For further details in regard to the work of the civil sanitarium, reference is made to the report of the attending physician and surgeon, which is appended hereto and marked "Appendix H."

A year's meteorological observations have furnished the following data with reference to the climate at Baguio: February, with a mean temperature of 62.1° F., is the coldest month. The temperature rises rapidly in March, reaching its maximum for the year in April, which has a mean of 70.5°. A second minimum occurs in August, which has a mean of 64.6°. The temperature again rises slightly in October and November, falling from that time until February. It is always from 12 to 16 degrees cooler at Baguio than at Manila, as is shown in the following table:

The maximum temperature for the year, 82.8°, occurred on April 19. This is slightly higher than the maximum temperature with which Baguio has been credited. The minimum for the year, 42.1°, was recorded February 18.

The relative humidity was slightly greater at Baguio than at Manila, except during the months of October and November, when it was less. By months it was as follows: January, 76; February, 79; March, 76; April, 74; May, 86; June, 90; July, 89; August, 93; September, 90; October, 83; November, 82; December, 84.

Except during the months of July, August, and September, the mornings were almost uniformly free from fog. It is an interesting fact that for every month of the year there is less cloudiness at Baguio than at Manila. The rainfall by months was as follows: January, 0.06 inch; February, 0.57; March, 1.46; April, 0.32; May, 4.02; June, 12.55; July, 15.43; August, 37.03; September, 11.90; October, 4.95; November, 2.52; December, 5.47; total, 96.28. It will be noted that January, February, March, and April are very dry, the greatest dryness occurring at the time of greatest heat, in April. June, July, August, and September are wet, and moderate rains occur during October, November, December, and May.

These facts fully confirm the information previously secured by the Commission with reference to the climate of Baguio.

THE PROPOSED LEPER COLONY.

There are three leper hospitals in the Philippines, situated at Manila, Palestina, and Cebu, respectively. During the past year a beginning

This census

has been made toward taking a leper census of the islands. is already quite complete for many of the provinces, and its results lead to the conclusion that the estimate of those persons who have heretofore expressed the belief that there were 30,000 lepers in these islands is wide of the mark. It is believed that the total number will not exceed 10,000, and it may fall considerably below this figure.

The desirability of establishing a colony where persons in the early stages of leprosy can have their homes, cultivate the soil, and in general lead a free out-of-door life, instead of being practically imprisoned and compelled to pass their days in company with fellow-unfortunates in the last stages of this horrible disease, has long been appreciated by both military and civil authorities. Efforts were made by the military government to find an island suitable for the establishment of a leper colony, and a military board reported favorably on the island of Cagayan de Joló, after somewhat cursorily examining it. As satisfactory information was not given as to the supply of drinking water on this island, and as the accuracy of the board's report that there were but 200 or 300 inhabitants had been seriously questioned, a committee consisting of the commissioner of public health, the sanitary engineer, and the secretary of the interior was appointed to reexamine the island, and if it did not prove satisfactory to search for a more favorable one. This committee reported adversely on the island of Cagayan de Joló, on account of the entire lack of a favorably situated supply of drinking water, the absence of any port, and the presence in the island of some 3,000 Moros, whose removal would have been both difficult and expensive, and recommended the island of Culion, in the Calamianes group, on account of its healthful climate, rich soil, extensive cattle ranges, abundant water supply, good harbors, and small population. The present inhabitants are so few and have so little property that their removal, if deemed necessary, can be effected with little difficulty and at small expense.

For further information as to the islands of Cagayan de Joló and Culion, reference is made to the report of this committee, which is annexed hereto and marked "Appendix I.”

An appropriation of $50,000 was included in act No. 389 for the purpose of erecting a warehouse on Halsey Bay, building a road to the proposed site of the colony, and erecting superintendent's house, hospital, and 100 separate dwellings for lepers, the hospital and dwellings to be of bamboo and nipa palm, which the island of Culion produces in abundance. Unfortunately the cholera epidemic prevented the prosecution of this work, and the appropriation lapsed at the end of the fiscal year. A new appropriation was made in October, and it is hoped that the colony may be established and the inmates of the San Lazaro, Palestina, and Cebu lazarettos transferred to it during the coming dry season.

THE FORESTRY BUREAU.

The work of the forestry bureau has progressed without interruption during the past year. The chief of the bureau, Capt. George P. Ahern, Ninth U. S. Infantry, was absent on leave in the United States from May 18 until December 1, 1901. During this period the affairs of the bureau were ably directed by its assistant chief, Mr. Albert E. McCabe, who has recently severed his connection with it, greatly to my regret, in order to engage in the practice of law. Mr. McCabe

had a good legal training, combined with executive ability, thorough familiarity with extensive lumbering operations as carried on in the United States, and with the methods in vogue in these islands, and his place will be difficult to fill.

The visit of the chief of the bureau to the United States resulted in securing the services of a number of valuable men, and since their arrival extensive field operations have been undertaken in order to ascertain the character and amount of timber in the provinces of Bataan, Tayabas, and Ambos Camarines, and in the island of Mindoro. The method followed in estimating timber is to select and measure "average acres." A detailed study of each such acre is then made, the stand and varieties of timber, their peculiarities of growth, the character of the soil, rock formations, etc., being considered. Valuation surveys have already been made for 600 such acres in Bataan Province. The surveys thus far completed show an average stand per acre of 7,000 cubic feet of marketable timber (over 20 inches in diameter), and the statement that there is an average stand of 3,500 cubic feet of such timber per acre of the 20,000,000 acres of virgin forest estimated to remain in this archipelago would probably be conservative.

A well equipped timber-testing laboratory has been established at Manila and important practical experiments for the purpose of ascertaing the qualities of the different Philippine woods are now in progress. No systematic series of properly conducted tests have heretofore been made, even upon those of our woods which are best known, and the practical importance of this work is very great, as it will doubtless result in bringing into commercial use many varieties of wood which are not marketable to-day because their properties are unknown.

The timber cut and marketed in these islands during the past year has been entirely insufficient to meet the local demand. It has been necessary to import millions of feet of American pine and redwood and of timber from Borneo and Australia. Between May 4 and August 12, 1902, the price per cubic foot of ipil increased from $0.95 to $2 United States currency; that of molave from $1.10 to $1.80, and that of tindalo from $0.95 to $2. It is often impossible to purchase our best hard woods at any price, and any surplus in the near future will be promptly absorbed by the China market. The lack of suitable means for transporting logs is the main cause of the existing shortage of lumber. The carabao, which is the only draft animal in the islands capable of hauling logs, is unsatisfactory at the best, and a large percentage of these animals have recently died of rinderpest. The lumber company which first successfully introduces modern logging methods here will make very handsome profits.

INCREASE IN WORKING FORCE.

The working force of the forestry bureau has been materially increased during the year, and divisions of inspection, of forest management, and of botany have been created. The efficiency of the work of the division of inspection is shown by the increasing revenues derived from the dues collected on forest products.

BOTANICAL COLLECTIONS.

Extensive botanical collections have been made during the past year which should afford material for the identification of a large num

ber of our more important tree species, and a botanist has been sent with them to Buitenzorg, Java, in order that he may make use of the famous botanical gardens and the fine herbarium and library there in identification. Much difficulty in classification, and in the collection of government charges on lumber, is at present occasioned by the fact that the exact identity of many of our commoner tree species is not known to us. It is hoped that this state of affairs may be remedied to a considerable extent in the near future.

FORESTRY REGULATIONS.

The present forestry regulations have proved satisfactory in the main, but the time has arrived for carefully revising them in the light of practical experience extending over a period of more than two years. There has been some complaint that the government charges on lumber were too high, but in view of the high prices which the local lumbermen get for all timber which they are able to put on the Manila market, this complaint seems groundless.

Provision should, however, be made for the issuing of licenses under special contract, covering periods sufficiently extended to justify companies in installing plants large enough to carry on lumbering operations over considerable tracts, under the supervision of the forestry bureau. One of the difficulties under which we labor at present is that the large and old trees, which are capable of furnishing the finest lumber, can be felled only with great difficulty with the crude appliances now available, and when once felled can not be handled, as carabaos, even in those provinces where a considerable number of them are still available, can not haul the larger logs. The result is that these trees are allowed to stand until they die. Their removal will necessitate the construction of tramways or the use of a cable system of logging, which will take comparatively large capital. It is thought by the chief of the forestry bureau that a period of at least ten years should be granted by contract license for this kind of work, and that such licenses, covering tracts of forest specifically indicated by the forestry bureau, should be granted to the highest bidders. The forestry bureau would furnish working plans of such tracts, showing the variety and amount of timber which could be cut, the length of the haul, market price of the better-known varieties, and cost of transportation, in order that intelligent bids might be made. Under the regulations proposed by the chief of the forestry bureau, the local residents in districts covered by special contracts would be given every facility to secure such lumber as they might require for their personal use, and the contract would cover only timber cut for the market. The necessity of supervision over the cutting of timber is demonstrated by the fact that under the old haphazard policy some islands and provinces have been practically denuded of merchantable timber. During the past year no lumber company has cut as much as 100,000 cubic feet. Under the contract license system, if adopted, it is hoped that a larger amount of timber will be cut. It will take a number of well-equipped companies many years to cut a small part of the overmature timber which the forestry bureau is now ready to mark for immediate removal.

PHILIPPINE SAWMILLS.

many

There are 14 sawmills in the Philippine Islands using steam or water power, 8 of which are in Manila and 6 in the provinces. An extremely

slow feed and first-class sawyers are necessary in working up the hard woods. The slowest feeds of some of the saws recently set up in Manila proved too fast and teeth were stripped from them in consequence. The Manila mills have a total daily capacity of 3,660 cubic feet. There are in addition 33 establishments in Manila where sawing is done by hand. These hand mills employ 432 men, using 159 saws, and have a daily capacity of 1,897 cubic feet. The cost per cubic foot of sawing by hand is usually not less than 30 cents Mexican. The lowest price at which any steam mill at Manila is sawing into boards an inch or more in thickness is 17 cents per cubic foot, and this price applies only to mixed shipments, a higher price being charged for shipments composed exclusively of the harder woods. The other mills charge from 30 to 50 cents per cubic foot for mixed shipments.

EXTENT OF FOREST LANDS.

The forest area of the Philippines, including all public and private woodlands, was estimated by Fernando Castro in 1890 to be 48,112,920 acres. The area of private woodlands held under valid title is far below 1,000,000 acres. Under existing forestry regulations owners of private woodlands must register their titles in the forestry bureau before cutting thereon timber or firewood for the market. The total area of private woodlands thus far registered is approximately 250,000 acres. It will be readily seen, therefore, that under existing conditions the timber necessary for the people of these islands comes almost exclusively from the public lands.

RUBBER AND GUTTA-PERCHA.

Dr. P. L. Sherman, who was sent to investigate the rubber and gutta-percha industries in the Straits Settlements, Java, and Sumatra in 1901, and whose report thereon has already been made public, was upon his return dispatched to Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago with a view to investigating as carefully as possible the question of the existence of rubber and gutta-percha in the forests of the southern Philippines, the character of such products if found, the practicability of marketing them, and the protective measures necessary to prevent the destruction of trees, which has been carried on with such disastrous results in Borneo, Java, and the Straits Settlements. The results of his work are embodied in an important communication, which the chief of the forestry bureau has incorporated in his annual report (see Appendix J).

Dr. Sherman made an unsuccessful attempt to reach Sibutu, the westernmost island of the Sulu Archipelago, but was informed that neither rubber nor gutta-percha grew there. Tawi Tawi was found to produce both in large quantities. He reports gutta-percha plentiful in certain parts of Mindanao, but did not find rubber, although the Moros assured him that it grew about the headwaters of the Rio Grande. Numerous samples of rubber and gutta-percha were secured. Dischopsis gutta, the tree from which is obtained the finest guttapercha known, was not met with, but other trees of the same genus were found. The gutta-percha of the southern Philippines is of fair to poor quality, containing a considerable amount of dirt and resin, but a method has been worked out in the government chemical labora