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The National Geographic Magazine

to have joined in competition to see who could most help the work. But though eager to help, the Filipinos had to be trained for the work, and this required more tact and time. Then no accu- rate maps were to be had, so that, every- thing considered, the census was a most difficult undertaking, and its completion within the allotted two years reflects great credit on the Directors.

The principal object of the census, as stated in the act of Congress, was to secure statistics of population and a general knowledge of social conditions as a basis for the establishment of a Philippine Legislature, which the law directs shall convene two years after the publication of the reports of the census. This Legislature is to consist of two houses — the Philippine Commission and the Philippine Assembly.

CENSUS WAS TAKEN BY FILIPINOS

The provincial governors were appointed supervisors of the census, and under their direction the enumeration was taken. They had assembled in Manila several months before the task was begun and were there instructed as to their duties. In the execution of the field work and the preliminary examination of the schedules 7,627 persons were engaged, and of this number 1 18 were Americans, 1 Japanese, 6 Chinese, and 7,502 Fili- pinos ; so that it may be said, in all sin- cerity, that it was a Filipino census of the Philippine Islands. Of the 7,502 natives employed 40 were women, who fully sustained the opinion of Arch- bishop Nozaleda that "the Filipino women are better than the men in every way."

This was the first attempt on the part of any tropical people in modern times to make an enumeration of themselves. The margin of error in the number of civilized Filipinos, Chinese, and other foreigners probably does not exceed a fraction of 1 per cent. It was feared that quite a large number would try to avoid the enumeration ; but except in a few instances there is no evidence of such an intention. On the contrary, several remote and obscure barrios or sitios which were not found in the orig- inal lists prepared by the supervisors, and which had been overlooked, appar- ently, sent runners to notify the census officials that they had not been enumer- ated. On account of the absence of well- defined boundaries between municipal- ities and barrios, some apprehension was felt as to a duplicate enumeration, but this was obviated by posting a printed notice of the enumeration on every house, boat, or other place occupied as a dwelling, which was not removed until the census was at an end.

INDUSTRIES AWAITING DEVELOPMENT

Among the changes to be made will be, probably, the introduction of the American mule and the substitution of American cattle for the Indian humped cattle. That cattle-raising may become a profitable industry there is no ques- tion, as there are large areas of grazing land suitable for cattle ranches, and horses, mules, and cattle thrive in the climate of the Philippines.

Statistics show that the great agricult- ural wealth of the country is in the cul- tivation of sugar, hemp, tobacco, and coffee. Tobacco of fine quality is raised in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela, and when carefully handled and thor- oughly cured makes excellent cigars and cigarettes. The poverty of the average tobacco-grower, however, compels him to dispose of his crop before it is ready for use, and this, together with the crude methods observed in handling it, has given to Manila cigars a bad reputation among tobacco connoisseurs. When the tobacco-growers are able to hold their crops long enough and to resort to care- ful and scientific methods in its cultiva- tion and preparation, the best Manila