Page:The National Geographic Magazine Vol 16 1905.djvu/116

Rh merchant dealers and grocers, 58 mariners, and 18 miners. Many of these had received civil service appointments from the United States. The administrative acts of the Bureau during 1904 were previously described by Colonel Edwards in the National Geographic Magazine of June and July.

"The question of labor in the Philippines has ceased to be a critical one, says the Collector of Customs for the Philippine Islands in his report for 1904. Despite the gloomy predictions of many thoroughly sincere investigators and writers on the subject, the Filipino laborer has conclusively demonstrated that he is a practicable and dependable element in the industrial development of the Islands. In the past two years several immense enterprises have been successfully carried on solely with the aid of Filipino laborers. All goods arriving at or leaving the port of Manila are handled by natives. During the past year the operation of the customs 'Arrastre plant' has been entirely in the hands of native labor, including the steam tramway and four large steam cranes.

"The Filipinos make good clerks, copyists, typewriters, sub-inspectors, and, in some instances, excellent fiduciary officers. In the handling of cash, in subordinate positions, they have shown a high degree of accuracy and integrity. As marine officers and engineers, especially in the latter position, they have exhibited a skill, fidelity, and courage which entitle them to unstinted admiration."

AT the present time, when there is so much comment on transportation rates in the United States, the fol- lowing statements from an American consul in England of conditions in that country may surprise some of us:*
 * W. P. Smith, U. S. consul. Tunstall, England, Consular Reports, January 25, 1905.

"The carriage for a ton of apples from Folkstone, on the south coast of England, to London, is $5.86, while goods of the same class are carried from California to London for $3.81. It costs $9-73 t° send a ton of British meat from Liverpool to London, while it costs only $6.09 to send a ton of foreign meat to the same market. The Irish farmer who wants to get his produce to London has to pay $22.88 carriage per ton on his eggs from Galway, while the Danish farmer can send eggs into the London market for $5.85, the Russian for $5.10, and the farmer in Normandy for $4.05. The man down in Kent, who is almost at the London market, has to pay $6. 10 per ton to the railway companies for carrying the produce of his orchard to London, while the same class of freight is brought from Holland for half the money."

REAR Admiral C. M. Chester, superintendent of the Naval Observatory, has submitted a recommendation for provision for a naval expedition in 1905 to observe a total solar eclipse. He proposes to select an observation station among the high hills bordering on the Mediterranean, to work with some ship as a base near Valencia, and another station in the uplands, with headquarters on board a vessel on the northeast coast of Spain.

Ranges of Arizona.—David Griffiths is the author of a recent bulletin published by the Department of Agriculture, describing the ranges of Arizona and the measures necessary for their protection. The ranges can carry without injury one horse or cow to 50 or 100 acres. The range-owners have lately begun goat-raising with considerable profit. The picture on page 85 shows a flock of goats on one of these ranges. Excessive stocking has been destroying the value of the ranges.