Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/705

 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

583

Production and Industry. — The chief products are rice, copra, abaca (Manila hemp), sugar, coin (maize), and tobacco. Agriculture, however, is still in a primitive condition, implements and methods being antiquated, farm animals scarce, labour and means of transport insufficient, and capital want- ing for the proper development of the soil.

The total area cultivated (1912) was 5,370,592 acres, the largest crop being that of rice (2.609,392 acres). The total value of crops was (1912) 79,880,023 dollars (rice, 32,995,971 dollars).

The Islands possess wide forests of v^aluable timber, gum, and dye woods, and are under the supervision of the Forestry Bureau, which frames plans and rules for their protection and working. They are divided into 9 forest districts, each containing a number of forest stations in charge of foresters, rangers, or inspectors. Each forest contains native trees of many species.

In the Philippine Islands little has, as yet, been done towards the development of the mineral resources, but prospecting is now proceeding vigorously. Lignite is found in many of the islands. Iron (magnetite and hematite) is found in several provinces. Gold is fouod in almost all the important islands, and in some of them has been long worked by natives, it is at present the most important of the mineral products. Silver has been found only in argentiferous galena, or alloyed with gold. Platinum has been detected in small quantity in the gold gravel deposits of Rizal (Luzon). Copper is reported from several regions, and important deposits, long worked by natives, occur in Mancayan (in the mountains of Northern Luzon). Lead and manganese have been discovered, and sulphur, petroleum, rock salt, kaolin, and gypsum are also found in the Archipelago. The total value of the mineral products during the calendar year 1911 amounted to 1,381,402 dollars.

Commerce. — The values of imports and exports for fiscal years ending June 30, are stated as follows in L"''.S. dollars : —

—

1908

1909

1910 1911 1

1912

Imports Exports

30.918,357 32,816,567

27,792,397 30,993,563

37,067,630 39,864,169

49,833,722 39,778,629

54,549,980 50,319,836

1 Non-dutiable merchandise from the United States imported by supply officers of the army, navy, and insular government, and railway free entries, are included in the figures for 1911 and 1912, but are excluded in figures for years prior thereto. Imports of gold and silver coin are excluded from the flgures for the years prior to 1910.

Import duties, 1912, 7,502,961 dollars. Export duties, 1912, 1,058,902 dollars.

The chief imports and exports in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1912 were : —

Imports (1912)

Dollars

Exports

(1912)

j Dollars

Rice ....

10,569,949

Hemp

16,283,510

Cottou and manufactures

9,246,595

Copra

16,514,749

Iron and steel, and manuf.

6,031,603

Sugar

10,400,575

Meat and dairy products

3,541,274

Cigars

2,660,061

Wheat flour.

1,761,398

Tobacco leaf

1,902,644

Mineral oils.

1,207,180