and beast; the locusts destroyed the crops, and the rains refused to fall. It was difficult to fight such enemies, but much was accomplished. Hundreds of miles of good roads were made. Cattle were

brought from other countries to plow the idle fields. War was waged against the locusts. Disease in man and beast was fought by an army of doctors. The forests and plants were studied. New seeds were tried, and better methods of cultivation were shown.

Commerce. The commerce of the Philippines became greater than ever before. The revenues of the government greatly increased. The plans begun by Governor Taft looked to the future. His time

was spent in laying foundations. Only the future will show how well that task was done.

Among the many far-seeing plans of Governor Taft was the improvement of the port of Manila. This was begun by the Spaniards. Nothing can show the difference between the past and the present methods of government in the Philippines better than this great undertaking.

The Works of the Port.-Manila Bay is so large that ships are not protected by the land from storms. When the southwest monsoon blows, ships sometimes lie for many weeks waiting for their cargoes. At such times it is impossible to load or unload them.

THE GREAT DREDGE, MANILA PORT WORKS.

The bay is shallow near Manila. Ships have to anchor far from the shore. Their cargoes are taken to and from them by small boats. This has been a great loss to the commerce of the country. In 1880

harbor works were begun. It was planned to build great walls of stone to shelter the ships from the waves. Within these walls the bay was to be

dredged so that ships could come near the shore. Large sums of money were expended. The work went on for years, but little progress was made. It was believed that this money was not honestly or wisely spent. Finally Governor-General Weyler in 1889 decreed that these works be stopped, because they "consumed hundreds of thousands of pesos, and made almost no progress."

To see what a strong and honest government can do, one may now look at a tract of land larger than the walled city of Manila, which was pumped from the bottom of the bay in the three years from 19011904. Large steamers now lie near the shore, protected behind a great sea-wall. Within another year or two, great warehouses will cover these broad acres.

The largest steamers will discharge

their cargoes at the side of the pier into railroad cars, to be carried to all parts of Luzon by a network of railways.

Governor Wright and the Future. The place left vacant by Governor Taft was filled by General Luke E. Wright. He brought to his position the wisdom gathered from high positions in America and the

Philippines. His rule began with the declaration that the principles which America has so far followed in the Philippines would be continued.

History, while it tells of the past, points to the future. That future is bright for the Philippines. She has had her infancy of barbarism, her youth of servitude. Now she is entering on her manhood of strength, liberty, and progress. America has promised to lead her to a high goal. Wisdom and patience are needed, for in the Philippines the East and the West meet. Their ways in the past have not been alike. Each, Filipino and American, should try to understand and help the other. Filipinos should take for their motto the words of Governor Wright: "There is room in these beautiful and fertile Islands for all. The door of equal opportunity should be thrown wide open for all alike— European, American, and Filipino."

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS.

1. How many governors have the Philippines had?
2. How many of them can you remember?

3. When did Governor Taft rule?

4. Who shaped the policy of America in the Philippines? 5. What was the great difference between the laws made under Taft and those of Spanish times?

6. What was the motto of Governor Taft?

7. What are the four principles of American rule in the Philippines?