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ravaged this province, contribute greatly to the neglect of these lands, as well as those devoted to the cultivation of sugar.

Hemp, however, has been much more extensively cultivated than rice, nearly all of the pueblos in the province having set out a few plantations of this textile plant. Cocoanuts, tobacco, cocoa, coffee, and corn are also cultivated, although the last four products are not yielding in sufficient quantities as yet to cover the local demand.

The establishment of a mortgage and loan bank in this province would greatly contribute to the development of agriculture.

INDUSTRIES.

This important branch of human endeavor is not as prosperous as it should be because of the lack of capital and the backwardness of the people.

No agricultural industries, properly speaking, have been established, nor do any manufactories depending upon same exist. For stripping hemp an iron knife (either plain or serrated) and sometimes a serrated section of cane is used.

It has not been possible to introduce new methods in this industry; however, during the month of April I addressed a circular letter to the municipal presidents recommending that they bring to the notice of planters and operators the necessity of doing away with the serrated knife in order to improve the quality of the hemp.

For the past fifteen years a press with a capacity of 200 bales a day for pressing hemp has been established at the port of Bilang-Bilang, and two months ago a machine for the manufacture of cocoanut oil was set up in this pueblo, although it has not yet begun operating.

In the puebios of Butuan, Gigaquit, and Tago there are some distilleries which use the sap of the nipa palm, called tuba, as a raw material. The stills employed for this purpose are the primitive apparatus of the type known as tambacan. If modern machinery, as used in other countries, was imported for this purpose the distilleries of this province would yield large revenues to the provincial treasury.

The textile industry does not supply the local demand, and as for fisheries, this subject has been treated upon in the foregoing report. There is not a single machine for planting, harvesting, or thrashing, so useful in saving muscular power, in the entire province.

COMMERCE.

The port of Surigao, situate in the bay of Bilang-Bilang, has a good wharf capable of accommodating large vessels and which can be used by them the year round.

The only commerce of this province is reduced to the exportation of hemp and copra to the cities of Cebú and Manila, and to the importation of rice, textiles, food products, wines, and canned goods from the said places. This trade is carried on by the steamers of three foreign commercial houses established here and some 60 small boats, called bancas and paraos, handled by natives, who do the trading between the coast towns of the province.

During the year 1902, 51,514 piculs of hemp and 4,119 piculs of copra, valued at 1,157,902, were exported, against the exports for the year 1903, which were: Hemp to the amount of 65,000 piculs, and 7,000 piculs of copra valued at 1.472,000; increase over last year #314.088.

The amount of rice imported during 1902 was 65,123 sacks, and during 1903 79,451 sacks. The increase for the year 1903 is due to the smaller variety of rice produced in this province on account of the reasons above set forth.

FINANCIAL CONDITIONS.

Notwithstanding the foregoing report it can be stated that the financial condition of the province is satisfactory, whether considered absolutely or relatively. If the forestry and mineral wealth was exploited and the large area of valuable lands properly cultivated the revenues of the provincial treasury would be greatly increased. During the year 1902 (January to December) there was collected for industrial taxes, certificates of registration, and land taxes, the sum of $37.914.23 Mexican. During a like period for 1903, P3,734.40 and $62,917.73 Mexican.

The increase of last year over 1902 amounts to P28,737.90, and could not be more satisfactory.

The passage of Act 1100, which treats of the revision of the assessment, it is hoped will result in increased revenues to the provincial treasury.

POLITICAL CONDITIONS.

The backwardness of the inhabitants of this province in all that refers to their social and political education is truly deplorable. The presidents and municipal councilors, who have been accustomed to wait for everything to come from their superiors, did not know what rule to follow when the Municipal Code was put in force. They did not know their duties and the presidents exercised an authority analogous to that exercised by the old gobernadorcillos of the past rule, who governed municipalities without regard for the opinions of the council.

This procedure on the part of the presidents has been consented to by the councilors, because they were in the belief that their duties and their rights were limited to approving the mandates of the president.

At present the presidents and councilors of some municipalities are studying the Municipal Code, in order to be able to put into practice the provisions and regulations which govern the actions of each. Evidence of this can be found in the numerous resolutions and ordinances of various municipal councils submitted for approval to the provincial board during the past six months, and it is to be hoped that in time all of the municipal officials will learn the importance of their offices and of discharging their duties in accordance with the law.

I must confess that the administration of some of the municipalities is defective, making it impossible for the provincial officials to comply with some of the provisions of the central government with the promptness desired. Moreover, these municipalities are scarcely self-supporting, nor will they prosper for some time, owing to the lack of sources of revenue and also to the want of competent persons for their government.

It is my opinion that municipalities of this class would be better off if they were to be annexed to others where better conditions prevail.

THE RELIGIOUS QUESTION.

Before finishing this report I have thought it advisable to lightly deal with the matter which merits some attention-the religious question.

The priests of the Benedictine order are at present in possession of churches and convents in the pueblos of Surigao, Gigaquit, Cantilan, Tandag, and Dinagat, and the Jesuits of those of Butuan, Talacogon, and Veruela.

All of the other pueblos have churches and convents which were constructed by the people, but have no Roman Catholic priests. The municipal corporations, in the belief that as representatives of the people they could exercise the rights of ownership over the said buildings, allege that it is they who are now in possession, but the Roman priests have protested against this and claim that they have the rights of property and possession of all buildings devoted to worship, according to the Roman Catholic religion, even where the buildings have been constructed at the expense of the people, and upon these grounds claim possession of the same from the executive authorities. Such was the basis of the two claims presented by the Benedictine priest, Friar Eladio Alonso, to the churches and convents of Melgar, Libjó, Tubajon, Timamana, Tago, Lianga, Numancia, Cortés, and Tigao, who set forth in the said claims that he suspected that certain persons of high rank were fomenting the fire of discord in this matter.

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Believing it my duty to do so, I addressed an official letter to this priest, asking that he be pleased to send me the names of the persons he suspected, and in answer thereto he stated that it was impossible for him to give the names and, exercising his privileges as a preacher, added that I might consult the Spanish Academic Dictionary with regard to the explanation of the word suspect." Such has been the conduct observed up to the present time by Friar Eladio Alonso, Vicar Forrain. Although this case, in my opinion, relates to the establishing of property rights or rights of possession over the said churches and convents, and therefore falls within the jurisdiction of the courts of justice to decide, an investigation of the charges brought against the municipal officials is being made.

For

The desire to have a priest constantly in the pueblo to say mass and administer the sacraments is the apparent reason why the residents of Placer have asked that a priest of the Filipino Church be sent them from Cebú. This same desire is shared by other pueblos where there are Roman Catholic priests. this reason, when the Aglipayan priest arrived at the pueblo of Bacuag upon the invitation of its townspeople, the latter drove the Roman Catholic priest out of the convent, but executive measures were immediately taken in the premises, and possession of the church and convent of Bacuag at once restored to the Roman Catholic priest.

At present there are two priests of the Filipino Church in this province, and though it appears that this church has gained many adherents, and that ignorance and religious fanaticism are common to the majority of the inhabitants of this province, it is hoped that tranquillity and good order will be maintained in the future as they have been maintained up to the present time. Respectfully submitted.

DANIEL TORIBIO SISSON, Governor of Province of Surigao.

The CIVIL GOVERNOR OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE OF TARLAC.

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, PROVINCE OF TARLAC,
Tarlac, July 1, 1904.

SIR: In accordance with the provisions of section 7 of Act No. 83, I have the honor to transmit the present annual report for this province for the fiscal year 1903-4.

TOPOGRAPHY OF THE PROVINCE.

The province of Tarlac is bounded on the north by that of Pangasinan; on the south by that of Pampanga, from which it is separated by the Paruao River; on the east by that of Nueva Ecija, from which it is separated by the Chico River; on the west by Zambales, from which it is divided by a range of mountains. This province would therefore be divided from all of the adjacent ones by natural boundaries if the small pueblo of Bautista, belonging to Pangasinan, situate on the railway, were to be annexed to Tarlac, as in that case the boundary between the two provinces would be placed at the Agno River.

MUNICIPALITIES.

In consequence of the law consolidating the municipalities, those in this province have been reduced to the number of nine, to wit: Camiling, Paniqui, Pura, Moncada, Victoria, Concepcion, Tarlac (the provincial capital), Capas, and Bamban. The first named is a municipality of the first class, the two following of the second class, and the two last of the fourth class.

CENSUS.

It can be said that the most important event at the beginning of the year 1903 was the preliminary work done for the purpose of insuring the success of the census in this province. This work was initiated and instructions were received for carrying it on in December, 1902, during the stay in Manila of the provincial governors. The work was started in this province on the 2d day of March, 1903, the date set in the proclamation of the governor of the Philippine Islands, and ended on the last day of June of the same year, without there having been any obstacle in the way of the successful termination of the labors of the enumerators. The census showed, among other interesting data, a total population for the province of 133,397 inhabitants. The full details were sent in June of that year to the director of the census of the Philippines.

REVISION OF THE ASSESSMENT UPON REAL ESTATE.

About the middle of February the board of revision of the assessment was organized under the provisions of Act No. 582. In order to give the best opportunity to property owners for the presentation of their complaints and to become

informed of the local conditions prevailing at each place, the board decided to meet in each of the municipalities, which it did during the period embraced between the end of March and the last of June. The result of the labors of the revisory board was an important lowering of the valuations of realty all over the province, favorable in a high degree to the property owners, but resulting in decreased revenues to the provincial and municipal treasuries. The latter are at present rather hard pressed for funds, and among them there are not lacking some that have appealed to the provincial board for loans.

LOCUST BOARD.

On August 20, 1903, the provincial locust board was organized, in accordance with the provisions of act No. 817. It was due to the strict measures and regulations, copies of which were sent to all of the presidents of the municipalities, that the total extermination of the plague in this province was effected. There contributed not a little to this result the activity of the local authorities and the assiduity and disinterestedness which seconded the work of the board in the extermination of locusts, not only on the part of property owners, but of the entire community that lent its assistance gratuitously. Thus the province was able, without the expenditure of money or the distribution of rice for this work. to exterminate a total for all of the municipalities of the province of 1,561 cavanes and 23 gantas of locusts.

MEASURES ADOPTED AGAINST FAMINE.

Notwithstanding the fact that locusts destroyed the majority of the plantations of sugar cane, rice, and corn, farmers at once realized that it was, at any cost, necessary for them to put in new crops, either of the same kind or of some other, upon which they could rely for food. Thanks to their foresight, they are now freed from the terrible specter of famine, although the long-continued drought retarded the growth and development of their plantations. With the prospects of a good harvest and the distribution of government rice to laborers on public works, the province feels that it can get along until the next harvest.

THE ST. LOUIS EXPOSITION.

In spite of the fact that this province, like many others, has been in a precarious state as a result of the lack of draft animals, disastrous fires in several of its pueblos, the drought, the locust plague, and other calamities through which it has passed, it was not deterred from taking an active part in the St. Louis fair, being second in rank among the Philippine provinces in the number and importance of its exhibits. Up to last September this province had sent to the exposition board at Manila, upon its own initiative and free of all expense to the board, according to the board's figures, 1,720 exhibits from 124 exhibitors. This does not include many articles sent subsequent to the date mentioned. The resources of the province, developed and undeveloped, and much other information tending to give a slight idea of the natural wealth of this region, were described in detail in the report sent last August to the president of the St. Louis Exposition board at Manila.

PUBLIC WORKS.

Very extensive and important public works have been carried out during the fiscal year. Among them may be mentioned the roads connecting important municipalities of the province, such as that between Paniqui and Camiling, 12 miles in length, and the solid reconstruction of the road between Tarlac and Victoria, 10 miles in length; that from Tarlac to La Paz, 11 miles; that from Capas to Concepcion, 4 miles; that from Capas to O'Donnell, 11 miles; that from Gerona to the consolidated pueblo of Pura, 3 miles; that from Gerona to Paniqui, 5 miles, and that from Paniqui to the consolidated pueblo of Anao, 34 miles, to which must be added the construction and repair of many bridges and culverts of wood and masonry and also of cement. The cost of this work was at first paid out of provincial funds exclusively, but subsequently the rice given by the gov ernment was also used for this purpose. It is worthy of note that all of the labor for this work was obtained in the province, none having been secured from other places.

The construction of the high school in the provincial capital, carried through by Filipino laborers under an American foreman, is another important public

work. The total cost to the provincial funds was 9,035.23 and $12,877.09 local currency. The opening of this school, which was honored by the presence of Commissioner Smith, secretary of public instruction, took place on December 30, 1903, Rizal day. The first regular school term opened in the beginning of January, 1904.

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

During the year covered by this report public instruction in this province has progressed considerably. There has been an increased attendance over last year in the municipalities and in the barrios, the figures being 2,930 boys and 1,252 girls last year, against 5,096 boys and 2.518 girls (including the high school) this year. As an evidence of the progress of the students, several young scholars from the provincial school have been appointed teachers of municipal schools; some of them have been paid out of municipal funds and a few out of insular funds. The province has had the satisfaction of seeing that in the report of the general superintendent of education for the Philippine Islands it has been placed in the front rank of the most advanced provinces from an educational point of view, and of the fact that it was one of its schools which had the honor of receiving from his own hands a flag from New York to be given to the best school in the archipelago.

AGRICULTURE.

Agriculture is slowly improving in this province. The field of cultivation is widening so that lands formerly uncultivated are now under the plow. The largest increase has been in the cultivation of the sugar cane. This is due, perhaps, to the increase of live stock in the hands of farmers purchased from private parties or from the government; also to the complete extermination of the locust plague, which has been a discouraging factor of the situation on account of its destructiveness. There has been a great falling off in business in forestry products, owing to a fall in prices and the recent severe restrictive legislation on the utilization of forestry products.

MORTALITY STATISTICS.

With regard to mortality in the province, the cholera made its appearance anew in the month of July, 1903, continuing until November. The number of cases was 900, and of deaths 675. The number of deaths in this province, including those just given, from January, 1903, to May of this year, the period of this report, amounts to a total of 6,187. During the same time there were 10,261 births.

The rinderpest has caused great ravages, and is still rife among carabaos that have been weakened by repeated epidemics, and which have been acquired by their owners at great pecuniary sacrifice. For this reason the insular government sent two veterinary surgeons to this province to look after and immunize the surviving members of the former herds in Tarlac.

PUBLIC ORDER.

During the period embraced by this report, there has been no event of note or disturbance worthy of mention to disquiet the general tranquillity and order, with the exception of the formation of a band of robbers at Moriones for the exclusive purpose of stealing cattle. All of the principals and members of this band were apprehended and duly convicted by the court of first instance of the fourth judicial district, which includes this province.

The notorious Felipe Salvador and his people have been marauding in the vicinity of this province for some time, principally in the outlying barrios of Concepcion, in whose dense forests, which are a part of those lying in the province of Nueva Ecija and the Chico River, Salvador found an easy refuge, changing his base from one side of the said river to the opposite side to suit his convenience; but owing to the active operations of the constabulary of both provinces in connection with municipal police of Concepcion. though not captured, he has been separated from his followers and expelled from this province, where there is no further news of him, and tranquillity is enjoyed in the full sense of the word.

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