been difficult to get labor at times, and on account of the very high grass the matter of herding is a difficult one. In some cases animals have been seen swimming out to sea, and it is not known at the present time if any have been finally lost in this way.

A veterinary surgeon has been sent with each shipment of animals for inspecting and innoculating of animals where necessary, and everything possible has been done to prevent losses from any cause. A statement showing the expenditure on account of carabaos is shown in the report of the disbursing officer.

Respectfully submitted.

A. L. B. DAVIES, Local Purchasing Agent.